Saks is not a city at all. It is an unincorporated community and census-designated place of about 10,000 people, first counted in 1970 under the plain name "Anniston Northwest" and renamed in 1980. It borders Anniston to the southeast, Alexandria to the north and West End-Cobb Town to the south, sits at about 778 feet, and gets its police and fire protection from the City of Anniston. The Anniston Western Bypass now carries U.S. 431 south from the community.
With roughly 4,000 households spread across about 12 square miles, Saks is mostly residential, and its water problems are the ones homeowners face every day: plumbing failures, storm leaks and sewer or septic backups. The Restoration Job's phone line is free and open 24/7. Call (888) 317-9980 and we will connect you with an independent restoration provider that covers Saks and the rest of the Anniston area.
How the call works: when you call (888) 317-9980, The Restoration Job connects you with an independent restoration provider that serves Saks. That provider inspects the damage, explains the scope and quotes the work. The Restoration Job doesn't perform restoration itself. Read our referral disclosure.
Unincorporated Saks: Sorting Out Who to Call
Living in an unincorporated community can make it less obvious where to turn after a water emergency. Fire and police calls from Saks are answered by Anniston, while countywide preparedness, alerts and shelter information come from the Calhoun County Emergency Management Agency. Your water and sewer service may come from a utility rather than a city department, so keep that utility's emergency number handy for main breaks and sewer line problems on the public side.
For problems inside the home, the order of operations is the same everywhere: stop the water, make the area safe, document the damage and notify your insurer. Then a restoration provider can measure how far the water traveled and start drying. Water extraction comes first when there is standing water on floors or soaked carpet.
Sewer and Septic Backups in a Residential Community
A backup from a sewer main or septic system is the most unpleasant water loss a household can have, and it tends to happen during heavy rain or when a line is blocked by roots or grease. Wastewater usually shows up first at the lowest drain in the house, such as a shower, tub or floor drain.
- Stop running water, flushing toilets and using appliances that drain.
- Keep everyone, especially children and pets, out of the affected area.
- Do not try to vacuum sewage with a household shop vac or spread it around with a mop.
- Call a plumber or septic service for the cause and a provider for the cleanup.
Sewage cleanup generally involves removing contaminated porous materials such as carpet and the lower portion of drywall, disinfecting surfaces, and drying the structure before rebuilding. Ask your insurer whether your policy includes sewer backup coverage; many policies require a separate endorsement.
Tornado Tracks North and West of Anniston
Some of Calhoun County's most destructive tornadoes passed through the countryside north and west of Anniston. The April 27, 2011 EF4, one of the deadliest storms of that outbreak, tracked through communities including Ohatchee on a 71-mile path that killed 22 people. On March 25, 2021, an EF3 tornado moving through the Ohatchee, Wellington and Piedmont areas killed six. The same weather systems bring high winds and hail to Saks even when a tornado passes elsewhere.
When wind opens a roof, rain does most of the damage that follows. Get the opening covered, move belongings out of wet rooms, and keep receipts for emergency work. A provider can tarp, remove wet insulation and ceiling material, and start drying.
Drying and Mold Prevention in Saks Homes
The Anniston area averages a little more than 52 inches of precipitation a year, and summers are hot and humid. That means wet building materials do not dry out on their own very quickly, and mold can follow a leak within a couple of days. Running the air conditioning and a dehumidifier helps, but drywall, subfloor and cabinets that were soaked often need professional drying equipment and moisture readings to confirm they are dry.
Thorough water damage restoration includes checking hidden spaces such as wall cavities, under cabinets and crawl spaces. If mold has already appeared, fix the moisture source first; widespread growth calls for containment and removal of affected materials rather than surface cleaning. Many providers that cover Saks also serve nearby Oxford.
Where Callers in the Saks Area Are
The same line also serves nearby communities such as:
- Anniston
- Alexandria
- West End-Cobb Town
- Oxford
- Jacksonville
- Ohatchee
Questions From Saks Property Owners
Saks is unincorporated. Who responds to emergencies here?
Police and fire services in Saks are provided by the City of Anniston. For countywide alerts, tornado shelter locations and flood or winter weather guidance, the Calhoun County Emergency Management Agency is the main resource. For water damage inside your home, call (888) 317-9980 and we will connect you with an independent restoration provider serving the area.
Will my insurance pay for sewage that came up through a drain?
Not automatically. Many standard homeowners policies exclude water that backs up through sewers or drains unless you have added a sewer or water backup endorsement. Flood from outside water is a separate exclusion and requires flood insurance. Check your declarations page or ask your agent, and if a backup happens, photograph everything before cleanup begins.
What should I do first when a pipe bursts in my Saks home?
Shut off the main water valve, then turn off electricity to any rooms where water is near outlets or appliances. Move furniture and valuables to dry areas, take photos and call your insurer. Getting standing water removed and drying started within the first day or two greatly reduces the chance of mold and of having to replace flooring and drywall.