Hurricane Ian made landfall in September 2022. For many Polk County homeowners, the storm created flooding that did not recede for days or weeks. Three years later, we still find properties in Haines City, Lake Hamilton, Dundee, and surrounding communities with active mold growth that traces directly to Ian's flooding — inside walls that were never properly dried or remediated.
What Hurricane Ian did to Polk County homes
Ian dropped record rainfall across Central Florida. Polk County saw flooding in areas that longtime residents said had never flooded before — including properties adjacent to new housing developments that changed local drainage patterns. Homeowners near Georgene Road in Haines City reported floodwaters that took days to recede. One Davenport resident documented floodwater surrounding his home's foundation for so long that the foundation began cracking.
Close to three feet of standing water sat in some Polk County yards for months after Ian. One resident, speaking to local media, said: "I'm beginning to smell mold in my air conditioner return" and projected May 2025 before the water would be fully gone with no additional rain. That extended moisture exposure created ideal conditions for mold to establish deep inside wall systems, crawl spaces, and HVAC systems.
Why Ian mold is still active in some homes
Standard homeowner response to flooding involves drying visible surfaces and hoping the problem resolves. In Florida's humid climate, it rarely does without professional intervention. Wet drywall inside a wall cavity does not dry — the ambient humidity is too high for moisture to leave the wall without active drying equipment. Mold established inside that wet wall continues to grow, spread to adjacent materials, and circulate spores through the HVAC system for months or years after the flood event.
Many Polk County homeowners received partial insurance settlements after Ian that covered some repairs but not full professional mold remediation. Properties that were repaired on the surface but not dried and remediated professionally are the ones we most commonly treat with active ongoing mold problems.
How to tell if Ian mold is still active in your home
- Musty smell that has persisted since 2022 or worsened over time
- Recurring mold spots on walls or ceilings that return after cleaning
- Chronic respiratory symptoms in family members since Ian
- Drywall that feels soft or walls that sound hollow differently than before the storm
- Floors that still feel slightly soft or uneven above a crawl space
- HVAC system that produces a musty smell when running
What to do if your Haines City home has Ian-related mold
Call Famico Mold Solutions for a professional inspection. We use thermal imaging cameras and moisture meters to find moisture and mold that remains inside walls from Ian flooding — without opening walls unnecessarily. If we find active growth, we prepare a written remediation scope and provide the lab-verified clearance report you need for insurance documentation or for your own peace of mind.
Three years of ongoing mold exposure inside a home is a serious health risk for your family. Call (863) 260-9515.