Mold Matters: Health and Home Safety After Helene
In the shadow of Hurricane Helene’s devastation, a quiet battle rages on, fought not with sandbags or evacuation orders but with moisture meters and fungicidal sprays. The enemy? Mold.
On a chilly Monday morning, community members, nonprofit leaders, and local officials gathered at the Land of the Sky Association of Realtors for Mold Matters: Health & Home Safety After Helen [watch video], a workshop blending science and pragmatism to address an often-overlooked consequence of natural disasters. Organized by Thrive Asheville in collaboration with a host of local organizations, including Hood Huggers and Land of Sky Regional Council, the session offered hope, clarity, and actionable advice for a region grappling with the aftermath of catastrophic flooding.
Kate Pett, deputy director of Thrive Asheville, opened the session with a poignant reminder: “Recovery isn’t just about clearing debris—it’s about safeguarding the health and homes of our community for the long haul.” What followed was a master class in mold mitigation, equal parts technical expertise and grassroots resilience.
An Invisible Threat
Stephanie Maresca, a remediation specialist at Green Home Solutions, laid out the stakes. “Within 48 hours of flooding, mold starts to take hold,” she explained, highlighting its stealthy invasion of damp drywall, hidden crawl spaces, and even baseboards. Her advice was clear: act fast. For those unable to hire professionals, she shared practical steps—cutting drywall above waterlines and investing in affordable moisture meters to ensure surfaces remain below the 15% moisture threshold.
Rick Bayless, CIEC, HHS, JS, another expert from A Healthier Home, addressed the health risks: respiratory issues, chronic inflammation, and more insidious long-term impacts. “Mold isn’t just unsightly; it’s dangerous,” he said. Yet even as the challenges loomed large, the session offered participants a sense of control.
Tools for the Fight
Attendees took diligent notes as Stephanie and Rick outlined a dual-pronged approach. For DIY enthusiasts, N95 masks and fungicidal disinfectants were presented as first lines of defense. For those facing extensive damage or with vulnerable family members, professional intervention was urged.
The experts also discussed how to assess less obvious vulnerabilities. Crawl spaces—responsible for up to 50% of a home’s indoor air quality—were flagged as critical inspection points. Proactive measures, such as environmental resets using probiotics, were also presented as innovative methods to combat recurring mold growth.
A Collective Effort
The event was more than a lecture; it was a rallying cry for collaboration. Representatives from local nonprofits emphasized the importance of partnerships in ensuring equitable access to resources. After the session, Green Home Solutions and Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity started working with each other to provide these services on a county-wide scale, which is a great outcome from this moment together.
As the session wrapped up, participants lingered, sipping coffee and exchanging stories of resilience. One attendee, a single mother whose home had been inundated during Helene, said, “I came here overwhelmed and left with a plan. That’s everything.”
In the weeks and months ahead, Asheville’s recovery will hinge on efforts like this—practical, community-driven solutions that recognize recovery as a marathon, not a sprint. And as Thrive Asheville’s Kate Pett reminded everyone, “Every step we take to protect our homes and health strengthens the fabric of our community.”
For a city that has weathered so much, this is a fight worth winning.