Flash Flood Cleanup in Longmont
Runoff from a sudden downpour carries silt and contaminated water into a home or business. Cleanup pumps it out, discards materials that cannot be sanitized and dries what remains until readings are normal.
(888) 532-8620Get storm water cleared
First steps for flash flood cleanup
- Stay out of the waterFloodwater can hide debris and live electrical sources, so wait before walking in.
- Protect what is dryMove valuables and papers to higher shelves or another room.
- Photograph the damageCapture the water line on walls, the silt and the damaged contents.
- Call for cleanupCall now, any hour, and describe how the water got in.
How flash flood cleanup is handled, step by step
- 1
Pump and clear silt
Water and mud are removed first.
- 2
Remove and discard
Porous materials touched by runoff go.
- 3
Sanitize surfaces
Hard surfaces are cleaned and treated.
- 4
Dry to readings
Equipment runs until meters read dry.
What does flash flood cleanup cost in Longmont, CO?
Flash flood cleanup usually runs about $2,500 to $40,000 or more, because silt, contaminated water and the depth of the flood drive the scope and the drying time. A written estimate follows a walkthrough with meter readings.
Shallow runoff at one entry
- One doorway affected
- Silt and water removed
- Short drying run
Finished lower level flooded
- Carpet and drywall discarded
- Sanitizing included
- Extended drying
Deep or long standing flood water
- Contaminated water involved
- Extensive removal
- Long drying time
Ranges are typical, not a quote: the category of water, the square footage, the material class and how fast drying started move the number most. Run the water damage cost calculator for a closer planning range.
What the August 2014 storm showed
Longmont sits on St. Vrain Creek, the city maps a floodplain, and the area has seen the September 2013 flood and the August 14, 2014 storm. That history makes flood cleanup a practical, repeatable process here.
On August 14, 2014, about 1.15 inches of rain between 3 and 4 pm flooded roads in northeastern Longmont, stranded vehicles at Emery Drive and Collyer Street and briefly pushed the Oligarchy Ditch out of its banks. It was the heaviest rainfall in town since the 2013 flood.
- Silt settles in carpet, cabinets and floor drains
- Runoff is treated as contaminated water
- Materials that soaked it up are often discarded
Cleanup order after a flood
Water is pumped out and silt shoveled or vacuumed up before anything is dried. Porous materials such as carpet, pad and insulation that touched runoff are bagged out, hard surfaces are sanitized and structural drying follows.
Checking the floodplain map
The city offers a way to check whether a home is in the mapped floodplain, and says land in it is at risk. It also lists flood insurance requirements and preparation steps, which are worth reading before the next storm. Standing water in a lower level is covered under basement flooding cleanup.
Further reading: National Weather Service flood safety and FloodSmart, the National Flood Insurance Program.
Flash flood cleanup across Longmont and nearby towns
The same service nearby: flash flood cleanup in Erie, Frederick, Lafayette.
Flood cleanup serves ZIP codes 80501, 80503 and 80504 and the properties along Main Street, US Highway 287 and State Highway 119, in every part of the city, including the northeastern side.
Related water damage services in Longmont
Flash Flood Cleanup questions in Longmont
Is flood water considered contaminated?
Yes. Runoff from streets, yards and drains carries bacteria and debris, so it is treated as Category 3 water and handled with protective gear.
Can carpet and drywall be saved after a flood?
Usually not. Porous materials that soak up runoff are removed and discarded, while hard surfaces can be cleaned, sanitized and dried.
What does the city say about flood risk?
The city says land in the mapped floodplain is at risk, and it offers a lookup to check a property along with insurance requirements and preparation steps.
Does flood damage fall under homeowners coverage?
Standard homeowners policies often exclude surface flooding, and flood insurance is a separate policy. The claim should describe exactly how the water entered.
Which storms have tested the area?
The September 2013 Front Range flooding is the benchmark storm, and the August 14, 2014 storm was the heaviest rainfall in town since then.
Storm water in the building?
A dispatcher notes how the water got in, how deep it is and which rooms are affected, then schedules pumping and cleanup.
(888) 532-8620Call about the storm flooding