Creek and river flooding
Water that rises out of a stream channel and spreads across the floodplain. It brings silt, debris and contamination, and it can arrive fast after hard rain upstream. Cleanup is Category 3 work.
Urgent? Phones answered 24/7
Flood Damage Cleanup After Creek and Storm Flooding
Cleanup and drying after creek, river or storm surface water, treated as contaminated from the start.
- Phones answered 24/7
- Flooded basements, burst pipes, sewer backups
- The emergency figure is agreed up front
- Readings and photographs from every visit, for your claim
Get a fast quote
Fastest: call (833) 490-5225. Or send this and we call you back.
Flood Cleanup
Flood Damage Cleanup: what it covers
Quick answer
Flood damage cleanup deals with surface water from creeks, rivers and storms, which is treated as Category 3 contaminated water. The crew pumps it out, removes porous materials it touched, cleans and dries the structure. Standard homeowners policies exclude flood. Call whenever it happens; a crew is sent out as soon as one is free to go.
Floodwater is not rainwater that got in. It has crossed streets, yards, storm drains and sometimes sewers on its way to your door, and it carries soil, oil, sewage and whatever else was on the ground. That is why the industry treats rising creek and river water as Category 3, the most contaminated category, regardless of how clear it looks.
The Jenkintown area sits where four flood stories meet. Tookany Creek runs through Cheltenham and Abington, the Pennypack drains Hatboro, Horsham and the Lower Moreland side of Abington, the Wissahickon passes Ambler, Fort Washington and Chestnut Hill, and the Schuylkill reaches Manayunk and Norristown. Each has flooded homes before.
This page explains how creek and storm flood cleanup differs from other water jobs, what is removed and why, and what is true about insurance. A flood policy is separate from a homeowners policy, and the difference matters most the week after the water.
- Service area
- Jenkintown & Montgomery County
- Availability
- Phones answered 24/7, emergencies first
- Typical cost
- $7.00–$7.50 and up (estimate)
- Phone
- (833) 490-5225
Warning signs
Signs you need flood damage cleanup
Stay out of flooded areas, never walk or drive through moving water, and keep power off until a licensed electrician says it is safe. Do not use household vacuums, and do not mix cleaning chemicals on contaminated surfaces.
- A creek or river that has left its banks near your street
- Muddy water lines on walls, in a cellar or on a first floor
- A film of silt on floors and furniture after the water drops
- A sewer smell mixed with a muddy, earthy one
- Water that came through the foundation, through windows or over a door sill
- Appliances, a furnace or an electrical panel that stood in water
- Warped floors and swollen trim a few days after the flood
- Standing water in the yard that is not draining
Cost
How much does flood damage cleanup cost in Jenkintown?
Flood jobs cost more than clean-water jobs because everything porous goes and the work is done in protective gear. Cost guides report Category 3 work at the top of the range.
| Job | Typical range | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| Category 3 restoration, per sq ft, per cost guides | $7.00–$7.50 and up | As HomeAdvisor reports it; a Philadelphia average can differ |
| Flooded basement, Category 3 total, per roundups | $7,000–$15,000 | Wide, depends on size and finish |
| Restoration labor, Philadelphia, per Angi | $64–$183 per hour | Reported for the city |
| Contents pack-out, cleaning and storage | $1,000–$6,000+ | A working estimate |
| Antimicrobial application, per sq ft | $0.50–$2.00 | A working estimate |
The first three rows are what cost guides report; the last two are the business's working estimates for Montgomery County in 2026. None is a quote, and a crew confirms the price on site and gets your approval for the emergency stage first.
Options
Types and options for flood damage cleanup
Storm surface water
Heavy rain that runs over streets and lots and into cellars, window wells and doors, or backs out of overloaded inlets. It is gray at best and is often treated as Category 3, depending on the path.
Combined sewer overflow into a cellar
Where sewers carry both storm runoff and household waste, heavy rain can push sewage water into basements. The sewage cleanup page covers that case.
One call and it gets handled.
A crew is dispatched as fast as one is available, and you approve the estimate before any work starts.
Why does floodwater count as contaminated?
Floodwater from creeks, rivers and storm surface runoff carries sewage, chemicals, soil and debris picked up along the way, so industry standard ANSI/IICRC S500 classes it as Category 3. Porous materials it touches are normally removed. Appearance does not matter; clear-looking water can still be contaminated.
That is why the crew wears gloves, boots and respirators, and why you should keep children and pets out. A little water on a tile floor still needs cleaning with the right products.
Category can also get worse over time. Clean water becomes gray, and gray can become black, as it sits and warms.
Which creeks and rivers have flooded near Jenkintown?
Montgomery County planners say most flood damage in the county has been along Tookany Creek, with Abington and Cheltenham both hit. The Pennypack has flooded Horsham, Hatboro, Upper Moreland, Lower Moreland and Abington. The Wissahickon reached 17.74 feet at Fort Washington in Ida, and the Schuylkill flooded Manayunk and Norristown.
Jenkintown Creek is part of the Tookany system, and a 2015 Army Corps of Engineers report said urbanization in Cheltenham has reduced the creek's carrying capacity. WHYY reports that the Jenkintown Creek watershed is about 98 percent developed.
The Wissahickon tends to leave its banks near 12 feet at the Fort Washington gauge, and roads begin to flood near 12.9 feet. Ida pushed it to 17.74 feet on September 1, 2021, and flooding was reported in Ambler, Chestnut Hill, Flourtown, Blue Bell, Spring House and Wyndmoor.
Does homeowners insurance cover flood?
Standard homeowners and renters policies exclude flood, meaning surface water and overflowing creeks and rivers. Flood coverage is a separate policy from the National Flood Insurance Program or a private insurer, and it takes 30 days to become effective. Many homes along the Pennypack carry no flood insurance.
Because of the waiting period, flood coverage cannot be bought on the day a storm is forecast. FloodSmart.gov is the NFIP's site, and the Pennsylvania Insurance Department has guidance too.
If you have flood coverage, tell your insurer early and keep everything. The crew's readings, photographs and removed-materials list help, but your insurer decides the claim.
How soon should cleanup start after the water drops?
As soon as it is safe. Silt and contaminated moisture left in a house start causing problems within a day or two, and the EPA advises drying water-damaged areas within 24 to 48 hours. In a widespread flood crews are in demand, so dispatch goes in order of availability.
After a widespread event many households call at once, so a crew may take longer than usual. Use the time to take photos, shut off power if it is safe and move what you can to higher floors.
Do not reoccupy a flooded floor until it has been cleaned and dried. Mold growth and damp are the main risk afterward.
Our process
How our flood damage cleanup visit works
Stay out until it is safe
Floodwater can hide electrical hazards and structural damage, and it is contaminated. The crew checks power, the water level and what is touching the water before anyone enters, and wears protective gear.
Pump out the water at a controlled pace
Water is lowered in stages, because emptying a cellar too fast while the ground outside is still saturated can stress walls and floors. The crew explains the plan and sets the pump discharge away from the house.
Remove porous materials
Carpet, pad, insulation, drywall and anything porous that floodwater touched are normally removed rather than dried, and a photographed list is kept. Hard, non-porous items can be cleaned.
Clean, disinfect and treat
Surfaces are washed to remove silt, then treated with products suited to the job. Silt left to dry holds contamination and smell.
Dry the structure
Air movers and dehumidifiers run until readings match a dry reference, with checks every day. Masonry, plaster and subfloors take longest, as the structural drying page explains.
Document and plan repairs
You get readings, photos and a list of what was removed. Repairs are quoted after drying, and mold checks come before anything is closed up.
Montgomery County
Why flood damage cleanup is different in Greater Philadelphia
Jenkintown is small, about 4,700 people in the 2020 census, and it sits between Abington and Cheltenham townships, both on the Tookany. Jenkintown Creek is a tributary of that system, and storm runoff reaches it quickly. The borough and its neighbors have to think about flood in terms of the creek and not only the street.
Hurricane Ida on September 1, 2021 brought roughly 5 to 10 inches of rain to the region, most in a little over six hours, according to the USGS. The Schuylkill at Norristown and the Perkiomen Creek at Graterford reached record levels on September 2. The region's flood history also includes Floyd in 1999 and Isaias in 2020.
The Pennypack drains about 56 square miles and about 640,000 people, and regional documents place apartment complexes and a school in the 100-year floodplain in Hatboro. If your home is near a creek, ask your borough or township whether it sits in a mapped flood zone.
Where we work
Flood Damage Cleanup across Montgomery County
- Flood Cleanup in Philadelphia
- Flood Cleanup in North Philadelphia
- Flood Cleanup in Kensington
- Flood Cleanup in West Philadelphia
- Flood Cleanup in South Philadelphia
- Flood Cleanup in Germantown
- Flood Cleanup in Mount Airy
- Flood Cleanup in Chestnut Hill
- Flood Cleanup in Manayunk
- Flood Cleanup in Camden
- Flood Cleanup in Fox Chase
- Flood Cleanup in Bustleton
- Flood Cleanup in Somerton
- Flood Cleanup in Abington
- Flood Cleanup in Cheltenham
- Flood Cleanup in Elkins Park
- Flood Cleanup in Wyncote
- Flood Cleanup in Glenside
- Flood Cleanup in Huntingdon Valley
- Flood Cleanup in Willow Grove
- Flood Cleanup in Hatboro
- Flood Cleanup in Horsham
- Flood Cleanup in Fort Washington
- Flood Cleanup in Flourtown
- Flood Cleanup in Ambler
- Flood Cleanup in Lansdale
- Flood Cleanup in Norristown
- Flood Cleanup in Haverford
- Flood Cleanup in Bensalem
- Flood Cleanup in Warminster
Not sure if you're covered? Check your ZIP code.
Related
Related services
Sewage Cleanup
Removal, cleaning and drying after sewage or a sewer backup reaches a basement, handled as Category 3 contamination.
Storm Damage Restoration
Interior water cleanup and drying after storms, plus emergency tarping or board-up, not roof replacement.
Basement Flooding Cleanup
Pumping, cleanup and drying when water arrives in a basement from the surface, a failed pump or a backed-up drain.
Structural Drying
Monitored drying of plaster-and-lath walls, hardwood over joists and stone or brick, with daily readings until dry.
Guides
Read before you book
Does a Pennsylvania Homeowners Policy Cover Water Damage?
It depends on the cause and on your own policy, and only your insurer can say.
What Hurricane Ida Taught Montgomery County Homeowners About Creek Flooding
On September 1, 2021, the remnants of Hurricane Ida dropped roughly 5 to 10 inches of rain on eastern Pennsylvania, most of it in a little over six hours.
Hiring a Contractor After Water Damage in Pennsylvania: Registration and Contracts
Pennsylvania does not issue a general contractor license.
FAQ
Flood Damage Cleanup FAQs
Is flood damage covered by homeowners insurance?
Standard homeowners policies exclude flood from surface water and overflowing creeks and rivers. A separate flood policy covers it and takes 30 days to become effective. Your insurer decides any claim under your policy.
What is Category 3 water?
Category 3 is grossly contaminated water, such as sewage, toilet backflow or rising floodwater from rivers and creeks. It is handled with protective gear, and porous materials it touches are normally removed rather than dried.
Can I clean up floodwater myself?
Small amounts on hard floors can be cleaned with proper protection, but anything that soaked carpet, drywall or insulation needs professional equipment. Wear gloves and boots, and keep children and pets out.
How long does flood drying take?
Usually several days to more than a week for a flooded cellar, longer for masonry and plaster. Readings taken each day, not a calendar date, show when the structure is dry.
Should I throw out everything that got wet?
Porous items soaked by floodwater, such as carpet, mattresses and upholstery, are usually discarded. Solid wood, metal and glass can often be cleaned. Photograph items before removal for your claim.
Is Jenkintown in a floodplain?
Parts of the area near Tookany Creek and its tributaries are in mapped flood zones. Whether a particular address is in one is a question for your borough or township and the FEMA flood map.