Pleasant Grove covers just under ten square miles on the west side of the Birmingham metro, at roughly 673 feet of elevation. It is known locally for its tornado history and for the coal mines that run beneath much of the town, which once drained the wells residents depended on.
We don't do the repair work ourselves; Fire & Water Energy operates purely as a referral line. Call (866) 937-3230 and we will try to put you in touch with an independent restoration contractor who works in Pleasant Grove. Whether someone is available depends on local providers at the time you reach us. Our how it works page and referral disclosure spell out what that means.
Tornado alley on the west side of Jefferson County
Wikipedia records large tornadoes damaging the city in 1956, 1977, 1998 and 2011. The most thoroughly documented is the April 8, 1998 Oak Grove tornado. The National Weather Service office in Birmingham rated it F5 and traced a path about 30.6 miles long, up to half a mile wide, running from Oak Grove through Concord, Pleasant Grove, Edgewater and McDonald's Chapel before ending in Pratt City. It killed 32 people and destroyed more than 1,000 homes across its track. Thirteen years later, the April 27, 2011 Tuscaloosa–Birmingham tornado, rated EF-4, devastated Concord, Pleasant Grove and McDonald Chapel, sweeping some homes away entirely.
Jefferson County has also been named in federal disaster declarations for severe storms and flooding in 2021 (DR-4632), the April 2011 tornado outbreak (DR-1971) and storms with flooding in 2012 and 2014. Inland effects from Hurricane Ivan (2004) and Hurricanes Dennis and Katrina (2005) were declared here too.
Leaks, supply lines and wet floors in Pleasant Grove homes
Most indoor water problems are not dramatic. A cracked washing machine hose, a failing water heater or a toilet supply line can soak a hallway and subfloor before anyone notices. Central Alabama winters are mostly mild, yet a hard freeze can still split a pipe in a crawl space or outside wall, and the leak shows up once it thaws.
Wind-driven rain is the other common source, slipping under damaged shingles or flashing after a squall line. Searches for water damage restoration in Pleasant Grove usually involve the same basic job: extract standing water, open up wet materials, and dry the structure with air movers and dehumidifiers while tracking moisture readings. See water damage restoration and burst pipe water damage for more detail.
Federal disaster declarations that included Jefferson County
FEMA records show Jefferson County was included in 16 major disaster declarations for weather or fire events from 2000 through 2026 (13 severe storm, 3 hurricane, by FEMA incident type). Declarations are made at the county level, so they do not mean every neighborhood in Pleasant Grove was affected. The most recent:
- 2021 – Severe Storms and Flooding (DR-4632)
- 2021 – Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Tornadoes (DR-4596)
- 2014 – Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding (DR-4176)
- 2012 – Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding (DR-4052)
- 2011 – Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding (DR-1971)
- 2009 – Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Straight-line Winds (DR-1836)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, retrieved 2026-10-10. Counts include major disaster (DR) declarations with hurricane, flood, severe storm, tropical storm, fire, tornado, coastal storm, winter or ice storm, mudslide and dam/levee incident types.
Water, fire or storm damage in Pleasant Grove?
Call (866) 937-3230 and tell us what happened at your Pleasant Grove property.
When a fire leaves soot and wet drywall behind
A house fire causes two kinds of harm at once. Smoke and soot travel through ductwork into rooms the flames never reached, and the water used to put the fire out soaks insulation, cabinets and flooring.
Contractors typically start by securing the building with board-up and tarps, then remove charred debris, dry what got wet and clean soot from surfaces before treating lingering odor. Electrical damage is a real concern, so do not restore power until an electrician or the fire department says it is safe. Our fire damage restoration and smoke odor removal pages cover each stage.
Cleaning up after high winds and flash flooding
After a tornado or straight-line wind event, the priority is keeping rain out: tarping holes in the roof, boarding broken windows and clearing fallen trees off the structure. A wide storm can damage dozens of houses on one street, so demand for help may spike for days afterward.
Runoff can collect quickly in low yards and along Milk Creek during intense downpours. Treat any floodwater that entered your home as contaminated; drywall, carpet pad and insulation it touched are usually cut out rather than dried in place. Our pages on storm damage cleanup and flood cleanup explain the usual sequence.
Keeping mold out after the water is gone
Alabama's humid summers give mold an easy start in any material that stays damp for more than a day or two. Crawl spaces, the back of base cabinets and wall cavities behind a slow drip are the spots people miss.
EPA guidance says patches bigger than about 10 square feet generally call for a professional. A careful contractor isolates the work area, removes growth and damaged material, and fixes the moisture source so it does not come back. Read about mold remediation before choosing someone.
A short safety checklist for Pleasant Grove households
- Dial 911 for injuries, fire, a gas smell or downed power lines.
- Do not enter a storm-damaged house until you are sure the roof and walls are stable.
- Only switch off the breaker if you can stand on a dry surface to do it.
- Listen to the National Weather Service in Birmingham and Jefferson County officials for warnings and recovery updates.
- Take photos and video of damage before anything is moved, and save receipts for emergency purchases.
- Call your insurer or agent soon. Coverage depends on your policy, and many standard homeowners policies leave out flood.
For other towns across the state, browse the Alabama service area listing.
Neighborhoods and nearby communities
Areas in and around Pleasant Grove that callers often mention include:
- Frog Pond
- Lizard Ridge
- Cottage Hill
Nearby communities with their own pages (straight-line distance from Pleasant Grove):
Pleasant Grove restoration FAQs
Why does Pleasant Grove have such a long tornado record?
The city sits in a part of central Alabama that sees frequent severe spring storms, and large tornadoes damaged it in 1956, 1977, 1998 and 2011. The 1998 Oak Grove tornado, rated F5, ran straight through town. Having a safe interior room and weather alerts turned on matters here.
Does the old mining ground under the city affect water problems?
Wikipedia notes the town sits on land honeycombed by coal mines, which drained residents' wells and led to incorporation in 1934 so a public water system could be financed. If you see new cracks, settling or unexplained water near your foundation, have a qualified professional inspect it before you assume it is a simple leak.
Are hurricanes a concern this far from the Gulf?
Not as storm surge, but Jefferson County was included in federal declarations for Hurricane Ivan in 2004 and Hurricanes Dennis and Katrina in 2005. Remnants of Gulf storms can bring heavy rain, gusty wind and short-lived tornadoes inland.
Will you send a crew to my house in Pleasant Grove?
No. We are a referral service and try to connect you with an independent contractor nearby, sometimes one working out of neighboring Hueytown, Fairfield or Bessemer. Ask any contractor about licensing, insurance and IICRC certification before signing.
How soon should I start drying out after a leak?
As soon as it is safe. Mold can begin growing within about 24 to 48 hours on wet materials, especially in summer humidity. Stop the water source, remove standing water if you safely can, and get air moving until help arrives.
Restoration guides
- Storm Damage Cleanup
- Water Damage Restoration
- Burst Pipe Water Damage
- Fire Damage Restoration
- Flood Cleanup
- Mold Remediation