Ask where Augusta floods and most people point at the Savannah River. The city’s own flood hazard page says otherwise: heavy rain, not the river, causes most flooding here. In practice that means water coming up out of Rocky Creek, Rae’s Creek or Spirit Creek, standing in a street whose drains cannot carry it away, or pouring through a roof that a storm has opened.
This page explains flood damage restoration in Augusta, Georgia: where the water comes from, what the levee does and does not do, how to go back into a flooded house, how the cleanup typically runs, and what insurance, permits and cost look like in Augusta-Richmond County. Augusta GA Water Damage is a free referral service that connects callers with independent local water damage restoration providers. It is not a contractor and does not do the cleanup, drying or repairs. The provider you are connected with does that work under its own terms and prices.
The subject here is water that came from outside: creeks, the river, street flooding and rain through storm damage. A burst pipe or a failed water heater belongs on the page about emergency water removal in Augusta, and a drain or sewer that backs up belongs under sewage cleanup in Augusta.
Creek, storm or street water in the house? Call to speak with a local flood restoration provider.
Where flood water comes from in Augusta
Augusta’s flood brochure lists four things that make the city prone to flooding: frequent and intense rain, river effects from northwest Georgia, prolonged heavy rain that includes upstream dam releases, and tropical storms and hurricanes that move inland or track over the area. Rain is in three of the four. NOAA’s 1991 to 2020 normals for Bush Field put Augusta at 44.09 inches of precipitation a year, with an inch or more falling on about 13 days and June the wettest month at 4.75 inches.
That rain has to leave through the creeks. The city’s watershed work plans, written in 2017, describe the basins that carry most of it.
| Creek | Area drained | Where it runs |
|---|---|---|
| Rocky Creek | About 17 square miles | 8.9 miles through heavily built-up ground, mostly between Gordon Highway and Bobby Jones Expressway, emptying into Phinizy Swamp |
| Rae’s Creek and Crane’s Creek | About 19 square miles together | Rae’s Creek passes through Augusta National Golf Club, flattens out below it and ends at the Augusta Canal; about 48 percent of the watershed is residential or commercial |
| Spirit Creek | About 64 square miles | Through the middle of Richmond County, east across Fort Gordon and Hephzibah to the Savannah River |
The city describes its historic floodplain as the areas around creeks and streams, some areas along the Savannah River, most local wetlands, and places such as Phinizy Swamp. Geography explains part of it. Most of Augusta lies in the Upper Coastal Plain, and downtown sits on flat land beside the river directly below the Fall Line, so water arriving from higher ground slows down and spreads once it gets here.
What the creeks do not carry, the storm drains must. Augusta’s Engineering Department maintains 731 miles of ditches, 568 miles of storm drains, more than 12,600 catch basins and nearly 1,000 detention ponds across 329 square miles. The city’s stormwater FAQ is frank about their condition: it says failures at places such as Patterson Bridge and Mims Road show the system is aging and needs rehabilitation, and that flooding downtown and in sections of neighborhoods affects residents and businesses.
The city’s stormwater project list shows where the pressure is. It names drainage or flood reduction work for East Augusta, Hyde Park and Wilkerson Gardens, Forest Hills, National Hills, and Goshen and Old Waynesboro Road, along with flood hazard mitigation on Rocky Creek. The list of Augusta neighborhoods covered goes area by area.
The river, the levee and the canal
The Savannah River used to be the main threat. The New Georgia Encyclopedia says the floods of 1888, 1908 and 1912 are what pushed Augusta to build its levee. The USGS peak-flow record for the river at Augusta shows 303,000 cubic feet per second in September 1888 and 307,000 in August 1908, and two larger peaks after the levee went up: 343,000 on September 27, 1929 and 350,000 on October 2, 1929.
The National Register nomination for the Downtown Historic District records the earthen levee as begun in 1913, 35 feet tall, and running more than five miles from the head gates of the Augusta Canal south to Butler Creek, with later repairs and improvements by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The nomination for Olde Town, the neighborhood once called Pinched Gut, dates the first levee to 1909 to 1918 and says it was built to protect that neighborhood from frequent river flooding. The Riverwalk downtown now runs along it.
Two other pieces of engineering shape the picture. Clarks Hill Lake, 22 miles upriver and created in 1954, is one of the reservoirs that regulate the river’s flow and provide flood control. The Augusta Canal, seven miles long and begun in 1845, brings river water into the city from above the rapids.
The canal ties the creeks to the older neighborhoods. Rae’s Creek was dammed when the canal was enlarged in the 1870s, which created Lake Olmstead. Harrisburg sits on mostly flat ground beside the canal, and the canal crosses the north corner of Laney-Walker.
What the city says about the levee
Augusta’s flood brochure tells residents that the levee lowers flood risk but does not remove it, that levees can fail, and that people in the levee-protected area may still have to evacuate in a major Savannah River flood. A house behind the levee can also flood from rain that cannot drain, which is a separate problem from the river.
The National Weather Service gauge listed as Savannah River near Augusta sets flood stage at 117.5 feet, moderate flooding at 120.5 feet and major flooding at 129.5 feet. Its impact statements say that at 129.1 feet water would be 8 to 10 feet deep in the lowest areas of Augusta. After Hurricane Helene the river peaked at 117.96 feet on September 28, 2024, less than half a foot over flood stage, in a storm that did most of its damage another way.
Going back into a flooded house
The city’s flood safety page gives two instructions for the return: check for structural damage before going in, and do not switch on lights or appliances until an electrician has checked the wiring. Federal guidance fills in the rest. None of it requires equipment, and all of it comes before any cleanup.
- Power. CDC says to switch off the main power only if the panel can be reached from a dry place. If getting to it means stepping into standing water, leave it and call an electrician. Never use an electric tool or appliance while standing in water.
- Gas. A smell of gas or a suspected leak means closing the main gas valve if you can, opening the windows and leaving the house at once, according to CDC.
- The water itself. Ready.gov says not to wade into floodwater, which can be contaminated and can hide dangerous debris. CDC’s list of what it can carry includes human and livestock waste, household and industrial hazardous waste, and downed power lines.
- Protective gear. Anyone who has to enter floodwater should wear rubber boots, rubber gloves and goggles, CDC says. EPA’s flood guidance adds that children and pets are kept away from flood and sewage water, and that any cut that touches it should be washed and disinfected immediately.
- Air. A house that has been closed up for several days should be opened and aired for at least 30 minutes before anyone stays inside (CDC).
- Generators. Fuel-powered generators give off carbon monoxide. EPA says they run outdoors only, at least 20 feet from the building, never in a home, garage or shed.
- Structure. Look up before walking in. The joint federal guide on cleanup after disasters tells people to check for sagging ceilings and floors and to watch for wet, muddy or slippery surfaces.
If anyone is in danger, call 911. Photograph every room, the water line on the walls and the damaged belongings before anything is moved, because both an insurer and a restoration provider will ask how high the water reached.
Once everyone is safe, call to be connected with a local flood restoration provider in Augusta.
October 1990 and Hurricane Helene: two floods locals remember
October 1990: the creeks, not the river
The city’s flood hazard page names October 12, 1990 as some of the worst flooding the area has seen. The USGS, which documented the event, attributes it to the remnants of Tropical Storms Klaus and Marco merging with a stalled cold front. Its report puts rainfall at 8 to 11 inches across the area on October 10 to 12, and NOAA’s daily record for the airport gauge at Bush Field adds up to 12.24 inches over the same three days.
The damage followed the creeks. The USGS report describes severe flooding on Butler Creek, Spirit Creek and Little Spirit Creek, several dam failures along Butler and Spirit Creeks, about $40 million in damage in the Augusta area and one death. On the Savannah River itself the same report found only limited flooding. It is the clearest local case of the city’s point about rain.
Hurricane Helene, September 27, 2024
Helene brought high wind and heavy rain together. The weather station at Bush Field measured a peak gust of 71 knots, about 82 mph, at 6:29 a.m. before the instrument stopped working. National Weather Service storm totals in Richmond County ran from 4.29 inches at Bush Field and 6.29 inches at Daniel Field to 8.58 inches south of South Augusta and 12.02 inches at Fort Gordon.
The NWS post-storm report lists 7 deaths in Richmond County, at least 9 homes destroyed and 278 damaged, many buildings hit by falling trees, and areas of flooding. FEMA’s major disaster declaration for Georgia, DR-4830, followed on September 30, 2024. The river itself went only just over flood stage. Falling trees figure heavily in the report’s account of the damage, and a tree through a roof during that much rain means water in the rooms below.
Storm water damage: when the roof opens
Storm water damage in Augusta, GA often has nothing to do with rising water. A limb or a whole tree opens the roof, shingles peel back in the wind, and rain falls straight into the attic. From there it soaks the insulation, pools on the back of the ceiling drywall, and tracks down inside wall cavities to places well away from the hole.
The first job is to stop more water getting in. Georgia’s Office of Commissioner of Insurance tells policyholders to contact their agent or insurer immediately after a loss and to protect the property from further damage, and tarping a damaged roof is the example it gives. Stay out from under a ceiling that is sagging or bulging, since wet drywall and insulation are heavy, and photograph the damage before anything is taken down.
How much has to be torn out depends partly on how the water is classed. The trade standard for water damage work is the IICRC S500, which sorts water into three categories by contamination. On March 16, 2026 the S500 Consensus Body issued a position statement that rain driven in from above and other weather-related water is not Category 3 by default, and that the category has to be based on the conditions actually found at the loss. In plain terms, rain through a roof is not treated like creek water unless what it has touched says it should be.
The insurance side differs too. The Insurance Information Institute’s rule of thumb is that water coming from the top down, such as rainfall, is generally a standard homeowners policy matter, while water rising from the ground up is a flood policy matter. Georgia’s insurance office says a standard homeowners policy covers damage from high winds and tornadoes but not from flooding. The policy itself decides any single claim.
After a declared storm emergency
The Georgia Attorney General’s storm alerts tell homeowners to avoid door-to-door offers of repair work, and to be wary of anyone who asks for full payment up front, takes only cash or refuses a written contract. An offer to pay your insurance deductible can be the sign of a scam. Georgia’s price gouging law applies during a state of emergency declared by the Governor, and only to the goods and services the Governor identifies.
How flood damage restoration works, step by step
General summaries of the S500 list rising water from rivers and streams, along with sewage, as typical Category 3 sources: grossly contaminated water that can cause severe health effects if touched or swallowed. That classification drives the whole job. CDC says drywall and insulation contaminated by sewage or floodwater are removed and discarded, not dried in place.
What follows is the sequence restoration providers typically work through after outside water has been in a house. The order matters more than the speed.
- Safety and power. The building is checked for structural, electrical and gas hazards before work starts, and an electrician clears the wiring before power is restored.
- Documentation. The water line, the affected rooms and the damaged contents are photographed and listed, which serves both the scope of work and any claim.
- Water and mud out. Standing water is pumped or vacuumed out and silt and debris are shoveled and washed off floors and out of wall bases.
- Removal. Anything that cannot be cleaned and completely dried within 24 to 48 hours is taken out, the federal rule of thumb for flood-wet materials. That usually means carpet and pad, wet insulation and soaked drywall.
- The flood cut. FEMA’s brochure says soaked wallboard is cut out to one foot above the water mark. The flood clean-up guide linked by Georgia’s Department of Public Health notes that where damage is less than four feet up the wall, removing drywall to the four-foot line may be cheaper.
- Cleaning, then disinfecting. Remaining hard surfaces are washed first. FEMA notes that disinfectants are meant for surfaces that have already been cleaned.
- Drying the structure. Dehumidifiers and air movers bring down the moisture in framing, subfloor and masonry, with readings taken as the job goes on.
- Checking before closing up. Walls are not rebuilt over wet wood. The guide linked by Georgia DPH treats studs and framing as dry once their moisture content is below 15 percent.
Two cautions apply to flood jobs in particular. EPA says a heating and cooling system that flood water has touched must not be used to help dry the house. Fans are also held back where contamination is possible or mold has started: EPA’s instruction is not to set up fans until the water is known to be clean, and federal guidance says fans can spread mold once it is growing.
Age of the house matters before any tear-out. EPA warns that older homes may contain asbestos or lead in their building materials, and Census survey estimates for 2024 put about 48 percent of Richmond County homes as built before 1980. The drying stage has its own page, water mitigation in Augusta, and mold remediation in Augusta covers what happens when the first 48 hours were missed.
Call to be connected with a local provider who can look at the house and explain the scope before work begins.
What can be kept and what has to go
The sorting rule is porosity. Materials that soak up contaminated water cannot be reliably cleaned, and materials that shed it usually can. The lists below draw on CDC, EPA and FEMA guidance.
| Usually discarded after flood water | Usually cleaned and kept |
|---|---|
| Mattresses, pillows and upholstered furniture | Solid wood framing and solid wood furniture |
| Carpet, carpet padding and rugs that cannot be thoroughly cleaned and dried | Concrete and concrete block |
| Drywall and insulation that the water reached | Hard, non-porous surfaces such as tile, metal and glass |
| Ceiling tiles, wall coverings and books | The subfloor, once cleaned and dried |
If you carry flood insurance, document before you discard. For a flood claim FEMA asks for photos and video of the damaged property and the make, model and serial number of appliances and electronics. It also says to keep samples of damaged carpet, flooring and curtains, and that items posing a health risk can be thrown away once they are documented. FloodSmart’s page on starting a flood claim sets out the steps.
Crawl spaces, basements and slabs
Much flood advice assumes a basement, and not every Augusta house is built that way. In Olde Town, the city’s design guidelines say brick is the usual foundation material and that many early houses stand on brick piers, with a crawl space beneath. After a flood that space holds water, mud and wet insulation directly under the floor framing. The flood clean-up guide linked by Georgia DPH says a flooded crawl space has to be opened to air, with openings at opposite ends, for the house to dry.
Where there is a basement, FEMA warns against pumping it out fast, because groundwater pressing on the outside can crack the floor and collapse the walls. Its test is to mark the wall, lower the water one foot and wait 24 hours. If the level holds, the rate it gives is two to three feet of water every 24 hours.
Newer houses in the region mostly sit on concrete slabs. An analysis of Census data by the National Association of Home Builders found that 85.7 percent of new single-family homes started in 2024 in the South Atlantic division, which includes Georgia, were built on slabs. A slab itself can be cleaned and dried, but the water runs under flooring and wicks up into wall plates and drywall, so the flood cut and the drying of the framing still apply.
Flood insurance, FEMA and what a homeowners policy leaves out
Augusta’s own flood insurance page says most homeowners insurance does not cover damage to a building and its contents from flooding, and that flood insurance generally has a 30-day waiting period after you apply. FEMA’s FloodSmart site says the same: a National Flood Insurance Program policy takes effect 30 days after purchase. The wait does not apply when the policy is bought while making, increasing, extending or renewing a mortgage, and it is one day when a property has been newly mapped into a high-risk zone and the policy is bought within 12 months of the map change.
| NFIP point | What FloodSmart says |
|---|---|
| Building coverage for a home | Up to $250,000 |
| Contents coverage for a home | Up to $100,000, bought as a separate coverage |
| Mold | Damage from mold is not covered, so the policyholder is expected to do everything possible to stop it growing and spreading |
| Living elsewhere during repairs | Temporary housing and additional living expenses are not covered |
| Basements | Personal property kept in a basement is not covered |
FEMA’s Community Status Book dates Augusta’s first Flood Insurance Rate Map to March 4, 1980 and its current effective map to November 15, 2019. One more gap is worth knowing: the Insurance Information Institute says a sewer backup is covered by neither a typical homeowners policy nor flood insurance unless separate cover was bought.
Helene put two numbers side by side. In a release dated May 6, 2025, FEMA said it had paid more than $26.3 million in flood insurance claims to more than 460 policyholders in Georgia. The same release said federal assistance and low-interest loans had gone to more than 399,300 households in the state.
That federal assistance followed the disaster declaration for Helene. Whether any help exists for a particular flood depends on whether a declaration has been made, so the places to ask are FEMA and the Augusta Emergency Management Agency. Nothing on this page is insurance advice, and a provider cannot promise what an insurer will pay.
Is your address in a flood zone? How to look it up
Georgia’s Environmental Protection Division develops and updates the state’s flood hazard maps through its floodplain management program, and it points property owners to georgiadfirm.com for a flood risk snapshot of a specific property. The same EPD page states the mortgage rule: an owner in a Special Flood Hazard Area in a participating community must buy flood insurance if the mortgage comes from a federally regulated or insured lender.
Being outside a mapped zone does not mean a street cannot flood, as the city’s remarks about its drains make plain. Augusta also runs a Flood Buyout Program, which the city’s floodplain page says has acquired 77 properties since 2000, demolished the houses and kept the land as open space that works as natural floodplain storage. For warnings, the Augusta Emergency Management Agency runs the sign-up for emergency flood alerts.
Permits and the fifty percent rule in Augusta-Richmond County
Flood repairs are permit work here. Augusta’s permit FAQ lists water-damaged properties by name among the jobs that need a building permit, and it says every electrical, plumbing, gas and mechanical job needs one, repairs included. Permits come from the Construction Division of the Planning and Development Department, and the FAQ says structural work must be done by a contractor holding a Georgia state license.
In or near a flood zone the city asks owners to call Planning and Development before altering a home, re-grading or placing fill. Its construction requirements page explains why. Augusta’s flood ordinance defines substantial damage as damage of any origin where restoring the building would cost 50 percent or more of its market value before the damage.
What the fifty percent rule triggers
A building in the flood hazard area that reaches the 50 percent mark must be brought up to the Base Flood Elevation plus 3 feet, Augusta’s freeboard requirement. The ordinance’s substantial improvement definition adds up repairs and improvements made during a ten-year period, so earlier work counts toward the total.
The same ordinance does not allow crawl spaces that are below grade on all sides inside flood hazard areas, and it requires flood-resistant materials below the base flood elevation. Rebuilding walls, floors and finishes after the dry-out is its own subject, covered under water damage repair in Augusta.
What flood cleanup costs and why it runs higher than a pipe leak
Augusta GA Water Damage does not set or quote prices. The provider you are connected with prices its own work after seeing the house. What can be said in general is why a flood job costs more than a clean-water leak of the same size.
- Contamination. Outside water means removing materials that a clean-water job would dry in place.
- Mud and debris. Silt has to be shoveled and washed out before cleaning can start.
- Framing. With drywall and insulation gone, the studs and subfloor still have to be dried to a measured target.
- Access. Crawl spaces and basements take more labor than an open room.
- Rebuild. Everything removed has to be replaced, and that is priced separately from the cleanup.
For a published figure, HomeAdvisor’s national cost guide, updated June 17, 2026, estimates cleanup at about $3.50 per square foot for clean water, $5.25 for gray water and $7.50 for black water, the category flood water generally falls into. Those are HomeAdvisor’s national estimates and not a local quote. The Insurance Information Institute advises getting written, line-by-line bids from licensed contractors, which also makes two scopes easier to compare.
Who to call about a flooded street or blocked drain
A restoration provider deals with the inside of a building. Water in the street, a ditch choked with limbs or a failed culvert belongs to the city, and the right office depends on the problem.
| Problem | Who handles it |
|---|---|
| Anyone in danger, fast-moving water, downed lines | 911 |
| Dumping or a major blockage in a drainage channel, such as downed trees | The Engineering Department’s Maintenance Division, through the city’s drainage maintenance page |
| Non-emergency reports about city services | Augusta 311, answered Monday to Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., or the free MyAugusta 311 app, which attaches a photo and location |
| Flood alerts and emergency management | Augusta Emergency Management Agency |
| Water inside the house | A restoration provider, reached through the number on this page |
The drains are paid for locally. Since January 1, 2016 most Augusta households have paid a stormwater fee of $6.40 a month, which funds the system described near the top of this page.
Checking the provider who does the work
Because providers are independent, the homeowner verifies license and insurance before hiring. The Attorney General’s office says general contractors, electricians, plumbers and heating and air contractors must be licensed in Georgia, and its consumer education site explains the lookup: at sos.ga.gov choose Licensing, then Licensee Search. The state contractor board advises asking for proof of general liability insurance and checking that the name on it matches the licensed person or business.
For the cleanup side, the joint federal guide on mold cleanup after disasters suggests looking for a professional affiliated with or certified by bodies such as the IICRC. Get the scope and the price in writing before work starts. Owners of rental houses and business premises face the same sequence and the same permit rules, and the S500 standard covers commercial and institutional buildings as well as homes.
The overview of water damage in Augusta, GA covers the other kinds of loss a house can suffer. The page on how this free service works explains what happens when you call.
Speak with a local flood restoration provider
Three facts make the first conversation useful: how high the water reached, whether the power is off, and whether you carry flood insurance. Add where the water came from, whether a creek, the street or the roof, and how long ago. Participating providers may offer 24/7 emergency response, but availability depends on the provider, the location and demand, and nothing here promises a response time.
Call the number on this page to be connected with an independent flood damage restoration provider serving Augusta.
Questions people ask
What should I do first when my home in Augusta floods?
Get people out of danger and call 911 if anyone is at risk. The city’s flood safety page says to check for structural damage before going in and not to switch on lights or appliances until an electrician has checked the wiring. Stay out of standing water, photograph every room and the water line, tell your insurer, and then call to be connected with a local restoration provider.
Is it safe to stay in the house, and when should I leave?
Leave at once if you smell gas, which is CDC’s instruction, and call 911 if anyone is in danger. The joint federal guide on cleanup after disasters says a flooded home should not be re-entered until professionals say it is free of structural, electrical and other hazards. The same guide says people with asthma, other breathing problems or weakened immune systems should stay out of moldy spaces. If officials order an evacuation, go.
Is floodwater contaminated, and what does Category 3 water mean?
Treat it as contaminated. CDC says floodwater can carry human and livestock waste, household and industrial hazardous waste and other hazards. Category 3 is the restoration standard’s term for grossly contaminated water, and general summaries list rising water from rivers and streams as a typical source. In practice, drywall and insulation the water reached are removed and discarded, not dried in place.
How fast does mold start after a flood in Augusta’s humidity?
FEMA says mold colonies can start on a damp surface within 24 to 48 hours, and EPA says wet materials should be dried within that window to prevent growth. Augusta’s air does not help: NOAA’s long-term record gives an annual average relative humidity of 86 percent in the morning, and 90 percent on August, September and October mornings. The joint federal guide on mold cleanup says a flooded home that was not dried within 24 to 48 hours should be assumed to have mold growth.
How long does it take to dry out a flooded house?
It depends on how much material stays in place and how wet the framing is. FEMA’s brochure says a wet or contaminated area usually takes two to three days to dry completely, and HomeAdvisor’s guide puts a water-damaged home at around five days. Providers dry to a measured target, not to a calendar, and rebuilding waits until the readings show the wood is dry.
What does flood damage restoration usually cost, and what makes the price go up?
This site does not set prices, and the provider prices each job after seeing it. HomeAdvisor’s national guide, updated June 17, 2026, estimates about $7.50 per square foot for black water cleanup against $3.50 for clean water. Contaminated water, mud removal, crawl space or basement access, the amount of drywall and flooring taken out, and the rebuild that follows all push a flood job higher.
Does homeowners insurance cover flood damage in Georgia, or do I need separate flood insurance?
Georgia’s Office of Commissioner of Insurance says a standard homeowners policy covers damage from high winds and tornadoes but not from flooding, and that flood cover is a separate policy bought through the National Flood Insurance Program. An NFIP policy for a home covers up to $250,000 for the building and $100,000 for contents, and generally takes effect 30 days after purchase.
Will FEMA help pay for flood cleanup?
Only in some floods. Federal assistance to households in Georgia followed the major disaster declaration for Hurricane Helene, made on September 30, 2024. Whether help exists for a given flood depends on whether a declaration has been made for it. Check with FEMA and with the Augusta Emergency Management Agency, and file with your own insurer in the meantime.
How do I find out whether my Augusta address is in a flood zone?
Georgia’s Environmental Protection Division points property owners to georgiadfirm.com, where they can look up a flood risk snapshot for a specific property. FEMA lists Augusta’s current effective flood map as dated November 15, 2019. A mapped Special Flood Hazard Area also decides whether a federally regulated or insured lender must require flood insurance. In or near a flood zone, the city asks owners to call Planning and Development before altering a home.
Do I need a permit to repair flood damage in Augusta-Richmond County?
Generally yes. Augusta’s permit FAQ lists water-damaged properties among the jobs that need a building permit, and electrical, plumbing, gas and mechanical repairs all need permits. In a flood hazard area, repairs costing 50 percent or more of the building’s pre-damage market value trigger elevation to the Base Flood Elevation plus 3 feet, so call Planning and Development before work starts.
What can be saved after a flood and what has to be thrown away?
Porous things that soaked up flood water usually go. CDC’s discard list includes mattresses, carpeting, carpet padding, rugs, upholstered furniture, pillows, books and wall coverings, and it says drywall and insulation contaminated by floodwater are removed. Solid wood, concrete, block and hard non-porous surfaces can generally be cleaned and dried. If you carry flood insurance, photograph items and keep samples of carpet, flooring and curtains before discarding, as FEMA asks.
Can I clean up flood damage myself, and when should I call a professional?
Flood water is the hard case for doing it yourself. EPA says water or mold damage caused by sewage or other contaminated water should be handled by a professional experienced with that kind of cleanup. For owners who do handle wet or moldy materials, federal guidance gives the minimum gear as an N-95 respirator, goggles and protective gloves, and says children should not take part. FEMA’s brochure says to consult a professional contractor when mold covers more than 25 square feet.
A storm put a tree through my roof and rain is getting in. What should I do?
Call 911 if anyone is hurt, and stay out from under a ceiling that is sagging. Georgia’s Office of Commissioner of Insurance says to contact your agent or insurer immediately and to protect the property from further damage, and tarping a damaged roof is its example. Photograph everything first. Under a March 2026 position statement from the S500 Consensus Body, rain from above is not Category 3 by default, so how much is removed depends on the conditions found.
Who do I call about a flooded street or a blocked storm drain in Augusta?
Call 911 if anyone is in danger. Dumping or a major blockage in a drainage channel, such as downed trees, goes to the Maintenance Division of Augusta’s Engineering Department. Other non-emergency reports go to Augusta 311, answered Monday to Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., or to the free MyAugusta 311 app, which attaches a photo and location. A restoration provider deals with water inside the building, not in the street.
Does the levee mean downtown Augusta cannot flood?
No. The city’s flood brochure says the levee lowers flood risk but does not remove it, that levees can fail, and that people in the levee-protected area may still have to evacuate in a major river flood. Separately, the city’s stormwater FAQ says flooding downtown affects residents and businesses, and that comes from rain and drainage, not from the river topping the levee.
How does this service work, what does the call cost, and who does the work?
Augusta GA Water Damage is a free service: you call the number on this site and are connected with an independent local restoration provider. The site does no cleanup, drying or repair and does not guarantee any provider’s work. The provider sets its own prices and terms. Before hiring, ask for proof of license and insurance and get the scope in writing.
How do I check a restoration provider’s license and insurance?
Check it yourself before hiring, because providers are independent. Georgia’s Attorney General says general contractors, electricians, plumbers and heating and air contractors must be licensed, and that some trades, drywall contractors and repair handymen among them, need no state license. Its consumer education site gives the lookup: at sos.ga.gov choose Licensing, then Licensee Search. The state contractor board advises asking for proof of general liability insurance in the same name as the license.