Flood and Water Damage Help in Smithfield, NC

The General Assembly chartered Smithfield on April 23, 1777, making it the first town in Johnston County and its county seat ever since. It grew on the east bank of the Neuse River, which still divides downtown from West Smithfield across the water. At an elevation of about 125 feet, it sits far lower than the Triangle cities upstream, and every major storm that soaks the upper Neuse basin eventually sends its water past here.

The Restoration Job runs a free 24/7 phone line, (888) 317-9980, that connects Smithfield callers with an independent restoration company serving Johnston County. The company you are connected with does its own assessment, sets its own prices and performs the work; many such providers take emergency calls.

Matthew's Record Crest on the Neuse

In October 2016, Hurricane Matthew pushed the Neuse River at Smithfield to a record crest of 29.09 feet, according to the National Weather Service in Raleigh. That level topped the previous records set by Fran in 1996 and Floyd in 1999, which had been the benchmarks for a generation. Upstream, the river near Clayton stayed in major flood for almost two days, and downstream Goldsboro also set a record.

River floods here are slow compared with flash flooding on small creeks. The crest can arrive days after the rain stops, which gives residents time to move belongings and vehicles but also tempts people to wait too long. If the forecast calls for a major crest, act on it early. The USGS gauge on the Neuse at Smithfield, run jointly with the Army Corps of Engineers, reports conditions online.

Spring Branch and Downtown Drainage

Not all of Smithfield's water problems come from the river. The town has launched the Spring Branch Resiliency Project, funded by the North Carolina Land and Water Fund, to study a 1.53-square-mile watershed that includes downtown Market Street and stretches from North Street to Brogden Road, bordered on the southeast by I-95. The stated goal is to address ongoing flooding, erosion and stormwater issues in that corridor.

For property owners in that part of town, heavy thunderstorms can overwhelm drainage well before the Neuse rises. Water that backs up in streets and yards finds its way into crawl spaces, ground-floor commercial spaces and storage rooms. Keeping gutters clear, extending downspouts and sealing low entry points will not stop a major event, but it does cut down on the routine soakings.

Older Homes and an Older Population

Smithfield's 2020 median age was 41.9, and more than a fifth of residents were 65 or older. That shapes how water damage plays out. Leaks in a home where someone lives alone can go unnoticed for days, and moving furniture or tearing out wet carpet is not a job everyone can do safely. Family members helping a parent after a flood should:

• Shut off water at the main and power to wet rooms before anything else
• Photograph damage and keep receipts for any emergency purchases
• Avoid lifting soaked carpet, drywall or furniture, which is heavier than it looks
• Call the insurer early and ask about flood versus homeowners coverage

If the house sits over a crawl space, checking under the floor after any flood or leak should be part of the plan.

Cleaning Up After River Water

Floodwater from the Neuse is contaminated and has to be treated that way. Flood cleanup usually means removing mud and debris, cutting out drywall and insulation above the waterline, cleaning and disinfecting framing and slabs, and then drying the structure with dehumidifiers before anything is rebuilt. Contents that absorbed floodwater, such as mattresses and upholstered furniture, are usually discarded. Where sewer lines have backed up into the house, the work follows sewage cleanup procedures, with protective gear and stricter disposal.

Flood damage is generally excluded from standard homeowners insurance. A separate flood policy is what pays for river flooding, and it usually has a waiting period before coverage starts.

Mold After a Long Wet Spell

Eastern Piedmont humidity, plus houses that may sit wet for days while a river crest passes, makes mold a real follow-up concern after flooding in Smithfield. Growth often shows first on lower drywall, the back of baseboards, and floor joists in damp crawl spaces. Drying quickly and thoroughly is the most effective prevention. If mold is already visible or a musty odor will not go away after drying, have the area assessed so the affected material can be removed under containment.