A flash flood leaves you with a lot to do and very little certainty. The water may be gone from the street but still in your house, and the first day decides how much of the structure ends up wet. We answer water damage calls across Azle and Tarrant County, and this guide is the order we would want a homeowner to follow: safety first, then stopping what you can stop, then documenting, then getting the water out and the drying started.
The safety steps below come from Ready.gov and the National Weather Service. We are not citing any particular local flood event. This is general guidance for a Tarrant County home.
Why Tarrant County homeowners should know this
Tarrant County sits on the West Fork of the Trinity River, and the Tarrant Regional Water District manages reservoirs on that river that it says can temporarily hold back water in heavy rain to reduce flooding downstream. We wrote more about that in our post on how Eagle Mountain Lake affects flooding in Azle. Managed lakes do not stop local runoff from reaching a house, and Ready.gov says that flash floods can come without warning and that flooding does not follow lines on a map.
Hour zero: safety
Ready.gov’s advice during a flood is blunt. Do not walk, swim or drive through flood waters. Its slogan is “Turn Around, Don’t Drown,” and it points out that just six inches of moving water can knock you down and one foot of moving water can sweep your vehicle away. If you are trapped in a building, it says to get to the highest level and not to climb into a closed attic, where rising water could trap you.
Afterward, both Ready.gov and the National Weather Service say the same thing: wait for authorities. Ready.gov says to return home only when authorities say it is safe. The Weather Service says not to enter a flood damaged home or building until you are given the all clear, and warns that water can cause floors to collapse and ceilings to fall.
The first hours: stay out of the hazards
Once you are allowed back in, treat the house with caution.
- Electricity. Ready.gov warns of the risk of electrocution and says not to touch electrical equipment if it is wet or if you are standing in water. It says to turn off the electricity to prevent shock if it is safe to do so. The Weather Service says to make sure the electrical system is turned off and to have the power company or a qualified electrician fix wires.
- Floodwater itself. Ready.gov says to avoid wading in floodwater, which can be contaminated and contain dangerous debris, and that underground or downed power lines can electrically charge the water. The Weather Service adds that floodwaters often become contaminated.
- Generators. Both sources warn that generators and gasoline-powered machinery belong outdoors only, away from windows, because of carbon monoxide.
- Animals. Ready.gov notes that snakes and other animals may be in your house.
- Protective gear. It recommends heavy work gloves, protective clothing and boots during cleanup, and says children should not take part in disaster cleanup work.
Document before you move things
Take photos and video of the water, the rooms and the damaged belongings before anything is moved. The Texas Department of Insurance advises taking pictures of damage because your company will ask for them, and it says not to make permanent repairs until an adjuster has seen the damage. TDI also says home policies do not cover flood damage and that you need a separate flood policy, so ask your agent what applies to you. Our post on Texas home insurance and water damage summarizes TDI’s guidance. The Weather Service suggests contacting your insurance agent to discuss property damage.
Call us early
Call as soon as it is safe to do so. We will ask about the water depth, where it is, whether the power is off and what has been affected, and we will tell you what to do while the crew is on the way. Our flood cleanup in Azle work covers pumping out standing water, removing soaked material that cannot be dried and cleaning up the dirt the water left behind.
Hours several through 24: get the water out
Standing water in a house keeps soaking in. The sooner it is pumped out, the less of the drywall, padding and flooring crosses the line from drying in place to replacing. Our crew uses pumps and extraction tools, takes out materials such as soaked padding that hold water, and checks wall bottoms and floors with moisture meters to see where water traveled.
By the end of the first day: drying should be underway
Once the water is out, the structure still holds moisture. Air movers push it off surfaces and dehumidifiers take it out of the air, and we track moisture readings until framing, drywall and subfloors come down to a normal range. Our dehumidification in Azle page explains why humidity control matters after a flood, especially in a closed-up house.
A short checklist
- Get safe and stay out of floodwater.
- Wait for the all clear before entering.
- Keep power off in wet areas.
- Photograph everything before it moves.
- Call us and describe the situation.
- Let the crew pump, extract and dry. Do not try to speed it up with household fans alone.
If you have water in your home now, contact Water Damage Azle or call. Our line is answered 24/7, including nights, weekends and holidays.
Sources
- Ready.gov, Floods
- National Weather Service, After a Flood
- Tarrant Regional Water District, Lake Levels: West Fork
- Texas Department of Insurance, What insurance do you need for water damage?