Water Extraction Guides · Causes & Prevention

Flood Water Extraction After Heavy Rain in Louisiana

Heavy rain is one of the most common causes of water in a Louisiana home. Rain falls faster than the ground and the drains can carry it away, water gathers at low doorways and around the base of a home, and it finds its way inside through gaps, thresholds, and low openings. When it does, the water on the floor is not clean water: it has travelled across soil and surfaces on its way in, and it needs professional-only handling.

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This guide explains flood water extraction after heavy rain, and what extraction covers once the rain has eased, for homes in Houma and Slidell alike. For the service itself, the flood water extraction page gives a general outline. Never enter a flooded building, and never handle electrics in standing water.

How heavy rain floods a home

Heavy rain floods a home when the water arriving is more than the ground, the gutters, and the drains can carry away. Water gathers in low spots around the home, rises against door thresholds, and enters through gaps at the base of walls, through low windows, and under doors. In Louisiana, where much of the land is low-lying and the soil is often saturated, a single heavy downpour can put water against a home that has stayed dry for years.

Rain can also enter from above. A roof leak that is minor in light rain becomes a steady stream in a downpour, and water that enters through the roof travels down inside walls before it shows on the floor below. Gutters that overflow send water down the walls and against the base of the home, where it finds its way inside through gaps that are invisible in dry weather.

What the water carries with it

Rain water that has travelled across the ground carries soil, debris, and contaminants with it, and it is not the same as clean water from a pipe inside the home. It should not be waded through or handled without care, and it should be kept away from cuts and open skin. If the water has come into contact with sewage, it is Category 3 black water, and it is handled with professional-only care.

The water also carries the risk of hidden hazards under the surface. Drains, debris, and uneven ground are hidden by standing water, and the depth of the water is hard to judge by eye. Stay out of the water, keep children and pets clear, and let a professional assess the home before anyone enters the affected rooms.

Rain can also enter from above, and that route is easy to miss. A roof leak that is minor in light rain becomes a steady stream in a downpour, and water that enters through the roof travels down inside walls before it shows on the floor below. Gutters that overflow send water down the walls and against the base of the home, where it finds its way inside through gaps that are invisible in dry weather.

Flood Water Extraction After Heavy Rain in Louisiana — Louisiana water guide

The first steps after the rain

Once the rain has eased and it is safe to approach the home, the first step is to call a professional from a dry place. The number is (877) 624-0105, and availability is confirmed on the call. Describe what happened, where the water is, how deep it is, and how far it has spread. Mention whether the water has reached electrics, and whether the home is safe to approach at all.

Do not try to start the extraction yourself, and do not enter the home to check the damage until a professional has looked at it. Your job is to stay safe, give clear information, and keep the affected area clear. Photographs taken safely from a dry place are useful, and they are a record of the condition of the home.

The water that comes in with heavy rain is not clean water. It has travelled across soil and surfaces on its way in, and it carries soil, debris, and contaminants with it. It should not be waded through or handled without care, and it should be kept away from cuts and open skin. If the water has come into contact with sewage, it is Category 3 black water, and it is handled with professional-only care.

What extraction covers after rain flooding

When the technician arrives, the first job is a careful look at the home. The depth and spread of the water are judged, the rooms affected are mapped, and the entry points of the water are noted, whether at a low doorway, through a roof leak, or at the base of a wall. The materials the water is touching are checked, and moisture is read with a meter, because water hides in gaps and inside wall cavities.

Extraction then takes out the standing and trapped water, working room by room from the worst affected. Pumps clear the pools, and extractors pull the water held in carpet and flooring. After extraction, drying begins, and moisture readings through the drying stage decide when the job is finished. No outcome is promised for any individual job.

After the rain has eased, the first step is a call from a dry place. Describe what happened, where the water is, how deep it is, and how far it has spread, and mention whether the water has reached electrics. Do not enter the home to check the damage until a professional has looked at it, and do not try to start the extraction yourself.

After the water is out

After the job, watch the affected area in the following weeks for new damp spots or a musty smell, and call if anything appears. The entry points found during the visit are worth noting, because they show where water can get in again, and they are the places to watch in the next heavy rain. Gutters, drainage, and the ground around the home are worth a look once things are dry, and that is covered in its own guide elsewhere on this site.

If you are facing flood water now, call (877) 624-0105 from a dry place. Never enter a flooded building, and never handle electrics in standing water.

The entry points found during the visit are worth remembering, because they show where water can get in again. Gutters, drainage, and the ground around the home are worth a look once things are dry, and those habits are covered in their own guides elsewhere on this site. A home that is watched after a flood is a home that is better prepared for the next heavy rain.

Key Takeaways

Heavy rain floods a home when the water arriving is more than the ground, the gutters, and the drains can carry away.
Rain water that has travelled across the ground carries soil, debris, and contaminants with it, and it is not the same as clean water from a pipe inside the home.
Once the rain has eased and it is safe to approach the home, the first step is to call a professional from a dry place.
When the technician arrives, the first job is a careful look at the home.
After the job, watch the affected area in the following weeks for new damp spots or a musty smell, and call if anything appears.

Questions About Flood Water Extraction After Heavy Rain in Louisiana

How does heavy rain flood a home?

Rain falls faster than the ground and the drains can carry it away, and water gathers at low doorways and around the base of a home, entering through gaps, thresholds, and low openings. Rain can also enter through a roof leak, travelling down inside walls before it shows on the floor.

Is rain flood water safe to wade through?

No. Rain water that has travelled across the ground carries soil, debris, and contaminants, and it hides hazards under the surface. Stay out of the water, keep children and pets clear, and let a professional assess the home.

What does extraction cover after rain flooding?

Extraction takes out the standing and trapped water, working room by room from the worst affected, and the drying stage that follows deals with dampness left in materials. Moisture readings through drying decide when the job is finished.

What should I do once the rain has eased?

Call a professional from a dry place and describe what happened, where the water is, and how far it has spread. Do not enter the home to check the damage until a professional has looked at it.

Your Next Step

If this guide matches what you found at home, the next step is a visit — not a guess. Call and describe what you found, and the visit is arranged from what you describe. The Flood Water Extraction page explains what that service covers, and the water removal page explains what that service covers when water has spread to more than one room.

Do not enter flooded rooms while you wait, and if water is leaking, turn off the shut-off valve for that fixture where you can reach it safely from dry ground.

Keep the guides on this site bookmarked: the first guide, the signs guide, and the preparation guide cover the checks worth repeating — after moving in, and after bringing used fixtures home.

Water extraction help is available across Louisiana. See water extraction in Elm Grove, LA for one local example, or find your town on the service areas page.