When Cooper River surge and hard rain push water into a North Charleston house, the first job is pumping it out, then stripping wet materials and drying the structure before damage spreads.
(888) 532-8921Call about storm flooding
Surge and creek water can hide contamination and electrical hazards, so people and pets should stay clear.
Turn off breakers for flooded areas only if the panel stays dry, and leave anything submerged to an electrician.
Photograph the flood height, flooring and belongings before anything is moved or thrown out.
Pumping should begin as soon as the water recedes enough to work, since framing absorbs contamination while it sits wet.
Hurricane and Storm Water Damage: the trade facts
Storm flooding around North Charleston arrives from two directions at once: tidal surge pushing up the Cooper River and Ashley River, and rain that has nowhere to drain on low ground. Either way, the water is classed as Category 3 because it carries soil, bacteria and runoff, so cleanup starts with removal rather than a quick dry. Speed still matters, since drywall and insulation wick water upward the longer they sit wet.
Storm water jobs in North Charleston usually cost from about $3,500 for one shallow room to $32,000 or more when the whole floor floods, because Category 3 water adds removal, disinfecting and longer drying.
$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 and truck-mounted extractors clear standing water from every affected floor.
Wet carpet, pad, insulation and the lower drywall are cut out and bagged.
Framing and hard surfaces are cleaned and treated with an antimicrobial.
Air movers and dehumidifiers run while readings are logged until the target is met.
Filbin Creek drains toward the Cooper River, and a Cameron Terrace resident described backyard water reaching six feet deep when the creek backed up. That kind of water carries sediment and contamination, so porous finishes cannot be saved. Hard surfaces can usually be cleaned and kept.
Rising water from a storm is often handled under a flood policy rather than a standard homeowners policy, while wind driven rain through a damaged roof may fall under the homeowners side. Photos taken before demolition and daily drying logs help the adjuster sort out which damage came from which source, and the roof leak page explains that second case.
Once dry readings hold steady, the crew removes equipment and the owner can rebuild. Large losses usually move from water extraction into structural drying before any reconstruction starts.
Storm calls cover ZIP 29405, 29406 and 29418, with regular work around Cameron Terrace beside Filbin Creek, Park Circle, Liberty Park and the Ashley Phosphate Road corridor.
The same service nearby: hurricane and storm water damage in Goose Creek, Hanahan, Charleston.
Water damage restoration in North Charleston · every town covered
Floodwater from creeks, surge and storm drains is Category 3, so gloves and boots are the bare minimum. Soaked drywall, carpet and insulation should be left to a crew with disinfecting supplies.
Rising water is commonly excluded from a standard homeowners policy and handled by a separate flood policy, while wind and rain through a damaged roof are often treated differently. Ask the adjuster early.
Most flooded rooms need three to five days of equipment, and thick materials such as hardwood take longer. Readings, not the calendar, decide when the job is finished.
Neighborhoods along Filbin Creek, including Cameron Terrace, flooded in Hurricane Matthew and Hurricane Irma, and the October 2015 rain flooded much of the region.
Hard surfaces and solid framing are usually cleaned and kept. Carpet, pad, insulation and drywall that soaked in contaminated water are normally removed and replaced.
No. Crews cut the drywall a little above the water line, remove the wet section and leave the dry upper wall in place.
Standing water after a storm?
Pumping, flood cuts, disinfecting and drying are documented from the first reading to the last, so the adjuster and the owner see the same record.