Mold in Walls & Drywall in New Caney, TX

We had high water in May 2024. How do I know whether the walls are still a problem?

In May 2024, heavy rain north of the Lake Conroe watershed flooded the Lake Houston area, and New Caney residents were pointed to the Montgomery County Disaster Recovery hotline for help. Walls that took water then and were dried in place, rather than opened, are worth checking. Signs include a musty smell that returns on humid days, paint that bubbles near the floor and baseboards that feel soft. A mold assessment consultant can take moisture readings and look inside with a small inspection hole before deciding how much to remove. EPA's rule of thumb after flooding is to assume mold wherever materials weren't dried within 24 to 48 hours.

What else puts water inside walls out here?

New Caney grew along Caney Creek with ranches, mills and stores, and today many homes sit in subdivisions off US 59 / I-69. Away from the creek, the common sources are the same as anywhere in the region: an attic air handler whose condensate line clogs and overflows the pan, plumbing walls behind tubs and sinks, and long rain events that push water past windows. Any of these can keep drywall wet long enough for growth on the back side, out of sight.

Who issues permits for rebuilding in unincorporated Montgomery County?

New Caney is unincorporated, so the Montgomery County Permit Department, part of Environmental Health at 501 N. Thompson in Conroe, handles development permits and lists a separate East Montgomery County phone line. The county requires a development permit for substantially damaged structures in the floodplain, and its floodplain rules treat floodways as extremely hazardous because of fast-moving water. Ask the county before rebuilding flood-damaged walls; mold removal itself follows Texas TDLR rules, with the assessment consultant and the remediation company kept separate on the same project.

Local note

Montgomery County Public Health District does not list mold or housing conditions among the complaints it takes. After Harvey, its flooding and storm resources page pointed residents to the district's Facebook page for mold removal tips. For health questions, talk with a health professional.