When Hurricane Katrina – one of the strongest storms in the past 100 years – struck the coast of the United States in 2005, it devastated the city of New Orleans, killing nearly 2,000 people and displacing people from their flooded homes for months to come. 

As a tribute to the experiences people endured during and after the storm, playwright John Biguenet recently debuted "Mold," the final work in his trilogy of plays based on the disaster. 

"'Mold' tells the story of Trey and Marie Guidry, a young couple who had lost their own home, and have now returned from Houston a year to the day after the flood to begin assessing what to do with his parents' home," states NOLA.com. "Their journey and those they encounter reveal the heartaches of loss, unresolved familial issues and often painful questions of just what home is."

Since flooding brings excess moisture into a house, it provides the perfect environment for mold to grow and thrive, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). With this in mind, it's essential for homeowners to do whatever they can to treat their properties and combat this hazardous fungus before it begins negatively impacting their well-being. 

Unfortunately, Hurricane Katrina isn't the only recent natural disaster that has led to significant mold problems among residents of the city it hit. Superstorm Sandy, which ravaged the East Coast in October 2012, has also left thousands of homeowners stuck dealing with the effects of the fungus. 

EPA data reveals that exposure to mold can cause mild to severe health problems, particularly for people who already suffer from asthma and allergies. No matter what, it's not good to be in its presence on a daily basis. To make sure your home or business isn't infested with it, contact a home inspection contractor to perform mold testing and help you determine if you're safe.