Clinton began in 1823 as Mount Salus, the "mountain of health," and it still sits on higher ground than much of the Pearl River valley, at about 335 feet. That elevation keeps river crests away, but it does not stop the problems that send most local homeowners looking for help: spring storms that tear at roofs, sewer lines that clog between the house and the street, and creeks and ditches that fill fast during a downpour.
The Restoration Job is a call-connection service rather than a contractor. Our free phone line,, (888) 317-9980, links callers with independent restoration providers that serve Clinton and western Hinds County. Many offer emergency service for extraction and drying.
How the call works: when you call (888) 317-9980, The Restoration Job connects you with an independent restoration provider that serves Clinton. That provider inspects the damage, explains the scope and quotes the work. The Restoration Job doesn't perform restoration itself. Read our referral disclosure.
The April 2011 Tornado and Clinton's Storm Exposure
On the morning of April 15, 2011, an EF3 tornado crossed the city, heavily damaging the BankPlus building and Malaco Records and injuring ten people. Storms of that strength are rare, but central Mississippi sees severe thunderstorms with hail and damaging wind every spring. The water damage they cause is usually indirect: a punctured roof, a broken window or a fallen limb lets rain in for hours before anyone can cover it.
Getting a tarp on the roof and wet ceiling material down is the first priority. A provider offering storm damage cleanup can usually handle both the temporary covering and the interior drying, so the roofer and the insurer see a stabilized house.
Bakers Creek, Bogue Chitto Creek and Lined Ditches
Runoff in Clinton moves through a network of creeks, ditches and storm drains. Public Works lists bridges over Bakers Creek and Bogue Chitto Creek and says the city maintains drains inside its easements, including repairing sinkholes that open over drainpipes and along lined ditches. A collapsed or clogged pipe can push water into yards and garages during heavy rain.
Homes near a drainage channel or at the bottom of a sloped street should keep gutters clear and grade soil away from the foundation. If water does reach the house, report a failing city drain to Public Works and document the damage before it is cleaned up.
Sewer Laterals: Where the City's Job Ends
Clinton Public Works provides sewer service and will investigate a suspected blockage, but residents are responsible for their own sewer laterals, the pipe that runs from the house to the main. The city asks people to flush nothing but human waste and toilet paper. Grease, wipes and roots in an older lateral are common causes of a backup through a tub or floor drain.
- Stop using water in the house so the backup does not grow.
- Call Public Works to rule out a problem in the main.
- Keep people and pets away from the affected rooms and avoid touching the water.
- Have contaminated flooring and drywall removed, and the area disinfected, before drying.
Olde Towne Homes and Newer Subdivisions
Housing here ranges from older houses near Olde Towne and the Mississippi College campus to newer subdivisions along the I-20 and Natchez Trace corridors. Older homes often sit on crawl spaces, where a leak can go unnoticed under the floor. Newer slab homes tend to have water heaters, ice-maker lines and washing machine hoses that fail inside finished rooms. Either way, the drying plan should be based on moisture readings rather than on how the surface looks, because hardwood, subfloor and the bottom of drywall stay wet long after carpet feels dry.
Drying Fast Enough to Stop Mold
Central Mississippi summers are hot and damp, and the Jackson area averages more than 57 inches of rain a year. The EPA advises drying wet materials within 24 to 48 hours to prevent mold. In practice that means removing standing water quickly, pulling up wet pad, opening cabinets and running dehumidifiers continuously. If you notice a musty smell weeks after a leak, have the wall cavity checked; professional mold remediation may be needed when growth is hidden or widespread.
Clinton Neighborhoods and Surrounding Towns
Calls come in from across Clinton, including:
- Olde Towne
The same line also serves nearby communities such as:
Clinton Water Damage Questions
How do I get severe weather alerts in Clinton?
The city uses CodeRED, which sends severe weather and evacuation messages to landlines, cell phones and email. Landlines in the 911 database are enrolled automatically, but cell phones must be signed up through the CodeRED website or app. Hinds County Emergency Management also runs a separate alert system, Everbridge. A warning ten minutes early gives you time to move valuables off the floor.
Who pays to fix a sewer backup in my house?
Clinton Public Works says residents are responsible for the sewer lateral from the home to the main, so a clog in that section is usually the owner's repair. Call Public Works first to check the main. Many homeowners policies exclude sewer backup unless an endorsement was added, so read your policy and photograph the damage before cleanup begins.
A storm damaged my roof and water came through the ceiling. What should I do first?
Turn off power to any light fixtures or outlets in the wet area, put buckets under drips and move furniture away. If the ceiling is bulging, a small hole at the low point can drain it in a controlled way, but stay off ladders under a sagging ceiling. Then cover the roof opening and start drying, and keep receipts for every emergency repair.