Water Extraction Guides · Emergency Response & Drying

Water Extraction After a Storm in Louisiana

Storms are part of life in Louisiana, and so is the water they bring. Heavy rain, wind, and rising water can affect a home in many ways at once: a roof leak, a flooded yard, water under the house, and water inside the rooms, all from a single storm. After the storm passes, the water that remains needs the same careful sequence as any water event: safety first, then assessment, then extraction and drying, with no guessing about the source.

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This guide offers general context on storm water losses, with no claim about any specific storm or place. The flood water extraction service page covers the floodwater stage, and homes in Kenner and Slidell face the same post-storm questions as homes anywhere else in the state.

How storms bring water into a home

Storms bring water into a home through many routes at once. Heavy rain can overwhelm gutters and send water toward the foundation, wind can lift shingles and drive rain under flashing, and rising water can enter through doors, windows, and the space under a raised home. A single storm can cause a roof leak, a flooded crawl space, and water in the living rooms, all at the same time, and each route needs to be checked separately.

The water from a storm is often a mix: rainwater that entered through the roof, surface water that ran toward the house, and floodwater that rose from outside. That mix matters, because floodwater is Category 3 black water and professional-only, while rainwater that entered through a roof leak is a different situation with different risks. A professional assessment sorts out which water is which, and that sorting shapes everything that follows.

No claim is made here about any specific storm or place. Storms vary, homes vary, and the water in each home needs to be judged on what is actually there, not on what a storm is assumed to have done. The assessment, not the forecast, decides what the job is.

Safety first after a storm

Safety comes first after a storm, before any cleanup begins. Do not enter a flooded building, do not handle electrics in or near standing water, and do not try to clean up floodwater or sewage yourself, since both are Category 3 black water and professional-only. Keep children and pets out of the affected area until it has been assessed.

Do not drive through flooded roads, and do not walk through floodwater outside. Floodwater outside the home can hide debris, open drains, and live electrical hazards, and moving water can be far stronger than it looks. Wait until the water has gone down and the area has been judged safe before entering it.

If the home looks unstable, or if the roof, the walls, or the ceilings look damaged, stay out entirely. A storm can damage a structure in ways that are not visible from the doorway, and a saturated ceiling or wall can be weaker than it looks. Wait for a professional assessment rather than entering to look around.

Water Extraction After a Storm in Louisiana — Louisiana water guide

What to check after a storm

After a storm, check the home in order: the roof and the attic first, then the rooms below, then the space under the house, and then the rooms themselves. Look for daylight through the roof deck, stains on the attic framing, damp insulation, and stains on the ceilings below. Check the crawl space for standing water, and look at the floors, the walls, and the baseboards in every room for staining, softness, or a musty smell.

Note what you find, and take photos from a safe place if you can. Photos taken before anything is moved are the most useful of all, and they are useful if questions about the loss come up later. Keep a list of affected items, with photos, and do not throw anything away until it has been seen.

Our emergency water extraction page describes the emergency stage in general terms. The same principles apply after a storm: safety first, then the call, then assessment, and no cleanup before the space has been judged safe.

Roofs and gutters deserve a check after every storm, because they are the first line of defence and the first place a storm finds a weakness. Look for lifted shingles, damaged flashing, and gutters that overflowed during the storm, and look into the attic for daylight through the deck, stains on the framing, or damp insulation. A roof that survived years of ordinary rain can start leaking after a single strong storm, and the leak may only show during heavy rain, which makes it easy to miss between storms.

Extraction and drying after a storm

Extraction after a storm follows the same stages as extraction after any water event: the standing water is removed, then the water that has soaked into floors, walls, and contents is dealt with, and drying follows with air movement and dehumidification. Moisture is checked over time rather than judged by touch, and Louisiana's humidity makes the drying stage take particular care.

The scale is often larger after a storm, because the water came through many routes at once and affected many rooms. A roof leak, a flooded crawl space, and water in the living rooms may all need attention, and the assessment has to cover the whole home rather than one room. That scale is one more reason the work is planned after assessment, not before it.

Homes in New Orleans and Baton Rouge face the same post-storm stages, and the same rule applies: let each stage finish before the next one begins. Availability is confirmed on the call. Call (877) 624-0105 to talk through what you found.

After the storm: records and next steps

After a storm, the record you made in the moment becomes the most useful thing you have. Photos, a written note of when you found the water, and a record of who you told and when all help the assessment that follows, and they are useful if questions about the loss come up later. Keep the record in one place, and keep it updated as the work proceeds.

Do not put damp items back into a space that is still drying, do not assume a room is dry because it feels dry to the touch, and do not refinish or repaint a wall that has not been checked and found dry. Drying is checked over time, and the check, not the clock, decides when the house is dry.

Finally, use the experience to prepare for the next storm. Know where your shutoff valves are, keep a torch where you can reach it in the dark, and keep the number for help where the whole household can find it. Preparation made in calm weather is what makes a storm's aftermath manageable.

Preparation made in calm weather is what makes a storm's aftermath manageable, and it is worth doing before the next storm rather than after it. Know where your shutoff valves are, keep a torch where you can reach it in the dark, and keep the number for help where the whole household can find it. A household that knows those three things is a household that stays safe when the water arrives, and a home that is checked after every storm is a home whose problems are caught while they are still small.

Key Takeaways

Storms bring water into a home through many routes at once.
Safety comes first after a storm, before any cleanup begins.
After a storm, check the home in order: the roof and the attic first, then the rooms below, then the space under the house, and then the rooms themselves.
Extraction after a storm follows the same stages as extraction after any water event: the standing water is removed, then the water that has soaked into floors, walls, and contents is dealt with, and drying follows with air movement and dehumidification.
After a storm, the record you made in the moment becomes the most useful thing you have.

Questions About Water Extraction After a Storm in Louisiana

What should I do first after a storm brings water into my home?

Stay safe first: do not enter a flooded building, do not handle electrics near standing water, and do not try to clean up floodwater yourself, since it is Category 3 black water and professional-only. Take photos from a safe place if you can, note the time you found the water, and call for help before any cleanup begins.

How is storm water different from an ordinary leak?

Storm water often arrives through many routes at once, such as a roof leak, surface water running toward the house, and floodwater rising from outside, and the water is often a mix of types. That mix matters, because floodwater is Category 3 and professional-only, while rainwater through a roof leak is a different situation. An assessment sorts out which water is which.

Should I check the attic and crawl space after a storm?

Yes. Check the roof and the attic first, then the rooms below, then the space under the house. Look for daylight through the roof deck, stains on the framing, damp insulation, and standing water in the crawl space. A raised home can have standing water underneath while the rooms above look dry, and that hidden water sends damp air up into the living space.

Can I drive through flooded roads to reach my home?

No. Do not drive through flooded roads, and do not walk through floodwater outside. A road that looks passable can hide a washed-out surface, an open drain, or water deep enough to float a car, and moving water can be far stronger than it looks. Wait until the water has gone down and the area has been judged safe.

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 Scott, LA for one local example, or find your town on the service areas page.