Hurricane Wilma Mold Nightmare

On March 1, 2006, our company, On-Site Mold Analysis, Inc. went to a home in Miami for a mold inspection. The homeowner’s insurance agent informed us that the property in question had sustained considerable water damage from Hurricane Wilma several months previously.

Upon inspection, our microbiologists noticed visible water damage in twelve areas of the home. Eleven areas in the house exhibited probable mold growth. In addition to actual standing water present during the inspection, moisture meters showed elevated moisture content in twelve areas. Elevated moisture conditions are mold-magnets and are areas of great concern.

The homeowner could not live in her house due to the damages and had a trailer on the property for her to live in. She ran an electrical cord from the trailer to the house for electricity.

Upon analysis of the samples collected from the house, it was determined that the house was indeed mold-infested. There were extremely high levels of the molds Aspergillus/Penicillium sp., Chaetomium sp., Cladosporium sp., Curvularia sp., Memnoniella sp., Mucor/Rhizopus sp., and Trichoderma sp., most of which are considered toxic molds.

An independent mold remediation company took on the task of returning the premises to a normal condition. Twice we were sent out to do what is known as a post remediation assessment for mold or more commonly known as a clearance test. Each time the inspection “failed.” We were all puzzled as to why the property wasn’t passing inspection. Everything looked fine. The musty odor was gone. Then it occurred to us. The homeowner had an electrical cord running from her trailer to her house. The door was slightly ajar and was letting all of the mold from the removed debris (which was now in bags outside her house) back into her house! The remediators removed the bags, duct-taped the door opening, and the property finally passed inspection albeit a full two months later!