In Asheville, North Carolina, residents face worsening mold infestations in aging apartments following Hurricane Helene's heavy rains in 2024. The storm exacerbated water damage in complexes like Evergreen Ridge Apartments, leading to health issues such as coughing and sinus problems for vulnerable tenants. Climate-driven heat and humidity are making mold harder to control in the Southeast.
Hurricane Helene dumped more than 12 inches of rain on Asheville in 2024, causing rainwater to seep into apartments at Evergreen Ridge, a nearly century-old complex once used as a Department of Veterans Affairs hospital. Tenants, including single mother Regina, reported mold growth behind appliances and around windows after the storm, building on prior issues from a dishwasher flood. Regina, a nurse who requested anonymity, described scrubbing weekly but watching spores return, with her son's past allergic reactions—itchy eyes and coughing—heightening her concerns. "My cabinets are falling apart," she said, pointing to damp bathroom areas. "You can touch it. It falls apart. And that's from water damage, obviously."
The complex's three buildings house many elderly residents, those with disabilities, and families with young children. Leaky pipes and a musty smell pervade the property, worsened by the storm despite its elevated location avoiding direct flooding. Owner Shadow Ridge Associates and a property manager declined to comment.
Mold, a moisture-loving fungus, thrives in temperatures of 60 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit and humidity above 70 percent—conditions increasingly common due to climate change's heavier precipitation, flooding, and heat. Post-Helene, Duke University's Climate and Fungi Research Group (CLIF) collected samples in nearby Black Mountain, identifying 65 species, including aspergillus and Penicillium citrinum. Microbiologist Asiya Gusa noted, "For people with chronic respiratory illnesses or conditions like asthma, substances produced by fungi may worsen their symptoms. That's what we're trying to understand."
Health effects vary by exposure and individual factors, causing nonspecific symptoms like headaches and respiratory irritation, especially for children, older adults, and those with preexisting conditions. North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services' Virginia Guidry explained, "We don't actually have a great way to track mold cases because those symptoms are fairly non-specific."
A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study found mold-related symptoms in about 3.5 of every 10,000 privately insured people and 8.5 of every 10,000 on Medicaid. Remediation expert Dylan Hunt reported mold appearing within 24 to 48 hours of minor flooding, with Asheville's record-hot July exacerbating growth. Legal aid attorney David Bartholomew observed a 35 percent rise in mold-related cases since spring, amid limited renter protections in North Carolina. Tenants like Dana and families such as Ginger and Amanda Simmons struggle with persistent symptoms and scarce mold-free housing options.
