When harbor tide, surge or tropical rain pushes water into a Charleston home or shop, the crew pumps it out, strips soaked materials and disinfects before the drying team starts.
(888) 532-8921Flooded in Charleston? Call for pumping
Tide and surge water can hide sewage, sharp debris and live wiring, so children and pets stay out of it.
Switch off breakers for flooded rooms only if the panel sits in a dry area, otherwise wait for an electrician.
Capture the height of the water on walls, doors and furniture before anything is moved or cleaned.
Put electronics, paperwork and photos on counters or upper floors, then call dispatch for extraction.
Hurricane and Storm Water Damage: the trade facts
Charleston water arrives from several directions at once. The Ashley, Cooper and Wando rivers meet at Charleston Harbor, the peninsula is ringed by water on three sides, and summer thunderstorms add rain on top of the tide. Water that enters from outside is handled as storm flood water, not as a simple leak, and water extraction begins the work.
A flooded room usually costs in the low thousands, while a whole floor reaches the tens of thousands, because Category 3 cleaning, wide tear-out and longer drying all add labor. The ranges below show how the scope moves the total.
$3,500 to $8,500
$8,000 to $18,000
$16,000 to $32,000
Ranges are typical figures, not a quote. The category of water, the square footage, the material class and how fast drying started move the number most. The water damage cost calculator gives a closer range.
The tech who does the walkthrough finds the source and maps the moisture before equipment goes down, and the drying team keeps it running until the readings say dry.
Pumps pull standing tide or storm water from every wet room and the garage.
Soaked carpet, pad, baseboard and lower wallboard are cut out and hauled away.
Exposed framing and floors are cleaned and sprayed with an antimicrobial.
Air movers and dehumidifiers run until readings reach the dry target.
Tide and surge water crosses streets, yards and storm drains before it reaches a door, so it collects debris and bacteria along the way. Hurricane Matthew in 2016 caused extensive surge flooding in Charleston, and the October 2015 flood showed how heavy rain and high tides combine downtown. Those events are the reference points crews use when planning a flood job.
Once the structure is open, air movers and LGR dehumidifiers run while the technician logs moisture readings on every visit. Muggy coastal air slows evaporation, so equipment stays in place until framing, subfloor and trim reach their dry goal rather than a calendar date. See structural drying.
Repairs after a flood may need permits through the City of Charleston Permit Center, and some historic properties carry Historic Charleston Foundation or Preservation Society of Charleston easements. Dry-out records help the owner explain what was removed and why.
Storm water crews work in ZIP 29401 and 29403 and in peninsula neighborhoods such as Harleston Village, South of Broad, Ansonborough, Wagener Terrace and Hampton Park, plus West Ashley.
The same service nearby: hurricane and storm water damage in Goose Creek, Hanahan, North Charleston.
Yes. Water from outside can carry sewage, fuel and sharp debris, so skin contact and wet vacuuming at home are risky. Crews wear protective gear and treat the area as Category 3.
A leak starts clean, while surge and tide water cross streets and yards first. That contamination means carpet, pad and wet drywall usually come out instead of drying in place.
The water is handled the same way, because it enters from outside. Whether insurance pays depends on the policy, and flood coverage is often separate, so ask the insurer early.
Wallboard, pad and wood floors keep absorbing while water stands on them, and humid air slows evaporation. Early extraction limits how high the damage climbs into the walls.
Careful flood cuts and targeted drying protect trim and flooring, and properties with preservation easements may need permit steps first. The crew photographs every opening for the file.
Dated photos, moisture maps, equipment logs and the final dry readings go into one file, which supports a claim for the removal and drying work.
Flooded by tide or storm rain?
Standing water soaks drywall and flooring for as long as it stays. Extraction starts the dry-out, and the drying team stays until the readings agree.