Black Mold Removal in New Caney, TX

We had water in the house during the May 2024 flooding. Should I expect black mold?

If materials stayed wet more than a day or two, it's likely. In May 2024, heavy rain flooded the Lake Houston area, and New Caney residents were directed to the Montgomery County Disaster Recovery hotline for help. The community grew along Caney Creek, about 30 miles from Houston. EPA's guidance after a flood is plain: when a home could not be dried within 24 to 48 hours, assume mold growth, including behind baseboards and inside the bottom of wall cavities. Soaked drywall and insulation usually have to be removed rather than cleaned.

Is the black kind worse than the green or white kind?

Color won't tell you. Many species grow dark, and EPA treats every indoor mold the same way. Testing visible growth usually isn't worth the fee, since there are no federal limits to compare results against and the removal method doesn't change. What matters is how much there is and whether the water source is fixed. Mold can irritate the eyes, skin, nose, throat and lungs. EPA says children shouldn't take part in disaster cleanup, and people with asthma or weakened immune systems should stay away from moldy areas.

Who do I hire, and how do I know they're legitimate?

In Texas, two separate companies handle a professional job. A mold assessment consultant who holds a TDLR license writes the protocol; a different company holding a TDLR mold remediation contractor license does the removal. If the job covers 25 contiguous square feet or more, the remediation company has to notify TDLR at least five days ahead. Look up both on TDLR's license search before you sign. Angi's Houston cost data puts the average removal at $2,016, with typical jobs from $863 to $3,329, plus the consultant's fee.

One local note

New Caney is unincorporated, so rebuilding goes through the Montgomery County Permit Department, which has an East Montgomery County phone line. The county requires a Development Permit for substantially damaged structures in the floodplain. After Harvey, the county public health district pointed residents to its Facebook page for mold removal tips.