Help with water, flood, fire and mold damage in Gresham

Gresham sits at the eastern edge of the Portland area, with volcanic buttes rising inside the city and hills climbing toward Troutdale and the Columbia River to the northeast. Johnson Creek and Fairview Creek both cross town, and the wet season reliably stretches from late autumn through winter.

Fire & Water Energy runs a referral line; we don't send out crews of our own. When a leak, a flooded crawlspace or a fire leaves your home or business damaged, call (866) 937-3230 and we'll try to link you with an independent restoration contractor who works in Gresham. Availability depends on local providers. If you want the fine print first, the how it works page and our referral disclosure cover what we do and what we're paid for.

Buttes, creeks and a long rainy season in east Multnomah County

According to Wikipedia, the city averages 47.78 inches of precipitation and about 5.8 inches of snow per year, with average relative humidity near 75 percent. Winters are gray and wet with occasional frost, while summers turn dry and sunny. Gresham Butte, Hogan Butte and Clatsop Butte give parts of town steep slopes where runoff moves quickly downhill.

Johnson Creek starts in the Cascade foothills and passes through Main City Park on its way west. Its largest recorded crests at the downstream Sycamore gauge came on December 7, 2015, in November 1996, and during the Christmas flood of December 22, 1964, and most of its floods happen between November and February. Multnomah County has been part of FEMA major disaster declarations for severe winter storms in 2004 (DR-1510), record snow in 2009 (DR-1824), winter storms with flooding and landslides in 2016 (DR-4258), wildfires and straight-line winds in 2020 (DR-4562), and winter storms with winds and landslides in 2024 (DR-4768).

Common leak sources and water damage restoration in Gresham

Months of steady rain expose weak spots: clogged gutters, worn flashing, and soil that slopes toward a foundation instead of away from it. Crawlspaces collect water quietly, and nobody notices until floors feel soft or a musty smell shows up. During a hard freeze or ice storm, supply lines in unheated spaces can crack, then spray once temperatures climb.

Water damage restoration in Gresham usually follows a predictable path. A contractor finds and stops the source, removes standing water through water extraction, maps moisture with meters, and sets up air movers and dehumidifiers for structural drying. Replacing drywall, flooring and trim comes afterward as water damage repair. Split pipes are covered on our burst pipe page.

Federal disaster declarations that included Multnomah County

FEMA records show Multnomah County was included in 5 major disaster declarations for weather or fire events from 2000 through 2026 (4 severe storm, 1 fire, by FEMA incident type). Declarations are made at the county level, so they do not mean every neighborhood in Gresham was affected. The most recent:

• 2024 – Severe Winter Storms, Straight-line Winds, Landslides, and Mudslides (DR-4768)
• 2020 – Wildfires and Straight-line Winds (DR-4562)
• 2016 – Severe Winter Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (DR-4258)
• 2009 – Severe Winter Storm, Record and Near Record Snow (DR-1824)
• 2004 – Severe Winter Storms (DR-1510)

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.

When smoke and soot are the problem

Kitchen fires, space heaters running through cold months and electrical faults are typical starting points for house fires. Even a small blaze can spread oily soot across walls and ceilings and leave an odor that clings to fabrics and insulation. Contractors commonly secure the structure, tear out charred material, clean surfaces with methods suited to each residue, and run filtration and deodorizing equipment.

Multnomah County was included in the 2020 wildfire and straight-line wind declaration. When regional smoke drifts in, fine particles can collect in attics, vents and furnace filters. The stages are laid out on our smoke damage cleanup and fire damage restoration pages.

Creek overflow, downed trees and winter storm cleanup

Low ground near Johnson Creek and Fairview Creek is where high water is most likely after several days of heavy rain. On the slopes around the buttes, saturated soil can slide, which is why several of the county's declarations list landslides and mudslides. Ice and wind topple trees onto roofs and snap limbs that puncture siding.

Water that came in from the creek or the street can carry sewage and chemicals, so handle it as contaminated. Restoration crews generally cut wet drywall above the waterline and discard soaked carpet pad and insulation. Our flood cleanup and storm damage cleanup pages walk through the creek-side and windstorm versions of this work.

Keeping mold in check with 75 percent average humidity

Damp air and short winter days slow natural drying, so wet materials can start growing mold within a day or two. Basements, crawlspaces, window sills and closets on north-facing walls are frequent trouble spots.

EPA guidance says an area under about 10 square feet can often be handled by a homeowner, but larger patches, growth inside HVAC ducts, or mold after sewage or floodwater call for a professional. Larger projects typically involve containment, HEPA filtration and removal of affected materials; see mold remediation.

First steps for Gresham households after damage

• Call 911 for fire, injuries, a gas odor or downed lines, and get out if the building seems unsafe.
• Shut off the main water valve for plumbing leaks and avoid standing water near outlets or appliances.
• Sign up for emergency notifications through OR-Alert, which links to each county's alert system.
• Photograph damage before moving anything, save receipts, and keep a list of ruined items.
• Coverage depends on your policy; check with your insurer or agent, and remember standard homeowners policies often exclude flood.

Picking an independent contractor in Oregon

Before signing, check whether the state or city requires a license for the work, and ask for proof of insurance and a written scope. Ask whether technicians hold IICRC certification and whether they will share moisture readings or mold clearance results. Our Oregon service areas page lists other communities nearby.

Neighborhoods and nearby communities

Areas in and around Gresham that callers often mention include:

• Central City
• Centennial
• Gresham Butte
• Historic Southeast
• Hogan Cedars
• Hollybrook
• Kelly Creek
• North Central
• North Gresham
• Northeast
• Northwest
• Pleasant Valley
• Powell Valley
• Rockwood
• Southwest & Wilkes East

Nearby communities with their own pages (straight-line distance from Gresham):

• Fairview · 3 mi
• Troutdale · 4 mi
• Damascus · 6 mi
• Happy Valley · 6 mi
• Camas, WA · 6 mi
• Washougal, WA · 7 mi

Restoration guides

• Water Damage Restoration
• Flood Cleanup
• Storm Damage Cleanup
• Burst Pipe Water Damage
• Mold Remediation
• Smoke Damage Cleanup

Local resources for Gresham residents

• OR-Alert emergency notifications

Sources

• Wikipedia: Gresham, Oregon
• Wikipedia: Johnson Creek (Willamette River tributary)
• OR-Alert

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