Groundwater, Storm and Water Damage Help in Spanaway, WA

Spanaway grew up around a lake. From 1890 to 1970 the area was known as Lake Park, a recreation spot and a stop for travelers heading to Mount Rainier, and Spanaway Lake is still at its center. Today it is an unincorporated community of about 35,000 people along Pacific Avenue in central Pierce County, south of Parkland and next to Frederickson, Elk Plain and Midland. Its most distinctive water problem is one many newcomers have never heard of: groundwater that rises to the surface months after a wet fall and stays for weeks.

Through The Restoration Job's free 24/7 line, (888) 317-9980, you can be connected with an independent restoration provider that serves Spanaway and the surrounding prairie communities. That provider evaluates the damage and works with you directly on drying and repairs.

Spring Groundwater Flooding in Spanaway, Graham and Frederickson

Pierce County says only a few places in the county see groundwater flooding, and Spanaway is one of them. The soils here let water move easily toward the surface, so a very wet fall can lead to flooding the following spring. That is what happened in early 2017, when groundwater flooded parts of Graham, Frederickson and Spanaway after a soggy autumn and stayed for several weeks.

Groundwater flooding behaves differently from a river flood. It rises slowly and drains slowly, which gives families time to move belongings up, but it also means crawl spaces, garages and low yards can sit in water for a long time. The county is blunt that pumping or diverting groundwater does not reduce the amount on the surface; the water has to recede on its own schedule. What you can do is protect what is inside the house and dry it thoroughly once the water drops.

Clover Creek and the Lake at the Center

Clover Creek rises near Frederickson and flows through Spanaway and Parkland before passing under McChord Field and Interstate 5 into Lake Steilacoom in Lakewood. Its basin covers about 74 square miles of flat prairie and suburban land. During long winter rains, roadside ditches, low yards and storm drains near the creek and the lake can fill, and Pierce County notes that urban flooding happens wherever stormwater systems are overwhelmed or water gathers in low ground. Report blocked drains or flooded roads to the county, which takes reports around the clock.

Windstorms, Tall Firs and Roof Damage

Where tall firs stand close to houses, winter windstorms can bring them down onto roofs. During the Hanukkah Eve windstorm of December 2006, about 1.2 million customers in Washington lost power, and a man died near Spanaway while trying to avoid a fallen tree. A tree through a roof in December, when the Tacoma area averages about six inches of rain, can soak attics, ceilings and insulation quickly.

Get everyone out of damaged rooms, stay away from downed lines, and have the opening tarped as soon as it is safe. A provider handling storm damage cleanup can remove wet ceiling material and insulation and start drying while the roof repair is arranged.

Protecting and Drying a Home When the Water Table Rises

When groundwater or prolonged rain gets into a home here, the order of work matters:

• Move furniture, papers and electronics off floors and out of the garage before water arrives.
• Turn off power to any outlets or equipment that may get wet, and keep extension cords off the floor.
• Photograph waterlines and damaged items for your insurer.
• Once the water drops, have crawl-space insulation, vapor barrier and duct wrap checked, since they hold water long after the ground drains.
• Do not rebuild until moisture readings in framing and subfloor are normal.

Standard homeowners policies do not cover groundwater or surface flooding; those losses generally fall under a separate flood policy. A sudden pipe or appliance leak is treated differently, so tell the insurer and the provider exactly where the water came from. Professional water extraction and drying typically follow.

Mold When Crawl Spaces Stay Wet for Weeks

Because groundwater can linger for weeks, crawl spaces in affected areas may stay wet long enough for mold to grow on joists, subfloor and stored items. Mold can start within a day or two on wet organic materials, and cool spring weather slows drying. Remove soaked insulation and cardboard, ventilate once the water has dropped, and have the space inspected if you notice musty air inside the house. Larger growth calls for professional mold remediation rather than bleach and a fan.