Storm & Flood Damage Restoration

Storm Damage vs. Flood Damage: Why the Difference Matters

Storm calls in St. Charles County fall into two groups. Wind and hail damage a roof, siding or windows, and rain gets in through the opening. Flooding is rising water — a creek over its banks, the Missouri or Meramec River, or runoff pouring into a basement. The cleanup is similar; the insurance is not. Rain that enters through storm damage is usually a homeowners claim, while rising water is excluded from standard homeowners policies and covered by flood insurance.

Stop the water first

If the roof or a window is open, the first job is closing it. Most policies require you to take reasonable steps to prevent further damage, and emergency tarping and board-up is one of them. Then we extract standing water, remove soaked materials that will not dry, and set drying equipment.

Floodwater is contaminated

Floodwater and storm-sewer backup carry soil, sewage and chemicals. The drywall, insulation, carpet and pad it touched are removed, and the structure is cleaned and treated before it is dried. We photograph every room and log moisture readings daily for the adjuster. See basement flooding cleanup for water that comes in below grade.

River flooding hits hardest along the Meramec — see our local pages for Fenton, Arnold and Eureka.