Mold Remediation in Englewood, FL

Three storms, the same homes

Residents of Englewood and Manasota Key describe Ian, Helene and Milton as three hurricanes in about four years, with some homes flooding repeatedly. Helene's heavy rain flooded many Englewood houses, and less than two weeks later Milton's surge destroyed some of them. Manasota Key had some of the worst surge damage in Sarasota County, with most homes on the north end heavily water-damaged. On the mainland near Indian Mound Park, surge swept appliances out of homes and flooded houses and garages.

When the same walls get wet again before they've fully dried, mold can spread into framing and behind cabinets where it isn't visible. The Florida Department of Health advises drying wet building materials and carpet within 24 hours after water gets in.

A seasonal town

Englewood is an unincorporated beach community about 66 miles south of Tampa, with a small shopping district on West Dearborn Street. More than half of residents are 65 or older, homes are mostly owner-occupied, and a large share of units sit vacant part of the year. A house closed up for months is a classic setup for mold if the AC is off or set too high, a roof starts leaking, or a supply line drips with nobody home. Before leaving for the season, many owners keep the air conditioning running to hold humidity below 60 percent and have someone check the house after storms.

Two counties, two sets of offices

Englewood spans Sarasota and Charlotte counties, so offices depend on your address. On the Sarasota County side, the county Building Division in Planning and Development Services issues permits, with offices at the Sarasota Operations Center and the R.L. Anderson Administration Center in Venice. Sarasota County Code Enforcement handles complaints there, including renters' reports of leaks that haven't been fixed. Charlotte-side addresses go to Charlotte County. Sarasota County calls flooding its most common recurring natural disaster, and its Community Rating System coordinator can help with flood map questions. Health questions on the Sarasota side can go to the Florida Department of Health in Sarasota County, whose environmental health specialist advises on indoor air problems including mold.

How the call works

You'll be connected with an independent local remediation company. Tell them whether the home flooded more than once and how long it sat wet. Florida's s. 468.8419 means an assessor can't remediate a home it assessed in the past 12 months, and the remediator can't assess it, so expect separate companies for each role. Confirm the remediator's license with DBPR's online search.