Flood, water and fire damage restoration for Houston homes

Few places in the country have dealt with as much flood loss as Houston. Wikipedia notes the city has recorded more flood casualties and property loss than any other U.S. locality, and storms such as Tropical Storm Allison and Hurricane Harvey are still part of everyday conversation in Harris County.

We don't do restoration work ourselves; Fire & Water Energy only makes referrals. Call (866) 937-3230 and we will try to connect you with an independent restoration contractor who works in your part of Houston. Whether someone is available depends on the providers in the area at the time you call. See how it works and our referral disclosure for details.

Bayous, Gulf storms and the weather that shapes local claims

The city drains through a network of bayous, including Buffalo Bayou and its tributary White Oak Bayou, Brays Bayou near the Texas Medical Center, and Sims Bayou to the south. Downtown is only about 50 feet above sea level, and the land is so flat that an extensive drainage system had to be built to move water at all.

Rain is plentiful: roughly 50 inches a year, with the wet season running April through October. Some of the worst local events include Allison in June 2001 (up to 40 inches of rain), the Memorial Day flood of May 2015, the Tax Day storm of April 2016, and Harvey in August 2017, when some areas saw more than 50 inches. A derecho on May 16, 2024 also caused widespread damage across the metro area.

FEMA data shows Harris County was included in major disaster declarations for Hurricane Ike (2008), Tropical Storm Imelda (2019), the Severe Winter Storms of 2021 and Hurricane Beryl (2024), among others.

Indoor leaks, slab problems and water damage repair in the city

Not every wet floor comes from a hurricane. In a hot, humid climate, contractors commonly see clogged AC condensate lines, failed water heaters, supply-line breaks under sinks and roof leaks after spring thunderstorms. Older pre-war homes and streetcar-era bungalows inside the Loop can also have aging plumbing that gives out without warning.

The city averages around 13 freezing nights a year, and the 2021 winter storm showed how exposed attic and exterior pipes can split when a hard freeze lingers. If you need water damage restoration in Houston, a reputable company will usually extract standing water, measure moisture inside walls and run drying equipment until readings return to normal. Ask about structural drying and water damage repair as separate line items so the scope is clear.

Federal disaster declarations that included Harris County

FEMA records show Harris County was included in 15 major disaster declarations for weather or fire events from 2000 through 2026 (4 hurricane, 4 flood, 4 severe storm, 1 severe ice storm, 1 fire, 1 coastal storm, by FEMA incident type). Declarations are made at the county level, so they do not mean every neighborhood in Houston was affected. The most recent:

• 2024 – Hurricane Beryl (DR-4798)
• 2024 – Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding (DR-4781)
• 2021 – Severe Winter Storms (DR-4586)
• 2019 – Tropical Storm Imelda (DR-4466)
• 2017 – Hurricane Harvey (DR-4332)
• 2016 – Severe Storms and Flooding (DR-4272)

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 fire, soot or smoke reaches your house

Harris County's emergency management site regularly posts burn ban notices and warnings about lithium-ion battery fires, and FEMA's 2006 Extreme Wildfire Threat declaration covered the county. Kitchen fires and electrical fires are still the more familiar causes for most households.

After the fire department releases the property, soot settles on every surface and odor works into fabrics, insulation and ductwork. Humid air can make residue cling and spread. A typical restoration contractor will handle soot removal, cleaning of salvageable contents and smoke odor removal, and may also cover any water left behind by firefighting.

Flood cleanup when the bayous rise

When bayous overflow or street drainage backs up, the water that enters a home is often contaminated with sewage, fuel and debris. That is treated as Category 3 water, and porous items such as carpet pad, drywall and insulation usually have to be removed rather than dried. Contractors commonly cut wet drywall a set height above the waterline before drying the framing.

Hurricanes and tropical storms add wind damage, broken windows and fallen trees to the mix. Our flood cleanup and hurricane damage cleanup pages explain what that work generally involves. You can check rainfall levels and bayou conditions through the Harris County Flood Warning System linked below.

Mold in a city where summer mornings top 90% humidity

Wikipedia reports that summer mornings in the area average over 90% relative humidity. With that much moisture in the air, wet materials that are not dried within a day or two can start growing mold, and hidden cavities behind cabinets or baseboards are easy to miss.

The EPA suggests that a homeowner can often clean a small patch of mold, under roughly 10 square feet, while larger areas or mold tied to contaminated water is better left to a professional. For bigger jobs, ask how the contractor sets up containment and air filtration for mold remediation.

First steps for Houston residents after damage

• Call 911 for fire, injuries, gas odor or anyone trapped by rising water. Never drive or walk through floodwater.
• Keep up with official alerts from Harris County Homeland Security & Emergency Management through ReadyHarris, which offers an alert signup.
• Shut off power at the breaker only if you can reach it without standing in water.
• Photograph damage and keep receipts before anything is thrown away. Coverage depends on your policy, so check with your insurer or agent; standard homeowners policies often treat flood separately.
• Wear gloves, boots and an N95 or better mask around floodwater, soot or mold.

Picking an independent contractor in Harris County

Get a written scope, ask whether the contractor holds IICRC certification, and check whether Texas or your city requires a license or permit for the specific work, such as electrical or mold jobs. Be cautious of anyone who knocks on doors right after a storm asking for full payment up front. Neighbors in nearby West University Place, Bellaire and Pasadena face the same flood season, so our Texas service area page may also help.

Neighborhoods and nearby communities

Areas in and around Houston that callers often mention include:

• Downtown
• Midtown
• Uptown
• Montrose
• Houston Heights
• Greenway Plaza
• Memorial City
• Energy Corridor
• Westchase
• Greenspoint
• Texas Medical Center
• Museum District

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

• Pasadena · 11 mi
• Missouri City · 14 mi
• Pearland · 15 mi
• Deer Park · 15 mi
• Channelview · 15 mi
• Mission Bend · 19 mi

Restoration guides

• Flood Cleanup
• Water Damage Restoration
• Hurricane Damage Cleanup
• Structural Drying
• Mold Remediation
• Storm Damage Cleanup

Local resources for Houston residents

• ReadyHarris (Harris County Homeland Security & Emergency Management)
• Harris County Flood Warning System

Sources

• Wikipedia: Houston
• ReadyHarris
• FEMA disaster declarations (Harris County)

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