Water damage · Emergency service
Flood damage cleanup in Louisiana
Flood cleanup treats outside floodwater as contaminated: it removes water and mud, cuts out wet drywall and insulation above the waterline, sanitizes, and dries the structure. Floodwater carries sewage and chemicals, so porous materials it touched are usually discarded.
Flood damage cleanup in Louisiana: local conditions
Partner coverage for water damage in Louisiana includes 200 ZIP codes, with local pages for New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Metairie, Kenner, Slidell. Call with your ZIP to confirm a company serves your address.
Coastal and southeastern Louisiana face surge, wind and long power outages from Gulf hurricanes. Slow-moving storms can drop extreme rain on flat terrain, flooding homes far from the coast, as in 2016.
In New Orleans: Intense rain can overwhelm the drainage pumps, flooding streets and low homes, as in the August 2017 floods. In Baton Rouge: The August 2016 flood showed that extreme rain alone can flood homes far from rivers and outside mapped flood zones. In Shreveport: The Red River rose to major flood levels in 2015 and 2016, flooding low-lying areas. In Metairie: Katrina and Ida damaged roofs and flooded homes across Jefferson Parish.
Raised homes on piers, older shotgun houses and slab-on-grade subdivisions each flood and dry differently.
Louisiana licenses mold remediation through the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors (LSLBC), and residential contractors on jobs over a set threshold through the same board. Verify licenses on the LSLBC website.
What you can expect
- One call connects you with an independent restoration company that serves your ZIP code.
- Fast call-back during business hours
- Serving Louisiana
- Photo and moisture documentation for insurance
Flood damage cleanup at a glance
- Category
- Water damage
- Emergency service
- Yes, call for fastest response
- Typical first step
- Make safe
- Area
- Louisiana
Other risks in Louisiana
Humidity and mold
Mold grows fast in the heat and humidity, so drying needs to start immediately.
Signs you need flood damage cleanup
- Water entered from outside, at doors or through the slab
- A visible waterline on walls
- Mud or debris left on floors
How the work is done
Make safe, then Remove water and debris, then Flood cuts and sanitizing, then Dry and verify. See the full flood damage cleanup process.
What affects the cost
Prices depend on the job, so restoration companies in Louisiana quote after an assessment. The main drivers are how much area is affected, how long it stayed wet, and what has to be removed or rebuilt. See the full list of flood damage cleanup cost factors.
Flood damage cleanup questions
Do Louisiana mold companies need a license?
Yes. The Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors issues mold remediation licenses. Check the license on the LSLBC site before hiring.
Should I buy flood insurance in Louisiana if I'm not in a high-risk zone?
It's strongly worth considering. Many homes that flooded in 2016 were outside high-risk zones, and homeowners policies exclude flood.
Is flood damage covered by homeowners insurance?
Usually not. Rising water from outside is typically covered only by a flood policy (NFIP or private). Water from a burst pipe is a different claim under your homeowners policy.
Can drywall that got flood water be dried?
Generally no. Floodwater is contaminated, so the IICRC S500 standard calls for removing porous materials it soaked, including drywall and insulation, above the waterline.
Cities in Louisiana
Other services in Louisiana
Related pages
More about water and storm damage in Louisiana, or see flood damage cleanup nationwide.
Related services
Emergency water extraction
Water extraction is the first step of any water loss: removing standing and absorbed water with powerful pumps and extractors before drying starts.
Learn more
Sewage backup cleanup
Sewage cleanup treats the water as Category 3 (grossly contaminated): crews in protective gear remove it, discard porous materials it touched, clean and disinfect hard surfaces, and dry the structure.
Learn more
Mold remediation
Mold remediation removes mold growth under containment so spores don't spread, cleans or discards affected materials, and corrects the moisture problem that let it grow.
Learn moreWater, mold or fire damage? Get the right crew on it.
One call connects you with an independent restoration company that serves your ZIP code. Fast call-back during business hours.