Mold Removal & Remediation in Powder Springs, GA

How bad has flooding been here?

Powder Springs is a small west Cobb city about 19 miles from downtown Atlanta, named for seven mineral springs within its limits. Powder Springs Creek, Noses Creek and Sweetwater Creek all run nearby. During the September 2009 floods, National Weather Service gauges listed at Powder Springs showed Powder Springs Creek cresting at 19.82 feet against a 12-foot flood stage, Noses Creek at 23.20 feet against 11 feet, and Sweetwater Creek at 31.45 feet against 13 feet. USGS reported that flooding on Powder Springs Creek greatly exceeded the estimated 500-year flood. Homes that took on water then, or that sit on low ground near those creeks, are where mold problems tend to show up.

What should I do if water gets in again?

Move fast. EPA says to dry water-damaged areas within 24 to 48 hours, and if the house cannot be dried in that window, to assume mold is growing. Pull out wet carpet and pad, open up wet drywall from the bottom, and get air moving and dehumidifiers running once it is safe. Keep children out of cleanup, wear at least an N-95 respirator, and leave large areas to a remediation company. Do not run an HVAC system that sat in water until it has been checked. Photograph everything for insurance before tear-out.

What permits and checks apply to the rebuild?

The City of Powder Springs says a permit application and construction drawings go to the Community Development Department. Plan the order: removal, cleaning and documented drying first, then rebuild. Georgia has no state mold license, so for rebuilding ask whether the company holds a Georgia residential or general contractor license and check it on the Secretary of State's GOALS Verify Now lookup.

For renters

The Powder Springs Quality of Life Division takes code violation reports within city limits. Notify your landlord in writing first; under O.C.G.A. 44-7-13 the landlord must keep the premises in repair. Cobb and Douglas Public Health says it has no authority over mold in rentals, though tenants with mold from a structural or mechanical failure may contact building inspections. This is general information, not legal advice.