Longview was designed around 1921 by planner George Kessler for lumberman R. A. Long, and many of its downtown and Civic Center buildings date from the boom years of 1923 to 1934. Kelso borders the city to the east, Lake Sacajawea runs through its park system, and the Lewis and Clark Bridge crosses the Columbia to Rainier, Oregon.
Fire & Water Energy only refers callers to other companies; it has no restoration staff. Contact us at (866) 937-3230 and we'll try to pair you with an independent restoration contractor serving Longview, Kelso and the rest of Cowlitz County, provided a local firm is able to take it on. See how it works for the process and the referral disclosure for how referrals are arranged.
Two rivers, Pineapple Express rain and a long flood memory
Wikipedia puts annual precipitation near 48 inches over about 192 days, with November and December each topping 7 inches. Warm, wet systems known as the Pineapple Express can drop 3 to 6 inches of rain in a few days, and winter windstorms have produced gusts of 90 to 100 mph in the past. Temperatures have ranged from a record −6°F to 108°F.
River history runs deep. Cowlitz River flooding in December 1867 destroyed the town of Monticello, now part of Longview, and high water with a log jam preceded the deadly Allen Street Bridge collapse in January 1923. Since 2000, FEMA has included Cowlitz County in eight major disaster declarations, including 2016 (DR-4253), 2021 (DR-4593), 2022 (DR-4650), 2024 (DR-4775) and 2026 (DR-4906).
Leaks in founding-era Craftsman homes and 1960s suburbs
Housing here spans Tudor and Craftsman houses from the city's founding era to the 1960s suburbs of the western valley. Older homes may have aging galvanized or cast-iron plumbing, while newer ones deal with failed supply lines and water heaters. Heavy multi-day rain tests roofs and gutters, and a rare subzero cold snap can freeze pipes in crawlspaces.
Water damage restoration in Longview usually begins with stopping the source and extracting water, followed by moisture mapping and drying with dehumidifiers and air movers. After that, water damage repair restores flooring, drywall and trim. Owners of older houses can also read about structural drying and burst pipe water damage.
Federal disaster declarations that included Cowlitz County
FEMA records show Cowlitz County was included in 8 major disaster declarations for weather or fire events from 2000 through 2026 (4 flood, 4 severe storm, by FEMA incident type). Declarations are made at the county level, so they do not mean every neighborhood in Longview was affected. The most recent:
- 2026 – Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (DR-4906)
- 2024 – Severe Winter Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (DR-4775)
- 2022 – Severe Winter Storms, Snowstorms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding (DR-4650)
- 2021 – Severe Winter Storm, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (DR-4593)
- 2016 – Severe Winter Storm, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, Mudslides, and a T (DR-4253)
- 2009 – Severe Winter Storm and Record and Near Record Snow (DR-1825)
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 Longview?
Call (866) 937-3230 and tell us what happened at your Longview property.
Fire and smoke in a city of historic buildings
Older plaster walls, wood paneling and decorative trim in the city's 1920s and 1930s buildings respond differently to soot and cleaning chemicals than modern drywall. The city's own fire safety outreach has focused on everyday risks such as charging lithium-ion batteries safely, a reminder that many house fires start with ordinary devices.
A careful contractor stabilizes the structure, removes debris, tests each surface before cleaning, and uses air filtration or sealers to control odor. More detail is available on our pages for fire damage restoration and smoke odor removal in older Cowlitz County homes.
When the Cowlitz and Columbia run high
The city sits only about 13 feet above sea level at the meeting of two large rivers. The county's FEMA declarations list flooding again and again, often combined with straight-line winds, landslides and mudslides. Storms can also bring down trees and damage roofs before water ever reaches the floor.
Floodwater from rivers or streets is considered contaminated. Contractors typically remove saturated carpet, pad and the lower section of drywall, clean and disinfect the cavity, and then dry everything thoroughly. River-town homeowners can compare the steps on our pages for flood damage restoration and storm damage cleanup.
Fog, drizzle and mold in Cowlitz County
Wikipedia notes that fall here is often foggy, sometimes all day, and that rain falls on nearly 200 days a year. That kind of persistent damp keeps crawlspaces, attics and bathrooms at risk, especially in houses where ventilation was never updated.
The EPA says small areas under roughly 10 square feet can often be cleaned by a homeowner after the moisture source is fixed. Larger growth, mold hidden inside walls or ducts, or mold after floodwater or sewage should go to a professional who uses containment and HEPA filtration. Read about mold remediation.
First priorities for Longview households
- Call 911 for a fire, injury, gas smell or downed line, and leave the house if water is rising or the structure seems unsafe.
- Turn off the main water valve for a plumbing leak, and keep out of standing water near outlets and appliances.
- Sign up for email alerts on the City of Longview website, and follow Cowlitz County emergency guidance during river flooding.
- Document damage with photos and video before anything is discarded. Your coverage is set by your policy, so confirm with your insurer or agent; flood damage usually requires a separate flood policy.
Neighborhoods and nearby communities
Areas in and around Longview that callers often mention include:
- Downtown Longview
- Civic Center
Nearby communities with their own pages (straight-line distance from Longview):
- Kelso · 2 mi
- St. Helens, OR · 20 mi
- Battle Ground · 31 mi
- Salmon Creek · 33 mi
- Hazel Dell · 35 mi
- Five Corners · 36 mi
Longview restoration FAQs
When is flooding most likely in Longview?
November and December are the wettest months, each averaging more than 7 inches of rain, and Pineapple Express storms can add several inches in a few days. That is when rivers rise and basements and crawlspaces are most likely to take on water.
Do pipes really freeze here?
Not often, but the record low is −6°F, and the city gets one or two snowfalls in a typical year. Insulating crawlspace pipes and dripping faucets during deep cold snaps are inexpensive precautions.
Are older homes harder to restore after water or fire damage?
They can be. Many Longview buildings date from 1923 to 1934 and use plaster, old-growth wood and period finishes. Ask any contractor how they plan to dry and clean these materials without destroying original features.
How can I get city alerts?
The City of Longview offers an email sign-up for alerts and its newsletter on its website, and it posts public safety updates on social media. During river flooding, also watch for instructions from county emergency officials.
Can you help in Kelso or across the river?
We try to connect callers in Kelso and elsewhere in Cowlitz County with independent contractors. Options depend on who is working in the area at the time, so call (866) 937-3230 to find out.
Restoration guides
- Water Damage Restoration
- Structural Drying
- Burst Pipe Water Damage
- Flood Damage Restoration
- Fire Damage Restoration
- Mold Remediation