Crowder's Creek Flooding in Gastonia: What Fast Creek Water Means for Cleanup

December 30, 2015: how fast Crowder's Creek rose

Crowder's Creek flooded fast on the morning of December 30, 2015. Residents of a mobile home park in Gastonia had to evacuate.

The Gastonia Fire Department rescued more than a handful of people from the lower part of the park. No injuries were reported, a large tree snapped and blocked a road, and the Red Cross helped families.

The event shows what a fast creek rise looks like: people moving quickly and belongings left behind.

Creek water can rise because rain upstream arrives faster than the channel can carry it, so a clear sky overhead does not mean the water has stopped rising.

Why creek water is handled as Category 3

Water that comes from a creek carries soil, debris and whatever the creek picked up along the way. The IICRC S500 standard treats it as Category 3, the most contaminated category.

That label decides what happens to the materials the water touched.

Because the water is contaminated, the team wears protective gear and bags removed materials before carrying them out. Surfaces that stay are cleaned and treated before drying equipment is set.

• Carpet and carpet pad that were touched are removed and discarded.
• Insulation and drywall that wicked the water are cut out.
• Hard surfaces are cleaned and treated, then dried.
• Items that cannot be cleaned are listed and photographed for the insurer.

First steps when creek water reaches a home

Safety comes before cleanup, and the order matters. Standing floodwater can hide electrical hazards and sharp debris.

Do not turn on appliances that got wet. An electrician should check wet outlets and the panel before power is restored.

• Stay out until the water level has dropped and the power to the area is off.
• Do not walk or drive through moving water.
• Photograph the high water mark on the walls and the damaged belongings.
• Wear boots and gloves, and keep children and pets out of the area.
• Contact the insurer and a restoration team once it is safe.

How extraction, removal and drying work

A flood cleanup follows a set order. Skipping a step usually means returning to it later at a higher cost.

Extraction first

The extraction crew pumps standing water and removes mud and silt. Water extraction comes first because water left in place keeps soaking into the structure.

Silt dries into a hard layer on floors and in wall bottoms, so pulling it out early makes the rest of the work easier.

Careful removal

Wet porous materials are cut out in the order that protects the rest of the house. Debris is bagged and carried out, not dragged across clean rooms.

Drying and checks

Dehumidifiers and air movers run in the cleaned space, and moisture readings are taken each day. Structural drying ends when the readings match a dry reference.

• Moisture readings are taken in walls, floors and subfloor each day.
• Equipment is moved or removed as each zone reaches a dry reading.

Help and coverage after a flood

The Red Cross helped families after the December 2015 flood. That is a reminder that relief groups can offer shelter and supplies when a home is not livable.

Restoration work on the building begins once people are safe. Families who cannot stay in a flooded home should keep receipts for lodging and meals, since the insurer may ask for them.

Coverage for flood water can differ from coverage for a plumbing leak, so it helps to ask the insurer which applies. The adjuster usually wants photos, a list of damaged items and the date the water entered.

A storm and flash flood cleanup team documents readings and removed materials, which helps that conversation. Wider storm work is covered under storm and flash flood cleanup.

What can be saved after creek water

Not everything touched by creek water is a loss. The material and the time it sat in water decide what can be cleaned.

Anything of high value or sentiment should be set aside and photographed before it is moved or cleaned.

• Solid wood furniture can often be cleaned and dried.
• Upholstered furniture and mattresses that touched the water are usually discarded.
• Hard flooring such as tile can often be cleaned and dried, while carpet is removed.
• Photographs and papers should be set aside, since some can be dried or cleaned by specialists.
• Appliances and electronics that were under water should be checked by a technician before use.

Getting ready before the next heavy rain

Gastonia averages 43.95 inches of precipitation a year, so heavy rain is part of the normal pattern. A plan made on a dry day is easier to follow when a creek is rising.

The Gastonia water damage pages list the services that follow a flood.

• Know which rooms sit lowest and keep valuables off those floors.
• Keep documents, medications and chargers in a bag that can be grabbed quickly.
• Photograph the home and belongings in normal condition.
• Learn a second route out, since a fallen tree can block a road.
• Store important papers in a waterproof container above floor level.