Post-Flood Mold Removal in Highlands, TX

The river and Highlands homes

Highlands is an unincorporated community in industrial east Harris County, about 24 miles from downtown Houston, on the higher east bank of the San Jacinto River near the Houston Ship Channel. It began as an early-1900s rail stop and grew during World War II, when it housed military members and war-plant workers. Higher ground does not protect every street. In an October 2015 storm, an EF-0 tornado closed FM 2100 while the San Jacinto rose about six feet above normal and flooded some homes near the river. Homes off Main Street, East Wallisville Road or near the Lynchburg Ferry each have their own drainage story, so the house itself tells you more than the map.

Clean it or cut it out

The mold assessment consultant's protocol sets the exact quantities, and the remediator must follow it.

Signs the house needs more than drying

• Fans and dehumidifiers have run for days, but the smell is still there
• Spots are spreading on lower walls or door casings
• Vinyl or laminate flooring is curling at the seams
• Closets and stored clothing in flooded rooms smell of mildew

Timing

EPA's disaster guide says to assume mold growth if a flooded home could not be dried within 24 to 48 hours. Start drying as soon as it is safe, photograph everything, and keep children out of the cleanup. The consultant's protocol comes at least a day before removal, and jobs of 25 contiguous square feet or more are reported to TDLR five days before they start. Rebuilding needs a permit from the Harris County Office of the County Engineer, and 100-year floodplain work needs drawings sealed by a Texas architect or engineer.