FORT MYERS, Fla. — Floridians are getting a nose-full of putridity when they walk out their front doors.

Category 3 Hurricane Irma pounded Southwest Florida Sunday, leaving behind a trail of destroyed buildings, downed trees and powerless power lines. 

The storm also left behind some funky odors. 

So not only did residents spend a week preparing for a hurricane and a second week without power, but they're going to be assaulted every time they take a breath.

So, what's that smell? Here's a list of possible culprits:

Mold and mildew after a disaster

Discolored walls or ceilings with water damage are one sign of possible mold issues, and the mold may give off a foul, earthy smell. 

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention recommends residents dry out and clean any wet buildings within 24 to 48 hours, if possible, to control the spread of mold. It also suggests opening doors and using fans. 

People who are sensitive to mold may experience irritated eyes, wheezing, stuffy nose, or skin irritation. People who are allergic to mold may have difficulty breathing and shortness of breath, the CDC says. 

"People with weakened immune systems and with chronic lung diseases, such as obstructive lung disease, may develop mold infections in their lungs," the CDC says. 

Decaying organic material 

Irma left behind untold numbers of down trees, snapped limbs and uprooted bushes, and all of that material is dying. Wet rot fungus, jelly rot fungus and other types of fungus break down the tougher materials and allow bacteria and insects to get into the rotting wood. 

Many critters take part in the decomposition process, "including beetles and their larvae, flies and maggots (the larvae of flies), woodlice, fungi, slime molds, bacteria, slugs and snails, millipedes, springtails and earthworms," reads a Trees For Life report. 

Raw sewage 

Already there are reports of backed up sewer systems in Fort Myers and Lee County.

Many older and more moderately priced communities have septic tanks in their yards, and even the best of these systems will fail after a few decades. 

Sewers and septic tanks are obviously yucky places themselves, but they can contribute to the foul smell in the air greatly if they back up with rain or storm surge and cannot properly treat or dispose of their contents. 

Stagnant water 

Hurricane Irma dropped about 10 inches of rain, on average, across Southwest Florida, and many areas already had standing water from heavy rains the previous two weeks. Stagnant fresh water typically smells stale and muddy, with a little bit of that rotting-matter smell. 


Gas supplies have been short across the region, ever since before Hurricane Irma made landfall Sunday. 

Many Floridians have been carrying gas cans with them, either to supply fuel for their generators at home or to make sure they have enough gas to get through gridlocked traffic either evacuating from or returning to the region. 

Follow Chad Gillis on Twitter: @ChadGillisNP

Hurricane Irma: Complete coverage from the USA TODAY Network