Flood damage restoration is the cleanup and recovery of a property after outside water or sewage has entered it. That includes flash flooding from heavy rain, creek and river overflow, storm runoff that pours into a garage or crawlspace, and sewer lines that back up through floor drains, tubs and toilets. Unlike a clean burst pipe, this water is contaminated. It has to be removed, and everything porous it touched has to be dealt with, under strict safety and sanitation procedures.
Tulsa has a long history with flooding. The Memorial Day flood of 1984 remains one of the worst in the city's history, and it led Tulsa to build one of the most respected floodplain management programs in the country. Even so, intense spring storms still overwhelm drainage, low-lying streets and older sewer lines. When the Arkansas River ran high in 2019, homes and businesses near the river and in neighboring communities dealt with weeks of water and cleanup.
Our flood cleanup crews serve Tulsa and all of Tulsa County 24/7. We pump out standing water, remove contaminated materials, disinfect, dry the structure and rebuild. Call (918) 395-9320 for help now.
Reviewed by our Tulsa restoration team ·
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Flood Damage vs. Regular Water Damage
The difference isn't only where the water came from. It's what the water carries. A supply line leak delivers clean water. Floodwater picks up soil, sewage, fuel, fertilizer, chemicals and debris on its way into your home. The IICRC S500 standard classifies it as Category 3, or black water, the highest contamination level.
That classification changes the whole job. Crews wear protective equipment. Porous materials that contacted the water are removed rather than dried. Every remaining surface is cleaned and disinfected, and the structure is dried only after the contamination is gone. If your water came from a clean indoor source instead, see our emergency water damage restoration page.
Insurance also treats these losses differently, which we cover below.
Flooding in Tulsa: Where and Why It Happens
Tulsa sits along the Arkansas River and is crossed by creeks including Mingo Creek, Joe Creek, Haikey Creek, Fred Creek and Bird Creek. Spring storm systems can drop several inches of rain in a few hours, and that much water can overwhelm storm drains and small creeks quickly.
Flash flooding
Most flood damage here comes from fast, heavy rain rather than slow-rising rivers. Water collects in low spots, runs down driveways into garages, and pushes into homes with doors and slabs close to grade. Crawlspaces fill from surrounding soil.
River and creek flooding
Prolonged heavy rain upstream can push the Arkansas River and local creeks out of their banks, as happened during the 2019 floods that affected low-lying areas around Tulsa and Sand Springs. These losses tend to involve deeper water and longer exposure.
Sewer backups
During heavy storms, rainwater can enter older sanitary sewer lines and overload them, forcing sewage back up through the lowest drains in a building. Tree roots, grease buildup and collapsed lateral lines cause backups too, even in dry weather. Older Midtown and North Tulsa homes with clay sewer laterals are especially prone.
Flood Safety: What to Do Before Cleanup Starts
Flooded buildings are dangerous in ways that aren't always obvious. Before anyone starts cleaning:
- Stay out of standing water if power might still be on. Turn off electricity at the main breaker only if you can reach it without stepping into water. Otherwise, call the utility.
- If you smell gas, leave the building and call the gas company from outside.
- Look for sagging ceilings, cracked foundations or bowed walls before entering.
- Wear rubber boots, waterproof gloves and eye protection if you must enter. Wash thoroughly afterward.
- Keep children, pets and anyone with a weakened immune system away from the water and the affected area.
- Photograph the water level and damage for insurance before moving things, if it's safe.
- Don't run fans or the HVAC system in a sewage-contaminated area. That can spread contaminants through the house.
Our Flood Cleanup Process
Flood damage restoration follows a specific order, because drying contaminated materials before cleaning them only locks the contamination in place.
Water and sludge removal
We pump out standing water with submersible pumps and extract the rest with high-powered vacuums. Floodwater often leaves mud and silt behind, which we remove before it dries and hardens.
Removing contaminated materials
Carpet and pad, upholstered furniture that soaked up water, insulation and drywall are removed and bagged. Drywall is typically cut well above the visible water line, because water wicks upward inside the wall. This is often called a flood cut.
Cleaning and disinfection
Hard surfaces, framing, concrete and subfloor are cleaned to remove residue, then treated with EPA-registered disinfectants. In sewage losses, we can verify cleaning with surface testing before drying begins.
Structural drying
With contamination removed, we set dehumidifiers and air movers and monitor moisture daily until the framing, subfloor and concrete reach dry standard, the same documented approach described on our water mitigation page.
Rebuild
Once dry, we replace insulation, drywall, flooring, trim and cabinets. If flooding is likely to recur, we can talk through options like moisture-resistant materials on lower walls.
Sewage Backup Cleanup
A sewage backup is one of the most urgent calls we get. Raw sewage contains bacteria, viruses and parasites, and the odor alone can make a home unlivable. It should never be cleaned up with household products and a mop.
We contain the affected area so contamination doesn't spread to clean rooms, remove the sewage and affected materials, disinfect every surface, and dry the area. If the backup came from a blocked or broken line, you'll also need a licensed plumber to clear or repair it. We're glad to coordinate so the source is fixed before we rebuild.
Signs of a developing backup include several drains gurgling or draining slowly at once, water coming up in a floor drain or the lowest tub or shower, and sewer odors. If you notice them, stop using water in the home until the line is checked.
Flooded Basements and Crawlspaces
Many Tulsa homes are built on slabs, but basements are common in some older neighborhoods, and crawlspaces are found throughout the metro, especially under pier-and-beam homes built before the 1960s.
A flooded basement needs pumping, removal of finished materials, disinfection and drying, plus a look at why the water got in: grading, gutters, a failed sump pump or a sewer backup. A flooded crawlspace is easy to ignore because you can't see it. The water and humidity rise into the floor system above, leading to musty odors, sagging floors and mold growth. We pump crawlspaces, remove wet insulation and damaged vapor barrier, clean and dry the space, and can recommend encapsulation if moisture is a recurring problem.
Flood Insurance and Sewer Backup Coverage
This is the area where homeowners are most often surprised. Standard homeowners policies generally exclude flood, meaning surface water that enters from outside. Flood coverage comes from a separate policy, usually through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) or a private flood insurer, and new NFIP policies typically have a 30-day waiting period.
Sewer and drain backups are also commonly excluded from base homeowners policies, but many insurers offer a water backup endorsement for an added premium. Water that enters through a storm-damaged roof or window is a different situation and is often covered under the wind or storm portion of the policy.
Coverage depends on your exact policy, so review it or call your agent. Whatever your coverage, we document the loss with photos, moisture readings and an itemized scope for your adjuster.
Flood Damage Restoration Cost in Tulsa
Flood cleanup typically costs more than a clean-water loss of the same size, because contaminated materials must be removed and every surface disinfected. Many residential flood and sewage jobs in Tulsa fall between roughly $1,800 and $8,500 for cleanup and drying, with reconstruction priced separately. Deep water, large areas, crawlspace work and contents cleaning increase the cost. You receive a written estimate after the inspection.
Reducing the Risk of the Next Flood
You can't control the weather, but a few changes lower the odds of a repeat loss:
- Keep gutters clean and extend downspouts several feet from the foundation.
- Make sure soil slopes away from the house on all sides.
- Test your sump pump each spring and consider a battery backup.
- Ask a plumber about a backwater valve if you've had sewer backups.
- Store valuables and important documents off the floor in basements and garages.
- Check Tulsa's floodplain maps and consider flood insurance even if you're outside a mapped flood zone.