What happened?
Pick what's going on. We'll show you what to do in the first 48 hours, what it should cost, and what insurance usually covers. Written for homeowners, renters and landlords by an independent publisher, not a contractor.
- I found moldIs it dangerous, can I clean it, who do I call
- Water leak or burst pipeShut it off, dry it in 48 hours, document it
- FloodingRe-entry, cleanup, FEMA and flood insurance
- Fire or smokeAfter the fire department leaves
- Storm, hurricane or roofTarping, trees, wind claims, scams
- Sewage backupCategory 3 water: what not to touch
- Biohazard or traumaUnattended death, crime scene, hoarding
- Insurance problemCoverage, claims, denials, adjusters
- I need to hire a proLicenses, red flags, questions to ask
Updated October 29, 2026
Hurricane Isaias 2026: cleanup, insurance claims and FEMA status
Hurricane Isaias hit near Destin, Florida, on Oct. 9, 2026. Where FEMA aid stands, how to file wind and flood claims, Florida AOB rules and official numbers.
What it should cost
Published price guides disagree by two to three times. Our cost pages put every major source side by side, with dates, and show you what should appear on an honest quote.
- Biohazard cleanup cost: crime scene, unattended death and hoardingBiohazard cleanup usually costs $1,500 to $5,000, and complex scenes can reach $25,000. See Fixr and HomeGuide figures by scenario and who pays.
- Emergency roof tarping and board-up cost: what you should payRoof tarping averages $450 to $650, or $0.70 to $2.80 per square foot. Board-up averages $250 per window. What drives the price and what the quote must list.
- Fire and smoke damage restoration cost in 2026: three sources comparedFire damage restoration ranges from about $3,000 to $52,000, with Angi and HomeAdvisor averaging $27,477. Compare smoke, soot and odor costs by source.
- Flooded basement cleanup cost: what the published numbers sayFlooded basement cleanup typically runs $2,000 to $7,000, about $4,000 on average. Compare Angi, HomeGuide, Fixr and HomeAdvisor by water category and depth.
- Mold inspection and testing cost in 2026: what each source saysA professional mold inspection usually costs $300 to $1,075. Air samples, swabs and clearance tests are often billed extra. See every source and date.
- Mold remediation cost in 2026: eight published sources reconciledMold remediation usually costs $1,200 to $6,000, with published averages from $2,225 to $3,500. See every source, its date, and why they disagree.
- Public adjuster fees by state: caps, math and what to askPublic adjusters usually charge a percentage of your claim payout. See verified state fee caps (FL, TX, NY, VA, CA) and a worked example of the math.
- Sewage backup cleanup cost: HomeGuide, SERVPRO and Fixr comparedSewage backup cleanup usually costs $2,000 to $10,000, and black water runs about $7 to $12 per square foot. See each published source and its date.
- Water damage restoration cost: Angi, HomeGuide, Forbes, FixrWater damage restoration usually costs $1,300 to $6,400, with published averages of $3,000 to $3,868. Compare every source by category, class and date.
Most people call their insurer first. Know what happens next.
Filing and fighting a claim
Mold, without the scare stories
What the CDC, EPA and the National Academies actually say about health effects, when you can clean it yourself (about 10 square feet, per EPA), and when you need a licensed pro.
- Black mold: what it is, whether it's dangerous, and what to doBlack mold usually means Stachybotrys, but many molds look dark. CDC says treat all mold the same: remove it, fix the moisture, and skip testing for type.
- Mold exposure symptoms: what the evidence supports and what it doesn'tIndoor mold is linked to stuffy nose, cough, wheeze and asthma flare-ups. Fatigue, brain fog and memory problems are not supported by current evidence.
- How to get rid of mold yourself (and when you should not)EPA says you can usually clean mold under about 10 sq ft yourself: fix the leak, wear an N95, scrub hard surfaces with detergent, discard porous items.
- What professional mold remediation involves, step by stepMold remediation follows a set order: fix the water, contain the area, filter the air, remove porous materials, clean, dry and verify. Here is each step.
- Are home mold test kits accurate? What CDC and EPA say about testingCDC does not recommend mold testing, and kits can't tell you if a home is safe. Why kits mislead, what ERMI is, and when a paid inspection is worth it.
- Mold after a flood or hurricane: the 72-hour, 2-week and 60-day planAfter a flood, assume mold if you can't dry out within 24 to 48 hours. A plan for the first 72 hours, two weeks and 60 days, with Florida claim rules.
Why you can trust this guide
We are a publisher, not a contractor. We don't do restoration work, sell your phone number or take a cut of your claim. We never ask for your contact details.
Every number has a dated source. Health facts come from the CDC, EPA and peer-reviewed reviews. Laws come from the statute. Prices come from named guides, shown side by side.
Dated, and fixed fast. Every page shows when it was last updated and whether an expert has reviewed it. When guidance changes, we update the page. Our editorial policy.
Recently updated
- A tree fell on your house: first steps and who paysWhat to do when a tree falls on your house: get out if the structure is damaged, stay clear of downed lines, call the right people, and see which policy pays.
- Additional living expenses: what loss of use coverage paysAdditional living expenses (ALE) coverage pays the extra cost of living away from a damaged home. What counts, typical limits, and how to document it.
- Burst pipe: shut off the water, limit the damage, and who to callA pipe just burst. Close the main valve, stay clear of wet electrics, open the faucets, photograph everything and start drying within 24 to 48 hours (EPA).
- Ceiling water damage: stains, sagging, and when it can collapseA sagging ceiling is heavy and can fall. Stay out from under it, cut the breaker, find the source, then dry or replace the drywall within 24 to 48 hours (EPA)
- Dealing with the insurance adjuster: what to say, what not to sayWho the adjuster works for, what the inspection covers, what to say and not say, your duty to cooperate, how to disagree, and Florida's claim deadlines.
- Duty to mitigate: what your policy requires you to do right nowThe duty to protect property from further damage: what counts as reasonable, who pays, how delay feeds mold and neglect exclusions, and Florida's AOB rules.