Oak Hills Place water, mold and fire damage help

Counted as its own census-designated place from 1990 through 2020, Oak Hills Place is now a neighborhood of St. George, the city whose incorporation the Louisiana Supreme Court upheld in April 2024. It covers a little over three square miles at about 36 feet of elevation, bordered on the east by Village St. George across Siegen Lane. The wider city is framed by the Mississippi River, Bayou Manchac and the Amite River, which is why drainage and flooding come up so often in local conversation.

Fire & Water Energy refers callers to restoration businesses that operate independently of us. Phone (866) 937-3230 and we'll try to connect you with an independent restoration contractor covering Oak Hills Place and the rest of St. George; whether one is free depends on local demand. The fine print lives on our how it works page and in the referral disclosure.

Creeks, the Amite and the August 2016 floods

Wikipedia notes that the 2016 Louisiana floods had a profound effect on East Baton Rouge Parish, especially along the Comite River, the Amite River and Bayou Manchac; FEMA's Severe Storms and Flooding declaration (DR-4277) covered the parish. A federal flood risk reduction project authorized in 2018 includes concrete lining of 16 miles of Jones Creek and 14 miles of Ward Creek channel.

Hurricanes are the other recurring threat. Parish declarations include Gustav (2008), Isaac (2012), Barry (2019), Laura and Delta (2020), Zeta and Ida (2021) and Francine (2024). The National Weather Service says Francine's gusts, near or above 50 knots, brought down trees and power lines and blocked at least 45 roads in the parish. A 2011 FLOODING declaration, May 2021 storms and flooding and the 2021 winter storms are also on record.

Plumbing failures, roof leaks and drying a suburban house

Oak Hills Place already had more than 3,100 housing units by 2000, and as those houses age, water heaters, supply hoses and roof coverings eventually wear out. Storm-driven rain through lifted shingles, overflowing gutters and clogged AC condensate lines also account for a lot of interior damage here.

For water damage restoration in Oak Hills Place, a contractor commonly isolates the leak, extracts water, opens baseboards or drywall where moisture is trapped and runs drying equipment while logging readings. Related: structural drying and burst pipe water damage.

Federal disaster declarations that included East Baton Rouge Parish

FEMA records show East Baton Rouge Parish was included in 18 major disaster declarations for weather or fire events from 2000 through 2026 (13 hurricane, 3 flood, 1 severe ice storm, 1 coastal storm, by FEMA incident type). Declarations are made at the county level, so they do not mean every neighborhood in Oak Hills Place was affected. The most recent:

• 2024 – Hurricane Francine (DR-4817)
• 2021 – Hurricane Ida (DR-4611)
• 2021 – Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding (DR-4606)
• 2021 – Severe Winter Storms (DR-4590)
• 2021 – Hurricane Zeta (DR-4577)
• 2020 – Hurricane Delta (DR-4570)

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.

Fire and smoke damage: what cleanup involves

Local fire protection traces back to the Village St. George Volunteer Fire Department, founded in 1966 and now the St. George Fire Protection District. Once the fire is out, the homeowner's challenge shifts to soot, odor and the water used in suppression.

A reputable restoration company will usually secure openings, remove charred materials, clean surfaces and contents, and deodorize the structure and HVAC system. Two pages worth a look: fire damage cleanup and smoke odor removal.

Floodwater, fallen trees and storm cleanup

Water from overflowing creeks or streets counts as contaminated, so soaked drywall, insulation, carpet and pad are normally cut out and the framing disinfected before drying. Wherever big trees stand close to a house, a wind event like Francine can put a limb through the roof in seconds.

Learn more about flood damage restoration and storm damage cleanup.

Mold remediation in the Baton Rouge humidity

South Louisiana's heat and moisture let mold establish itself on wet materials in a few days, faster still if a storm has knocked out the air conditioning. Musty odors, peeling paint and dark spots near baseboards are common early signs.

EPA guidance says homeowners can usually clean a mold patch under about 10 square feet with gloves, goggles and an N95 mask; anything larger, or growth caused by floodwater, belongs with a professional. More on mold remediation.

What to do first in southern East Baton Rouge Parish

• Call 911 for fire, injuries, gas odors or anyone trapped by water.
• Keep an eye on warnings from the NWS office serving New Orleans and Baton Rouge, and do what parish and St. George officials ask.
• Keep out of flooded rooms until you know the power is off.
• Photograph damage before cleanup and save receipts. Coverage depends on your policy; speak with your insurer or agent, and remember that flood usually requires a separate policy.
• Wear protective gear when handling floodwater, soot or mold.

Neighborhoods and nearby communities

Nearby communities with their own pages (straight-line distance from Oak Hills Place):

• Gardere · 3 mi
• Shenandoah · 6 mi
• Prairieville · 8 mi
• Baton Rouge · 8 mi
• Merrydale · 10 mi
• Denham Springs · 12 mi

Restoration guides

• Structural Drying
• Burst Pipe Water Damage
• Flood Damage Restoration
• Storm Damage Cleanup
• Mold Remediation
• Fire Damage Cleanup

Local resources for Oak Hills Place residents

• National Weather Service New Orleans/Baton Rouge

Sources

• Wikipedia: Oak Hills Place, Louisiana
• Wikipedia: St. George, Louisiana
• NWS: Hurricane Francine impact narratives
• FEMA disaster declarations (East Baton Rouge Parish)

← More Louisiana cities