Sherman home damage: water, fire, ice and tornado cleanup

Sherman lies about 70 miles north of Dallas, between Denison and Howe, and has been a regional center since the 1800s. Austin College relocated here in 1876, and the town passed 10,000 residents by 1900. That long history means the housing stock spans many eras; the 2020 census counted about 43,600 people and 18,000 housing units.

Fire & Water Energy hands out referrals and does not take on restoration jobs. Reach us at (866) 937-3230 and we will try to connect you with an independent restoration contractor that serves Sherman, Denison and the surrounding part of Grayson County. Provider availability is not guaranteed. To see how calls are handled, visit how it works or the referral disclosure.

Tornado history, ice and heat in Grayson County

On May 15, 1896, an F5 tornado cut a path 400 yards wide and 28 miles long through the area, killing 73 people and injuring 200. Severe spring storms remain the main hazard: May is the wettest month, averaging about 5.5 of the city's 44.29 annual inches of precipitation. Extremes run both ways, with a record high of 113°F in August and a record low of -3°F.

Grayson County has seen seven federal disaster declarations since 2000, beginning with a Severe Winter Ice Storm in 2001 and including Hurricane Rita (2005), the Extreme Wildfire Threat (2006), Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding (2007), Wildfires (2011), the 2015 storms and flooding, and Severe Winter Storms (2021).

Common water damage problems in older and newer Sherman houses

In older homes, trouble can come from aging metal drain and supply pipes, crawlspaces under raised floors, and worn roofs. In newer construction the issues are more often attic AC drain pans, failed supply lines and water heaters. Ice storms and deep freezes, like those in 2001 and 2021, can split pipes in exterior walls and crawlspaces.

For water damage repair in Sherman, contractors commonly cut off the source, remove standing water, check framing and subfloors with moisture meters, and dry the structure before rebuilding. Crawlspaces may need separate drying. Details are in our burst pipe water damage and water damage repair guides.

Federal disaster declarations that included Grayson County

FEMA records show Grayson County was included in 7 major disaster declarations for weather or fire events from 2000 through 2026 (2 severe ice storm, 2 severe storm, 2 fire, 1 hurricane, by FEMA incident type). Declarations are made at the county level, so they do not mean every neighborhood in Sherman was affected. The most recent:

• 2021 – Severe Winter Storms (DR-4586)
• 2015 – Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds and Flooding (DR-4223)
• 2011 – Wildfires (DR-4029)
• 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.

A town that has rebuilt after fire before

Fires in 1875 and 1876 destroyed many buildings east of the town square, and the Grayson County Courthouse was burned in 1930. Today's risks are more ordinary: cooking accidents, heating equipment in winter, and wiring in older homes. In dry, windy years, grass fires near the edge of town are also a concern, as the 2006 and 2011 declarations showed.

After a fire, a contractor typically secures the building, separates salvageable contents, removes soot from surfaces and ducts, and deodorizes. Our fire damage restoration page and the soot removal guide break this down step by step.

Cleaning up after hail, wind and flash flooding

Spring supercells bring hail, damaging wind and short bursts of torrential rain that can overwhelm yards and drainage. The 2007 and 2015 county declarations both included flooding alongside tornado damage.

Storm work usually starts with tarping, board-up and fallen tree removal, then moves to extracting water and pulling out wet drywall and flooring. Water that enters from outdoors is treated as contaminated. See our pages on storm damage cleanup and flood cleanup for what is involved.

Mold in crawlspaces, walls and attics

Humid summers and damp crawlspaces under older houses give mold a foothold after any leak. Watch for musty odors from floor vents, soft spots in flooring and staining on joists or drywall.

EPA guidance allows most homeowners to clean patches smaller than about 10 square feet once the moisture problem is fixed. Larger areas, contamination in ductwork, or mold after floodwater should be handled through professional mold remediation.

What Sherman households should do first

• Call 911 for fire, injuries, a gas smell or downed power lines.
• Take shelter in an interior room on the lowest floor when a tornado warning is issued.
• Close the main water valve after a pipe break, and stay out of water that touches outlets.
• Follow National Weather Service Fort Worth forecasts during ice and severe storm events.
• Photograph and video all damage before cleaning, and save receipts.
• Check with your insurer or agent about coverage; it depends on your policy.

Neighborhoods and nearby communities

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

• McKinney · 30 mi
• Frisco · 36 mi
• Allen · 37 mi
• Little Elm · 38 mi
• The Colony · 41 mi
• Denton · 42 mi

Restoration guides

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

Local resources for Sherman residents

• NWS Fort Worth/Dallas forecasts

Sources

• Wikipedia: Sherman, Texas
• National Weather Service Fort Worth/Dallas

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