by Here we are, facing yet another wave of disaster—not just from the storm itself. The effort to help stabilize as many people and homes as quickly as possible is nothing short of heroic. The overwhelming need for remediation creates a tough situation across the entire region.
When disaster strikes, the immediate focus is on emergency remediation. For the past several months, crews have primarily been working on tear-out—an essential first step in the recovery process. It didn’t make much sense to conduct thorough cleanups at that stage, given that further demolition and reconstruction were still to come. And with teams moving rapidly from house to house, speed is both a blessing and a curse.
But Here’s What You Should Insist On
Even during the initial tear-out phase, you should expect some effort to clean away the dust left behind in the damaged areas. That dust is more than just a nuisance—it’s likely filled with mold spores, irritants, and pollutants that could harm your health.
Yes, I understand that deploying drying and dehumidifying equipment wasn’t always feasible. Power outages were widespread, and remediators often had to prioritize tearing out water-damaged materials as quickly as possible. Still, this has left many homes with damp, mold-prone environments where spores can thrive.
Containment Challenges
The reality is that proper workspace containment was difficult when the damaged rooms were barely rooms anymore—ceilings gone, walls missing, roofs torn away. Open spaces, exposed attics, crawl spaces, and the outdoors made sealing off areas with plastic sheeting the best many crews could manage. Unfortunately, this often wasn’t enough to prevent demolition dust from spreading into cleaner, undamaged areas.
Early in the recovery period, a lack of equipment like heaters, fans, air filters, and negative air systems compounded the problems. These tools are critical for managing air quality and drying out materials, but with limited resources and time, many houses were left without.
What’s Gone Wrong
Here’s some of what we’re seeing:
- A lack of proper respiratory protection worn during clean-up
- Sweeping mold off surfaces with brooms (never do this)
- Poor containment practices leading to cross-contamination
- Incomplete removal of materials during the tear-out phase
- Treating visible mold without seeing the whole extent of the issue
Despite everyone doing their best in the circumstances, there may be missteps that don’t align with industry best practices for water damage restoration. Unfortunately, the consequences will fall on homeowners.
Even if the initial remediation left your home reasonably clean, the reconstruction phase will bring another wave of dust—drywall dust, sawdust, and more mold exposure from hidden damp spots that weren’t addressed earlier.
Here are images from a recent tear-out process where you can see an overheating electrical issue that is scorching the walls:
Beware the “One-and-Done” Approach
Some regional homeowners may skip a comprehensive healthy home examination and rely on a quick visit from a low-cost mold inspector who takes a few air samples and gives a thumbs-up. But this approach doesn’t provide the thorough assessment or long-term perspective you need to avoid ongoing problems. Without proper guidance, you’re more likely to face issues like health risks, structural damage, and higher-than-expected expenses.
Post-Helene, we understand that the teams working on these projects are under immense pressure: time, workers, materials, and information may be challenging. The destruction caused was terrible, but you don’t have to endure another wave of disaster in the form of preventable mistakes. With the right expectations and professional guidance, you can navigate this challenging recovery process more smoothly and safely.
But if your health is compromised after Helene, or you are concerned that your home is making you sick, we can help.
Your home, health, and peace of mind are worth it.
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