North Richland Hills grew out of a dairy farm. In 1952 Clarence Jones began dividing his 268-acre property into lots, and the first 188 homes, around today's Cummings Drive, were required to be brick and masonry. The city incorporated in 1953 and had absorbed the old Smithfield community by 1960, so many streets now hold houses that are seventy years old or close to it.
Our role is narrow: Fire & Water Energy is a referral line, and the cleanup in an NRH home is done by someone else. When you call (866) 937-3230, we try to put you in touch with an independent contractor that works in North Richland Hills and nearby Watauga, Haltom City, Hurst and Keller. Whether someone is free depends on local providers, so we can't promise a match. Before you call, you can skim how it works and the referral disclosure to see exactly what we do and don't handle for NRH homeowners.
What Tarrant County weather throws at local homes
The city sits at roughly 630 feet in northeast Tarrant County, between Fort Worth and the Hurst-Euless-Bedford area. Its hazards are the ones the county has repeatedly faced. Since 2000, FEMA has included Tarrant County in seven major disaster declarations: the 2000 storms with tornadoes and flooding, Hurricane Rita in 2005, the Extreme Wildfire Threat of 2006, the 2007 and 2015 rounds of storms, tornadoes and flooding, Hurricane Harvey in 2017, and the Severe Winter Storms of February 2021.
That mix tells you what to plan for: hard freezes that split pipes, hail and wind that open roofs, and short bursts of heavy rain that overwhelm gutters and yard drainage.
Leaks, bursts and slow drips in NRH houses
The 2021 winter storms showed how quickly a freeze can turn into a flooded hallway. Supply lines in exterior walls, attics and unheated garages are the usual failure points. In summer, the load shifts to air conditioners: a clogged condensate line or rusted drain pan can soak a ceiling without anyone noticing for days. Older homes add aging water heaters, galvanized or early copper plumbing and settled foundations to the list.
Anyone searching for water damage restoration in North Richland Hills should expect a reputable contractor to stop the source, extract standing water, map moisture with meters and run dehumidifiers until readings return to normal. Read more on water damage restoration and burst pipe water damage.
Federal disaster declarations that included Tarrant County
FEMA records show Tarrant County was included in 7 major disaster declarations for weather or fire events from 2000 through 2026 (2 hurricane, 2 severe storm, 1 severe ice storm, 1 fire, 1 tornado, by FEMA incident type). Declarations are made at the county level, so they do not mean every neighborhood in North Richland Hills was affected. The most recent:
- 2021 – Severe Winter Storms (DR-4586)
- 2017 – Hurricane Harvey (DR-4332)
- 2015 – Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds and Flooding (DR-4223)
- 2007 – Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding (DR-1709)
- 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.
Water, fire or storm damage in North Richland Hills?
Call (866) 937-3230 and tell us what happened at your North Richland Hills property.
After a house fire: soot, odor and masonry
Brick and masonry exteriors hold up well, but interiors still fill with soot and smoke residue after a kitchen, dryer or wiring fire. Porous brick around fireplaces and painted masonry can trap odor and need specialized cleaning. Tarrant County's 2006 wildfire threat declaration is a reminder that dry, windy stretches also bring grass fire risk at the edges of developed areas.
Contractors commonly test which type of residue is present before choosing a cleaning method, then deodorize, clean ductwork and replace what cannot be saved. Our pages on fire damage restoration and smoke odor removal cover those steps in NRH-relevant detail.
Hail, wind and flash flooding cleanup
Storm systems that produce tornadoes in North Texas usually bring hail and straight-line winds along with them, and the county's 2000, 2007 and 2015 declarations each combined wind damage with flooding. The first priority after such a storm is keeping more rain out, which means tarping roofs, boarding broken windows and removing trees that have fallen onto the house.
Runoff that pushes in under doors carries soil, lawn chemicals and sewage traces, so crews handle it as contaminated. Expect wet carpet pad and the lower section of drywall to be removed before drying starts. Our storm damage cleanup page outlines the usual sequence.
Keeping mold out after the water is gone
North Texas summers are warm enough that damp drywall, insulation and carpet can grow mold within a couple of days. Hidden spots such as behind a refrigerator, under a leaking AC air handler or inside a wall cavity after a freeze are where it tends to be missed.
The EPA suggests homeowners can usually clean an area smaller than about 10 square feet once the moisture problem is fixed. Larger patches, recurring growth or mold after floodwater are better handled through professional mold remediation.
First moves when damage hits your North Richland Hills home
- Call 911 for fire, injuries, a gas smell or downed power lines.
- Close the main water shutoff if a pipe bursts; know where it is before winter.
- Keep clear of bulging ceilings and of any room where water has reached outlets or cords.
- Check the city's news and alert listings at nrhtx.com for local updates.
- Photograph every affected room and keep damaged items until your adjuster says otherwise.
- Ask your insurer or agent how your policy treats the loss; coverage depends on the policy.
Neighborhoods and nearby communities
Areas in and around North Richland Hills that callers often mention include:
- Smithfield
Nearby communities with their own pages (straight-line distance from North Richland Hills):
North Richland Hills restoration FAQs
Does a home from the original 1950s subdivisions need different handling?
It can. Homes from the original Jones Farm era may have older plumbing, plaster or materials that should be tested before they are torn out. Ask any contractor how they plan to handle older building materials.
Were homes here affected by the February 2021 freeze?
Tarrant County was part of the FEMA Severe Winter Storms declaration (DR-4586) in 2021, and burst pipes were a common result across North Texas. Insulating exposed lines and knowing your shutoff valve location are simple ways to prepare.
Do you take calls from Watauga, Haltom City or Hurst?
Yes. We try to connect callers in neighboring cities with independent contractors who work there too. Availability depends on local providers and isn't guaranteed.
Is hail damage really a water damage problem?
Often it is. Cracked shingles and dented flashing may let rain into the attic during the next storm, wetting insulation and ceilings. Having the roof checked soon after a hailstorm can prevent a second, larger loss.
Restoration guides
- Water Damage Restoration
- Burst Pipe Water Damage
- Fire Damage Restoration
- Smoke Odor Removal
- Storm Damage Cleanup
- Mold Remediation