Two weeks after parts of North Texas received more than a foot of rain, more than two inches fell on some areas over Labor Day weekend.
"When we had the flash flooding, we got really, really busy," says Dalworth Restoration's Josh Hobbs. "We've been taking care of a lot of clients since then, but we anticipate and plan for that. Usually in the springtime, you're going to have an uptick in calls because of the rain and then the fall is kind of the same thing, so we prepare for it."
Hobbs urges homeowners starting to clean up from the latest rain to first review their insurance policy. He says many may cover damage to roofs from falling rain but not damage from water that has already hit the ground and flooded a house.
"When you have rainwater that hits the ground and rises, that's something, typically, you're not going to have coverage on," he says. "If you have water that comes in through the roof where you have high wind blowing shingles off, those are things that are normally going to be covered. It's only when it hits the ground and rises into the structure will you have insurance issues. The most important part is really understanding who's responsible."
Hobbs urges homeowners, if they did not receive damage in the past month, to review their policy now so they will know what is covered and what is not in case they are affected in the future.
"Especially in areas where you're going to have weather events, understanding that policy is really important, being more proactive than reactive," he says.
Hobbs says mortgage companies often require people who live in designated flood plains to carry flood insurance, which can be provided by the National Flood Insurance Program.
In choosing a contractor, he says homeowners should seek one with experience in flood damage. Hobbs says some general contractors may treat damage from flood water the same as damage from a sink or toilet that overflows.
"Having the right contractor who understands those two differences is really important," he says. "If you don't, let's say you've got rising water that's all contaminated, you could have a guy come in and say, 'We're going to structure-dry everything, not remove it and let it dry in place.' That'd be wrong."
Hobbs says roofers and general contractors will often take jobs they are not familiar with after heavy rain.
"You want to hire a restoration contractor, someone who understands the standard of care as it relates to dealing with flooded structures," he says. "There are a lot of general contractors and roofers who tend to get into this space out of necessity, especially in times when we have a high supply of work and not enough contractors."
He urges people to visit iicrc.og to find certified contractors in flood damage and learn what qualifications to seek out. People can learn more about Dalworth Restoration at dalworthrestoration.com .
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