Cleburne help for tornado, freeze, fire and water damage

Cleburne, the Johnson County seat, spreads across roughly 36 square miles south of Fort Worth. Lake Pat Cleburne, impounded on the Nolan River in 1964, supplies the city's water, while East and West Buffalo Creeks wind through the south side of town before joining the river. The historic downtown district holds buildings dating back to 1877.

Fire & Water Energy connects people with help; it does not do the work. Call (866) 937-3230 and we'll try to find an independent restoration contractor that serves Cleburne and nearby places such as Burleson and Crowley. Whether anyone can take the job depends on local providers' schedules. To understand the arrangement, visit how it works and the referral disclosure.

Tornadoes, freezes and drought-breaking floods in Johnson County

Cleburne averages close to 38 inches of precipitation a year, with spring and fall bringing the heaviest totals. The pattern tends to swing between extremes: a drought from 2010 to 2015 ended with record rains and flooding in May 2015, and Johnson County was included in that year's FEMA declaration for severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds and flooding.

In 2013 an EF3 tornado roughly a mile wide crossed Lake Pat Cleburne and slammed into the southern part of the city, damaging about 600 homes and injuring nine people. Winters are usually dry, but February 2021 delivered one of the harshest freezes residents could remember, and the county was part of the Severe Winter Storms declaration that year.

Burst pipes, slab leaks and roof damage

Freezes like 2021 crack pipes in attics, garages and exterior walls, and the leaks often show up only after thawing. The rest of the year, water heaters, appliance hoses, AC drain pans and slab leaks are frequent sources. Hail and high winds that come with spring storms can open roofs to rain.

For water damage restoration in Cleburne, contractors typically extract water first, then use moisture meters and thermal imaging to find wet areas, followed by several days of drying. Once the structure is confirmed dry, water damage repair replaces drywall, flooring and cabinets. Our pages on burst pipe water damage and property damage reconstruction describe those phases.

Federal disaster declarations that included Johnson County

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

• 2021 – Severe Winter Storms (DR-4586)
• 2015 – Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds and Flooding (DR-4223)
• 2006 – Extreme Wildfire Threat (DR-1624)
• 2005 – Hurricane Rita (DR-1606)

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 recovery in older and newer buildings

Fire is part of local history: the 1883 county courthouse burned in April 1912. Today most residential fires begin with cooking, heating equipment or wiring, and smoke spreads through ductwork and open floor plans. Buildings in the historic downtown may have older materials that need gentler cleaning.

A restoration company will typically secure the building, remove ruined contents, test soot, clean from the top down and deodorize before rebuilding. Further reading is on our fire damage restoration page, with odor treatment covered under smoke odor removal.

Storm cleanup along the Buffalo Creeks and Nolan River

The lowest ground in Cleburne lies in the south, where the Buffalo Creeks meet the Nolan River. When heavy rain follows a dry spell, as it did in 2015 and back in May 1957, runoff can rise quickly. Water entering a home from outdoors carries contaminants, so porous materials it touched are usually removed and surfaces disinfected.

Tornado and wind damage brings its own sequence: tarping, board-up, debris removal and then interior drying. Read more on storm damage cleanup and flood damage restoration.

Mold prevention after wet weather

Spring and fall rains combined with warm temperatures give mold a good start on anything that stays damp for more than a day or two. Pay attention to attics after roof damage and to walls where a frozen pipe leaked unnoticed.

EPA guidance says a homeowner can typically clean up mold under about 10 square feet after correcting the moisture problem. For larger areas or contamination from floodwater, professional mold remediation is the safer route.

What Cleburne homeowners should do first

• Call 911 for fire, injuries, gas odors or downed power lines.
• Check the City of Cleburne website for local notices after storms.
• Stay clear of damaged structures after a tornado until they are checked.
• Shut off water at the main when a pipe breaks; turn off power to wet areas only if it is safe.
• Photograph everything before cleanup and keep every receipt.
• Wind, flood and freeze damage can fall under different policy terms; ask your insurer or agent.

Neighborhoods and nearby communities

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

• Burleson · 14 mi
• Mansfield · 21 mi
• Fort Worth · 26 mi
• Cedar Hill · 30 mi
• Arlington · 31 mi
• Waxahachie · 32 mi

Restoration guides

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

Local resources for Cleburne residents

• City of Cleburne

Sources

• Wikipedia: Cleburne, Texas
• Wikipedia: Lake Pat Cleburne

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