Lake Ray Hubbard wraps around Rowlett on the east and south, and Rowlett Creek, the stream the city is named for, marks its western side before emptying into the lake. Until the reservoir was finished in 1971, the town had only a couple of thousand people. The lake set off a building boom, and the population reached 23,260 by 1990 and 62,535 by 2020. The city spans northeastern Dallas County and a slice of Rockwall County.
Living on a peninsula brings views and breezes, and also wind exposure, damp air and storms that arrive across open water. We don't send crews; The Restoration Job is a no-cost phone referral service that answers day and night. Call (888) 317-9980 and we'll connect you with an independent restoration provider that works in Rowlett.
How the call works: when you call (888) 317-9980, The Restoration Job connects you with an independent restoration provider that serves Rowlett. That provider inspects the damage, explains the scope and quotes the work. The Restoration Job doesn't perform restoration itself. Read our referral disclosure.
December 26, 2015, and What Wind Leaves Behind
The day after Christmas in 2015, an EF4 tornado crossed Sunnyvale and Garland and then traveled through southeast Rowlett, severely damaging or destroying hundreds of homes, vehicles and businesses and toppling a city water tower. The National Weather Service counted ten deaths along the track, one of them in Rowlett. It remains the deadliest December tornado on record for Dallas County.
Most storms that hit the city are far weaker, but the pattern of damage is similar on a smaller scale. Wind peels shingles, punctures roofs with limbs and breaks windows, and the rain that follows soaks insulation, drywall and flooring. Prompt storm damage cleanup and drying can keep a repairable roof leak from becoming a gutted room.
Lakeside Air and Moisture That Lingers
A 22,745-acre reservoir next door keeps the air around Rowlett humid for much of the year. That humidity slows drying after any leak and gives mold a head start. Wet carpet pad, the bottom few inches of drywall and the cabinet base under a leaking sink are the first places growth tends to appear.
Mold does not need a flood. A dripping supply line inside a wall or a condensate line that overflows in the attic can feed it for weeks unnoticed. If you smell mustiness or see staining, find the moisture source first, then have porous materials with growth removed under containment. Running a dehumidifier in closed-up rooms during wet weather also helps.
Creeks, Low Streets and Water From the Outside
Rowlett Creek starts west of McKinney and collects runoff from Plano, Richardson and Garland before reaching the lake at Rowlett, so it carries water from a large, heavily paved area upstream. Low streets and yards near the creek and its branches are where water gathers first in a downpour. The lake itself is a water-supply reservoir owned by the City of Dallas and managed by Dallas Water Utilities.
Water that enters a home from outside picks up soil, oil and bacteria. Treat it as contaminated: wear boots and gloves, keep children out, and plan on removing soaked drywall and carpet rather than trying to dry it in place. Check FEMA flood maps for your address, and remember that standard homeowners policies typically exclude rising water.
Freeze Damage and the Steps That Limit It
During the February 2021 cold wave, DFW Airport stayed at or below freezing for 139 consecutive hours and hit minus 2 degrees. In storms like that, many homeowners discover broken lines only when the ice melts and water starts flowing again. If a pipe bursts:
- Shut off the main valve and open a faucet at the lowest point.
- Cut power to wet rooms at the breaker if you can do it from a dry spot.
- Move furniture off wet carpet and set aluminum foil under legs that must stay.
- Photograph the break and every affected room before cleanup starts.
A provider will then extract water, remove what cannot be saved and set up structural drying with daily moisture checks.
Two Counties, One Recovery Plan
Because Rowlett straddles Dallas and Rockwall counties, residents may receive emergency information from both. After a major storm, check which county your address falls in so you know where damage reports and debris information will come from. Neighboring Rockwall, across the lake, shares the same weather but falls entirely under Rockwall County. For broader context on storm and flood patterns statewide, see our Texas service area page.
Where Callers in the Rowlett Area Are
Calls come in from across Rowlett, including:
- Sapphire Bay
The same line also serves nearby communities such as:
Frequently Asked Questions
Does living near Lake Ray Hubbard mean my house can flood from the lake?
Lake Ray Hubbard is a managed water-supply reservoir, and in most Rowlett neighborhoods the more common problem is heavy rain overwhelming streets, yards and creek channels. Look up your property on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center to see whether any part of your lot is in a mapped flood zone, and ask your agent about flood coverage either way, since homeowners policies typically exclude rising water.
What should I do first after wind damage to my roof?
Stay out of rooms with sagging ceilings. Once it is safe, cover holes with tarps, move belongings away from leaks, and take photos of the outside and inside. Call your insurer and then call (888) 317-9980 to be connected with an independent provider that can start drying while you arrange roof repairs.
Why does my house still smell musty weeks after a leak was fixed?
Usually because something stayed wet. Insulation, carpet pad and the back side of drywall can hold water long after the surface feels dry, especially in a humid lakeside setting. A provider with moisture meters and thermal imaging can find damp areas. Any material with growth should be removed rather than sprayed and left in place.