Palmetto is flat, low and surrounded by wetlands and floodplain along the tidal Manatee River, and the city's own flood guide warns that homes outside mapped flood zones can still flood. When water gets into a home here and can't be dried within a day or two, mold removal means cutting out soaked materials and drying the structure before repairs. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local mold remediation company in Palmetto.
Palmetto's flood picture
Palmetto sits on the north bank of the tidal Manatee River across from Bradenton, where U.S. 41 and U.S. 301 come together, about 30 miles from Tampa. The city describes itself as extremely flat with numerous wetlands and floodplains, and says storm surge is the greatest threat along the immediate coast. It also makes a point owners should take seriously: never having flooded doesn't mean a home won't flood in the future. About 31 percent of Palmetto's housing units are mobile homes, and nearly half of all units were built before 1980.
What to do now
- Wait for the all-clear, then shut off power to wet areas before going in.
- Photograph the waterline, flooring, furniture and the outside of the home.
- In a mobile home, check the skirting and underbelly for standing water and torn insulation.
- Remove soaked rugs, bedding and soft furniture to start drying.
- Don't run central air if water reached the ducts or air handler.
- Call your insurer, and ask about any flood policy separately from homeowners coverage.
What you see and the likely cause
| What you see | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Soft spots in a mobile home floor | Water trapped in the subfloor or belly insulation |
| Stains on paneling a foot or two up | Water wicking into the wall from a flooded floor |
| Mildew smell in an older home's closets | Humidity held in by walls that never fully dried |
| Dark patches at ceiling seams | Roof leak from wind-driven rain |
| Damp, stained cabinet floor under a sink | A plumbing leak that has been running a while |
Cost factors
HomeAdvisor reports a typical Tampa-area mold job at $1,248 to $2,550 and Angi reports $1,347 to $3,778, while Angi's range for mold in walls runs from $1,075 to $21,500. Flood-related jobs vary with waterline height, how long the home stayed wet, and whether a manufactured home's floor and wall panels need replacement. Palmetto's flood guide says repairs reaching 50 percent of a home's pre-damage value in a flood zone count as substantial damage and must meet new-construction standards. Permits come from the City of Palmetto Building Department on 17th Street West, and renters with unrepaired leaks can contact the city's Code Enforcement, which handles minimum maintenance and health and safety issues.
Post-Flood Mold Removal questions in Palmetto
Is flood mold removal different in a mobile or manufactured home?
Does homeowners insurance cover flood damage and the mold that follows?
What is the 50 percent rule after a flood?
Can I spray bleach and paint over flood stains once they dry?
More mold services in Palmetto
Post-Flood Mold Removal nearby
Sources
- EPA: Mold Cleanup in Your Home
- EPA: Homeowner's and Renter's Guide to Mold Cleanup After Disasters (pdf)
- Angi: How Much Does Mold Remediation Cost in Tampa, FL?
- HomeAdvisor: Mold & Asbestos Companies in Tampa, FL (cost data)
- Wikipedia: Palmetto, Florida
- Point2Homes: Palmetto demographics and housing
- City of Palmetto Flood Brochure
- City of Palmetto Building Department
- City of Palmetto Code Enforcement
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