Mold Remediation in Douglasville, GA

Rain the county won't forget

The National Weather Service reports that the highest 24-hour rainfall of the September 2009 Atlanta-area floods, 21.03 inches, was measured at the Douglas County Water and Sewer Authority. The Dog River overtopped its USGS gauge by 12 feet. Local reporting put Douglas County's total at an estimated 20 to 23 inches over September 20 and 21, with washed-out bridges and damaged homes, many of them without flood coverage. Seven people died county-wide.

That storm is the extreme case, but it shows how fast water can get into a house here. EPA's rule after any flooding: if materials couldn't be dried within 24 to 48 hours, assume mold is growing.

The city today

Douglasville is the county seat and largest city in Douglas County, first incorporated in 1875, with about 34,700 residents at the 2020 Census. It's about 21 miles west of downtown Atlanta in a straight line. The historic downtown around O'Neal Plaza has become a regular film backdrop. Douglas Boulevard, Fairburn Road (SR 92) and Chapel Hill Road carry most traffic, and Arbor Place Mall, Hunter Park and the Bill Arp area are well known. Sweetwater Creek and the lake at Sweetwater Creek State Park are nearby, along with smaller lakes and ponds at Deer Lick Park and Hunter Park.

Everyday sources

Most mold calls aren't flood calls. A drip under a sink, a leaking roof valley, a clogged AC condensate line, or a crawl space that stays muggy all summer will do it. Red clay keeps water against foundation walls after heavy rain. EPA recommends keeping indoor humidity below 60 percent.

Permits and code complaints

Inside city limits, the City of Douglasville Building Division in the Community Development Department issues building permits. Replacing framing, subfloor or large wall sections after mold removal may need one. Code Compliance is in the same department and is the place for property maintenance complaints, including a landlord who won't fix a leak.

Georgia law (O.C.G.A. 44-7-13) requires landlords to keep rental property in repair. Georgia Legal Aid recommends written repair requests with copies kept. Georgia does not allow tenants to withhold rent. This is general information, not legal advice.

Health

Cobb & Douglas Public Health is the state health district covering Douglasville. EPA says mold can irritate the eyes, skin, nose, throat and lungs, and that people with asthma or weakened immune systems should stay away from moldy areas. Children shouldn't help with flood cleanup. See a health professional with health concerns.

Choosing a company

Georgia has no state mold license or certification. For a job that includes rebuilding, confirm a Georgia residential or general contractor license on GOALS Verify Now. When you call the number on this page, you'll be connected with an independent local company; tell them whether the water came from outside or from a leak inside.