Flood and Storm Damage Cleanup in Texarkana, Texas

Four named creeks run through the Texarkana area: Wagner, Cowhorn, Swampoodle and Days. Add an average of about 52 inches of precipitation a year, the most of any month falling in December, and it is easy to see why water finds its way into homes on both sides of State Line Avenue. Severe wind is the other recurring threat. A microburst in May 2008 pushed winds to about 100 mph and left at least 44 homes with major damage.

The Restoration Job is a no-cost service that routes your call to independent restoration providers. Call (888) 317-9980 around the clock and we'll connect you with a provider serving Texarkana and Bowie County. Providers here commonly handle flood cleanup, storm damage, water extraction and mold, and many respond to emergencies.

The 2008 Microburst Along State Line Avenue

The National Weather Service office in Shreveport surveyed the May 22, 2008 storm and found a damage swath about 3.5 miles long and 4 miles wide. It hit the Glendale subdivision, the area between 16th and 20th streets near State Line Avenue, the blocks around Woodlawn and Calvary cemeteries, and Magnolia Street on the Texas side between 24th and 30th. Large trees snapped or were uprooted, one with a root ball more than 10 feet high, and power lines came down across the area.

Microbursts don't need a tornado to do tornado-like damage. For homeowners the result is similar: trees through roofs, windows broken and rain coming in until the openings are covered. Emergency tarping and storm damage cleanup work together, and photos taken before debris is cleared make insurance claims easier.

Creeks, Low Ground and Flood Insurance

Texarkana's creeks drain much of the city, and during intense rain they can rise quickly and push water into streets, yards, garages and lower floors near their banks. The Red River forms the state line north of town, and Wright Patman Lake sits next to the city, and the Sulphur River also crosses Bowie County.

Two points matter most if water comes in from outside. First, standard homeowners insurance typically excludes flood damage, which needs its own policy through the National Flood Insurance Program or a private carrier. Second, creek water is contaminated, so carpet, pad, insulation and the lower part of drywall it touches are generally removed, and remaining surfaces are cleaned and disinfected. FEMA's Flood Map Service Center shows whether your address is in a mapped flood zone, though flash flooding can happen outside those zones too.

Cleanup Order for a Texarkana Home

• Stay out of floodwater; it can hide debris and carry sewage or electrical current.
• Shut off power to wet areas, and the water main if a pipe broke.
• Photograph waterlines on walls, damaged items and outside damage.
• Begin flood cleanup promptly: extract water, remove soaked carpet and pad, and make flood cuts in wet drywall.
• Clean and disinfect framing and slab before drying.
• Dry with dehumidifiers and air movers until moisture readings return to normal, then rebuild.

Throw out food, medicine and cosmetics that floodwater touched. Keep a list of discarded items for your claim.

Winter Rain, Freezes and Twin-City Housing

Because December is the wettest month here, roof leaks and drainage problems often show up during short, cool days when nothing dries quickly. Occasional hard freezes add another risk; the city's record low is minus 6 degrees, set in December 1989. Pipes in exterior walls, attics and unheated crawlspaces are the most likely to split.

The Texas side dates to 1873, when the Texas and Pacific sold its first town lots, so housing ranges from early 20th-century homes near downtown to postwar ranches and newer subdivisions. Older houses often have raised floors, where leaks drain out of sight into the crawlspace, while newer slab homes show water at baseboards and cabinet toe-kicks first.

Bowie County Humidity and Mold After a Leak

Warm, humid weather much of the year means damp building materials in Texarkana can grow mold within a few days. After a flood or storm, the bottoms of walls, wall cavities, cabinet bases and crawlspace framing are the first places to check. Musty odors usually show up before visible growth. Removing wet porous materials quickly is the most reliable prevention, and existing growth is normally handled under containment so spores don't spread to clean rooms.