Home › Services › Storm and flood damage
Storm and Flood Water Damage in Richardson, TX
North Texas storms bring hail, high wind and flash flooding, and each one can put water inside your house. Make the house safe, stop more water from getting in, and call (972) 947-2040 to start drying before mold does.
First steps
After a storm puts water in your house
- Stay clear of downed power lines and any part of the house that looks structurally damaged.
- Stop more water from getting in: tarp the roof or board broken windows, or have a roofer do it.
- Turn off breakers for wet rooms if you can do it without standing in water.
- Photograph the damage outside and in, with dates, before cleanup.
- Call your insurer, then a restoration company to extract and dry.
Richardson storm history
What storms have done here
- Hail, 2026. 14 hail reports within 10 miles of Richardson, including 1.75-inch hail measured in the city on April 27. ZIP 75081 logged the most damaging reports.
- Tornado, October 20, 2019. The city reported 671 structures impacted, with 54 single-family homes and 196 multi-family units left unsafe to occupy, mostly in east Richardson.
- Hard freeze, February 2021. Winter Storm Uri led to 878 emergency water shutoffs in the city.
Full figures and sources: Richardson water damage data.
Three kinds of storm water
Roof leaks, wind-driven rain and flooding
| Type | How it gets in | Usually |
|---|---|---|
| Hail and roof damage | Through bruised shingles and dented flashing, into the attic and ceilings | Clean rainwater at first; check ceilings for weeks after |
| Wind-driven rain | Through broken windows, doors and wall openings | Treated like other sudden water damage |
| Flash flooding | Rising water from streets, yards and creeks | Category 3 water: porous materials usually removed |
Hail-related ceiling leaks are covered in detail on our ceiling water damage page.
Insurance
Storm damage vs flood damage
Texas homeowner policies commonly cover wind and hail damage, and rain that enters through openings the storm created. Many have a separate wind and hail deductible. Rising floodwater, water that enters from the ground up, is excluded from standard homeowner policies and needs a flood policy.
New National Flood Insurance Program policies typically take effect 30 days after purchase, so flood coverage has to be in place before storm season, not after a warning.
What will it cost? See the Richardson cost guide. Filing a claim? See the insurance claim guide.
Drying
How storm water is cleaned up and dried
- Emergency tarping and board-up.
- Extraction of standing water.
- Removal of wet insulation, drywall and flooring, and all porous materials touched by floodwater.
- Cleaning and antimicrobial treatment where floodwater was present.
- Structural drying with daily moisture readings.
- Repairs once the structure is dry.
See water removal and structural drying. We serve every Richardson ZIP code: 75080, 75081 and 75082, on both the Dallas County and Collin County sides of the city.
FAQ
Storm and flood damage FAQs
Does homeowners insurance cover storm damage in Texas?
Wind and hail damage, and the rain that gets in through a roof or window they damaged, are commonly covered by Texas homeowner policies, subject to your deductible, which may be a separate wind and hail deductible. Rising floodwater is a different matter: it’s excluded from standard homeowner policies and needs flood insurance.
How long does flood insurance take to start?
New National Flood Insurance Program policies typically take effect 30 days after purchase, with a few exceptions, such as a policy bought when a mortgage is made or renewed. Buying it after a storm is forecast is usually too late.
How do I know if hail damaged my roof?
Look from the ground for missing or bruised shingles, dented gutters and vents, and granules piled at downspouts. Inside, watch ceilings below the attic for new stains in the weeks after a storm. A roofer can inspect up close; don’t climb on a wet roof yourself.
What should I do first after storm water gets in?
Make sure the house is safe, with no downed lines or structural damage, then stop more water from getting in by tarping the roof or boarding windows. Photograph everything, call your insurer, and start drying within 24 to 48 hours.
Sources for this page
Last updated October 2026.
Storm water in the house?
Stop more water from getting in, take photos, and call.