Mold After Flooding & Water Damage in New Orleans
After a hurricane, heavy rain or a burst pipe, the first 48 hours matter. Describe what happened once and independent local water-damage and mold companies can reply with free quotes. Here is what to do first and what a proper flood cleanup involves.
Get a Free Quote Call (504) 370-1142First steps after water gets in
- Stay safe. Do not walk into standing water until the power is off at the panel.
- Photograph and video everything before tear-out, keep samples if your adjuster asks, and dry out within 24 to 48 hours where you can.
- Call your insurer or flood adjuster before signing a cleaning or remediation contract (FEMA's advice).
- Once power is back, pull up wet rugs and run dehumidifiers.
- Renters: tell your landlord in writing, with photos, and keep a copy.
Describe your situation any time; companies reply on their own schedules.
Why flood water turns into mold
EPA says to dry water-damaged areas and items within 24 to 48 hours to prevent mold growth. Flood water soaks drywall from the bottom up, fills wall cavities and saturates insulation and carpet pad.
Signs that wet materials have gone past drying:
- A water line on the walls, or drywall that feels soft or crumbles at the base
- A musty smell a few days after the water receded
- Spots on the lower wall, the back of cabinets or the underside of furniture
What a flood mold cleanup typically involves
A contractor's quote usually covers these steps.
Document and extract
Photos and moisture readings, then water extraction.
Flood cut and tear-out
Drywall is cut in a straight line above the water mark, and wet insulation, carpet, pad and damaged flooring come out.
Clean the structure
Framing and subfloor are cleaned and HEPA vacuumed, with containment where mold is growing.
Dry and measure
Dehumidifiers and air movers run until framing reads dry. Closing walls early traps moisture.
Report, then rebuild
A written report of the work, an optional independent clearance check, then drywall and finishes, usually by a separate trade.
Flooding and storms in New Orleans
Every parish in the metro was in FEMA disaster declarations for Katrina (2005), Gustav (2008), Isaac (2012), Ida (2021) and Francine (2024).
- Hurricane Francine, September 2024: flash flooding across the metro. NWS gauges recorded about 9.5 inches near Metairie, 9.2 inches in New Orleans and 8.8 inches near Kenner, much of it within a few hours. Street water entered homes from rain, not storm surge.
- Hurricane Ida, August 2021: a Category 4 landfall at Port Fourchon. Roof and wind damage let water in, and widespread power failures, including a total loss of power in Jefferson Parish (NHC), shut off the AC that keeps houses dry.
- Hurricane Katrina, August 2005: about 80 percent of the city flooded, some areas for weeks (NHC).
A slab house floods at floor level and wets the wall cavities. A raised house on brick piers may keep water below the floor, but wet debris under it dries slowly; see crawl space mold. See the hurricane and flood checklist.
Mold cleanup itself usually isn't permitted work, but in New Orleans drywall replacement generally needs a permit, as do electrical, plumbing, roofing and historic-district exterior work. Your rebuild contractor should pull it. Other parishes have their own rules.
Insurance: flood policy or homeowners policy
Flood damage goes to your flood (NFIP) policy, and wind, roof and plumbing damage usually goes to your homeowners policy. Mold coverage depends on the cause and your policy's mold limits. FEMA says NFIP policyholders must take steps to limit mold after a flood and should talk to their adjuster before signing a cleaning or remediation contract. The guide does homeowners insurance cover mold in Louisiana? has more.
Storm contractor warning signs (Louisiana, 2021–2024 guidance)
- Verify the LSLBC license before you pay anything or sign.
- Get a written contract with the license number, scope and price.
- Avoid large upfront payments. Never pay with cash, gift cards, wire transfers or crypto (FTC, DOJ and CFPB, 2024).
- Taking payment and not starting work within 45 days can be residential contractor fraud in Louisiana (R.S. 14:202.1).
- Be wary of door-knockers.
- A 3-day right to cancel can apply to some contracts signed at home (R.S. 9:3538; FTC Cooling-Off Rule), with exceptions for emergency work you asked for. Look for the cancellation notice and read it.
More in storm contractor scams in Louisiana.
What flood mold cleanup costs
| Item | Typical range | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Water damage + mold combined | $2,700–$10,000 | Fixr, Aug 2025 |
| Walls | $1,000–$12,000 | Fixr, Aug 2025 |
| Whole house | $10,000–$30,000 | Fixr, Aug 2025 |
| Per square foot | $10–$30 · $10–$25 | Fixr, Aug 2025 · This Old House, Mar 2026 |
A whole-house job after a flood will often cross Louisiana's $7,500 license line. Louisiana requires a Mold Remediation license from the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors (LSLBC) for mold remediation projects of about $7,500 and up (La. R.S. 37:2150.1). Before you sign, look up the company's license on the LSLBC website or the LA Contractor app. See the cost page for a calculator.
Health note
The EPA and CDC describe the main health effects of indoor mold as allergic and irritant reactions. People with asthma, allergies or a weakened immune system may be more sensitive. If anyone in the home has symptoms, see a doctor. A mold company can clean a house, but it cannot give medical advice. Wear gloves, boots and eye protection during cleanup.
DIY or a company?
EPA says homeowners can usually handle a moldy area of less than about 10 square feet, and owners and tenants may do their own mold work without a license (R.S. 37:2157). Flood damage is usually far larger, and wall cavities need drying equipment and moisture readings. If you do it yourself, photograph everything first.
Questions to ask before you sign
- What is your LSLBC license number and classification? (Look it up on the LSLBC website before you sign.)
- Will you give me a written contract, signed and dated by everyone, with your license number, the full scope and the total price (R.S. 37:2159)?
- Can you send current certificates of liability insurance (at least $100,000) and workers' compensation (R.S. 37:2156.1)?
- Will I get a written report when the job is finished (R.S. 37:2158)?
- If I want testing, which separate, independent company will do it? (A remediation contractor may not assess the same property.)
- What is the water source, and who is fixing it?
Flood and water damage mold questions
How fast does mold grow after a flood?
Fast enough that EPA says to dry water-damaged areas and items within 24 to 48 hours to prevent mold growth. New Orleans humidity, especially without power for the AC, makes that window tight. Act quickly, but turn off the power at the panel before entering standing water.
Does flood insurance cover mold?
It depends. Flood damage goes to your flood (NFIP) policy, and wind, roof and plumbing damage usually goes to your homeowners policy. Mold coverage depends on the cause and your policy's mold limits. FEMA says NFIP policyholders must take steps to limit mold after a flood and should talk to their adjuster before signing a cleaning or remediation contract.
What is a flood cut?
A straight cut through drywall above the water line, so the wet lower section and the insulation behind it can come out and the wall cavity can dry. The height depends on how high the water rose and wicked up.
Should I sign with the first company that knocks on my door after a storm?
Slow down. Verify the company's LSLBC license, get a written contract, avoid large upfront payments and never pay in cash, gift cards, wire or crypto. If you have flood insurance, FEMA advises talking to your adjuster before signing a remediation contract.
Get flood mold quotes in New Orleans
Tell us what got wet, when, how high the water rose, whether you have flood insurance and whether you own or rent. Your request goes to independent local water-damage and mold companies, which may pay to receive requests. NOLA Mold Remediation does not do cleanup or handle insurance claims.
Independent local companies reply to you directly, on their own schedules. No obligation, and you choose who to hire, if anyone. Prefer to talk? Call (504) 370-1142
Found mold or a musty smell? Get free quotes.
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