Water Damage, Flood and Storm Help in Stonecrest

Southeast DeKalb drains to a different ocean than the rest of the county's northern cities. Stonecrest lies in the Upper Ocmulgee basin, where the South River and its tributaries carry rain southeast toward Jackson Lake and eventually the Atlantic, and where bare rock outcrops like Arabia Mountain shed water almost as fast as it falls. The city is young, formed by a 2016 vote, but its creeks, subdivisions and apartment communities have a longer history with heavy rain.

The Restoration Job is a free connection service with a phone line answered 24/7. Call (888) 317-9980 and we'll put you in touch with an independent restoration provider serving Stonecrest. The work itself, from pumping out water to drying and rebuilding, is carried out by third-party companies in the area.

South River and Yellow River Crests Near Lithonia

The September 2009 floods hit this side of the county hard. According to the National Weather Service, the South River gauge near Lithonia crested at 13.55 feet on September 21, the second-highest level on record there. Farther east, the Yellow River, which clips the eastern corner of DeKalb, reached 27.47 feet at its Highway 124 gauge near Lithonia the same day and was still high the following morning downstream.

Those are regional gauges rather than readings at any one street, but they show how much water this part of the basin can carry. Homes near tributary creeks and drainage channels feel it first: backyards flood, crawl spaces fill and water can reach garages and lower floors. The city's own work on streambank stabilization at Panola Shoals reflects how much erosion fast water causes along these banks.

Rock Outcrops, Thin Soil and Fast Runoff

Arabia Mountain, the centerpiece of the Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area and the Davidson-Arabia Nature Preserve, is a dome of exposed migmatite rock. Bare rock and the thin soils around it absorb little, and the red clay in surrounding subdivisions isn't much better. During a summer thunderstorm, runoff collects quickly and heads for the lowest ground, which is sometimes a driveway, a patio door or a foundation wall.

• Downspouts that empty right at the foundation are a frequent source of wet crawl spaces.
• Yards graded toward the house send sheet flow against siding and slab edges.
• Storm inlets clogged with leaves and pine straw back up onto streets.

Correcting grading and extending downspouts several feet away from the house helps more than most people expect.

Contaminated Floodwater and the South River

Floodwater is never clean, and the South River has a documented problem. American Rivers ranked it fourth on its list of America's Most Endangered Rivers in 2021, citing ongoing sewage pollution. Water that rises from a creek or backs up through drains should be treated as contaminated, even if it looks clear.

That changes what restoration involves. Carpet, pad, insulation and the bottom of drywall that floodwater touched are generally removed rather than dried, and hard surfaces are cleaned and disinfected. Keep children and pets out of affected rooms until cleanup is done. A provider offering flood cleanup will separate contaminated materials and document what was removed for your insurer.

Apartments, Rentals and Who Handles the Damage

Fewer than half of Stonecrest households own their home, according to recent census estimates, so many residents dealing with water damage are renters. In an apartment or rental house, the landlord is generally responsible for the building and its systems, while a renters policy covers your furniture, clothing and electronics.

Report leaks in writing, with photos, the moment you find them. Upstairs leaks, overflowing tubs and failed water heaters in apartment buildings can affect several units, and drying needs to start before mold sets in. If you own the property, check whether your homeowners policy includes sewer backup coverage, and remember that flooding from rising water needs a separate flood policy.

Storm Season, Fallen Trees and Mold

Wherever trees stand close to houses, spring and summer thunderstorms, along with remnants of Gulf hurricanes, regularly bring down limbs and whole trees. A trunk across the roof opens a house to every rain that follows. Tarping the opening quickly and removing soaked insulation and ceiling material limits the spread. For bigger jobs, storm damage cleanup combines debris removal, temporary protection and drying.

Georgia's humidity means mold can follow any of these events within a couple of days. Watch for musty odors, staining on drywall and soft spots in flooring. Thorough drying with dehumidifiers is the most effective prevention, and visible growth over a large area should be removed with proper containment.