24/7 Emergency
Storm & Flood Damage Recovery in Cedar Rapids, IA
The opening is closed, the water is extracted, materials floodwater touched come out, and the structure is dried and rebuilt in that order. The opening is closed first, with tarps or board-up, so the building stops taking on water. Floodwater is extracted, and the porous materials it touched come out rather than dry, since it crossed ground outside. The structure is dried and re-read, and the rebuild waits until the readings and the roof both allow it.
No obligation: the assessment comes before any scope
Often needed alongside
- Emergency Water Extraction
Standing water is pumped and extracted around the clock, before it climbs the walls and soaks the subfloor. Same-day response where coverage allows.
- Structural Drying & Dehumidification
Sealed air movers and dehumidifiers bring framing, subfloor and drywall back to a measured dry standard, with daily readings logged from inside the material.
- Sewage & Contaminated Water Cleanup
Sewage and black-water losses are contained, the materials the water touched are removed and disposed of, hard surfaces are disinfected, and the space is dried to a reading.
Frequently asked questions
Why would the roof be connected to the drain?
Because it was normal when these were built. The downspouts were piped underground into the house drain rather than discharged onto the ground, which kept the yard dry and was perfectly acceptable at the time. A great many of those connections are still there.
What does that do in a storm?
It puts the whole roof into a pipe sized for sinks and baths. A heavy June rain delivers more in an hour than the house would use in a week, so the drain surcharges and the water leaves at the lowest opening it can find, which is in the basement.
Is disconnecting them worth it?
It usually is and it is often the whole answer. Taking the downspouts off the drain and running them out onto the ground removes the load that causes the backup, and it is modest work against a basement that floods after every heavy rain.
The Cedar Rapids overview carries this FAQ with the city research.