Provider profile
First Response Disaster Team
Provider snapshot
What this listing says
Volusia and Flagler County homeowners dealing with mold after water damage who want an owner-operated restoration company that handles everything from extraction through reconstruction.
Best for
- Homeowners in Volusia or Flagler County who need mold remediation tied to a recent water event and want one company to handle testing, removal, and rebuild.
- Condo associations and property managers in coastal Central Florida dealing with recurring water intrusion and mold — several reviews come from repeat commercial clients.
- Buyers who want to talk directly to the owner during the inspection and estimate process rather than dealing with a sales rep.
- Emergency situations requiring same-day or after-hours response — reviewers consistently report arrival within 15-30 minutes of calling.
- Hurricane damage recovery where water, mold, and reconstruction all need to be managed under a single contract with insurance coordination.
About this company
First Response Disaster Team is a family-owned restoration company based in Edgewater, Florida, run by Ken and Anne-Marie Poulin. Their primary identity is emergency disaster restoration — water damage, fire, mold — not a mold-only shop. They are a Florida General Contractor and hold a mold remediation license, which means they can handle the full arc from water extraction through drywall rebuild without subbing out the general contracting.
What stands out is the range under one roof. They do air quality testing, mold remediation, water extraction with truck-mounted pumps, dehumidification, fire and smoke damage, sewage cleanup, bio-hazard and trauma scene work, and full reconstruction. They use infrared cameras and moisture meters to find hidden water. They also offer disaster planning services for businesses. The air quality testing page references IICRC and EPA standards. They coordinate directly with insurance adjusters and document the entire process with photos for claims.
Ken Poulin is the owner and frequently does inspections himself. Multiple reviewers note he spent 45-60 minutes on-site during initial visits. He and Anne-Marie previously worked at American Express, which they cite as the source of their service model. Office manager Tahna Cubbedge has been with them for almost six years. The company is a member of the Southeast Volusia Chamber of Commerce and was featured on WESH 2 during Hurricane Ian response.
The 4.5-star rating across 50 Google reviews is solid but not exceptional. Most of the positive reviews are enthusiastic five-star ratings praising honesty and speed. The two recent one-star reviews both appeared in July 2025 — one is a detailed complaint about reconstruction quality and billing after Hurricane Milton, while the other has no text.
Services
Service area
Headquartered in Edgewater, Florida. Covers five counties: Volusia (Daytona Beach, New Smyrna Beach, Port Orange, Ormond Beach, DeLand, Deltona, Edgewater), Flagler (Palm Coast, Flagler Beach), Seminole (Sanford, Altamonte Springs, Winter Springs), Orange (Orlando), and Brevard (Melbourne, Palm Bay, Titusville, Cape Canaveral). That is a large footprint — roughly 100 miles of coastline — so response times on the edges likely differ from their home base near New Smyrna Beach.
Review consensus
Ken Poulin draws the most praise by name — reviewers describe him spending extended time on-site, giving honest assessments, and sometimes telling homeowners they do not need remediation services at all. Several reviewers highlight free advice and referrals to other specialists when the problem fell outside FRDT's scope. The field crew — Brandon, Joe, Chad, Wade, John, and Bryan — gets consistent praise for fast arrival, hard work, and clear communication about what they are doing and why. Repeat clients include a property administration company (Julie D.) and multiple condo owners who have called FRDT two or more times. Anne-Marie (also called AnnMarie) is noted for being responsive and empathetic on the phone. Response speed is a recurring theme: multiple reviewers report arrival within 15-25 minutes, including on Friday evenings and during hurricane aftermath.
2 found across 50 total reviews at 4.5★. The detailed complaint describes a Hurricane Milton reconstruction project that stretched from October to February. The reviewer reports drywall with persistent cracks after two repair attempts, a paint job that had to be redone, a cleaning crew that used the same rag on every surface, and a final bill that doubled the original estimate. The owner responded at length, attributing the cost increase to homeowner-requested upgrades (whole-house paint and new doors/baseboards totaling roughly $20,000 beyond original scope) and noting that hurricane season strains subcontractor availability. The second one-star review from the same date has no text and comes from a reviewer with only 3 total reviews.
The detailed negative review is specifically about reconstruction quality — a different discipline from mold remediation or water mitigation. The reviewer acknowledges mitigation went smoothly; the problems started during the rebuild phase, which involved subcontractors the reviewer describes as rotating and unfamiliar with the project. This suggests the company's core mitigation and remediation work may be more consistent than their reconstruction arm, especially during high-demand periods like post-hurricane recovery. The owner's response is detailed and engages with each specific complaint rather than offering a template deflection, which indicates active reputation management. Worth noting: both one-star reviews appeared on the same date (July 24, 2025).
Ken Poulin (owner — praised extensively for honesty, knowledge, on-site time, and free advice). Anne-Marie / AnnMarie Poulin (owner — praised for phone responsiveness and empathy). Tahna Cubbedge (office manager — praised by a property administrator for keeping operations running). Brandon (field crew — praised repeatedly for professionalism and speed). Joe (field crew — praised repeatedly across multiple reviews for hard work). Wade (field crew — praised for quality work and returning things to original condition). Chad (field crew — praised for mold remediation work). John (field crew — praised for remediation and flood response). Bryan / Bryce (field crew — praised for mold remediation). Greg (field crew — praised for knowledge and professionalism). Christian P. (field crew — praised for detail during water damage setup). Justin (field crew — praised for responsiveness). Jayden (field crew — praised for responsiveness). Dale (field crew — praised for professionalism). Nathan (reconstruction — criticized in 1-star review for poor communication and oversight of subcontractors).
For mold remediation and water mitigation, this company has a strong track record — Ken's willingness to turn away work he does not think you need is a genuinely rare trait. Ask for Ken to do the initial inspection. If your project extends into full reconstruction, get a detailed written scope and cost breakdown before work begins, and confirm who will be your single point of contact throughout the rebuild.
Keep in mind
- They do both air quality testing and mold remediation. That creates a conflict of interest — the same company that tells you whether you have a mold problem also profits from fixing it. Consider getting an independent test from a separate inspector.
- Their service area spans five counties from Flagler to Brevard, roughly 100 miles of coastline. If you are on the edges — Melbourne, Palm Bay, Orlando — confirm actual response times before assuming you will get the same 15-minute arrival that Edgewater and New Smyrna Beach clients report.
- The most detailed negative review describes a reconstruction project where the final bill doubled the original estimate. The owner's response attributes the increase to homeowner-requested upgrades, but the disagreement itself is worth noting. Get line-item estimates in writing before work begins.
- Mold remediation is one service among many here, not the sole focus. If you need a company that does nothing but mold work, this is a generalist restoration outfit.