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Extensive dampness and mold growth in buildings are some of the most common, yet overlooked indirect impacts of floods, which adversely affect human respiratory health, particularly among asthmatic individuals. There is currently a lack of understanding on interrelationships among flood characteristics and drivers, building and HVAC system properties (e.g., ventilation rates), human behaviors (e.g., time spent in homes) and vulnerability to mold growth (e.g., asthma symptoms) in the built environment, particularly in residential buildings. This project collects data in the aftermath of two recent catastrophic hurricane events - Ida and Ian - from affected residential buildings to study the relationships among flood characteristics, mold growth, building properties, human behavior and human respiratory health. Our interdisciplinary team uses survey questionnaires, laboratory experiments and machine learning modeling to answer the following scientific questions: (1) what flood characteristics and drivers, building and HVAC system properties and human behaviors cause higher levels of mold growth in residential buildings? and (2) how does living in submerged or water-damaged houses after floods affect asthma symptoms among the residents? The developed empirical database and identified relationships can be used to guide building designers and occupational health scientists to establish resilient indoor environments, provide a foundation to develop flood-induced mold growth and asthma risk models, assist public health officials and emergency managers to have a better understanding of indirect health-related impacts of floods and support the development of timely strategies for disaster management in population centers. 

Extensive dampness and mold growth in buildings are some of the most common, yet overlooked indirect impacts of floods, which adversely affect human respiratory health, particularly among asthmatic individuals. There is currently a lack of understanding on interrelationships among flood characteristics and drivers, building and HVAC system properties (e.g., ventilation rates), human behaviors (e.g., time spent in homes) and vulnerability to mold growth (e.g., asthma symptoms) in the built environment, particularly in residential buildings. This project collects data in the aftermath of two recent catastrophic hurricane events - Ida and Ian - from affected residential buildings to study the relationships among flood characteristics, mold growth, building properties, human behavior and human respiratory health. Our interdisciplinary team uses survey questionnaires, laboratory experiments and machine learning modeling to answer the following scientific questions: (1) what flood characteristics and drivers, building and HVAC system properties and human behaviors cause higher levels of mold growth in residential buildings? and (2) how does living in submerged or water-damaged houses after floods affect asthma symptoms among the residents? The developed empirical database and identified relationships can be used to guide building designers and occupational health scientists to establish resilient indoor environments, provide a foundation to develop flood-induced mold growth and asthma risk models, assist public health officials and emergency managers to have a better understanding of indirect health-related impacts of floods and support the development of timely strategies for disaster management in population centers.