Water Damage Restoration in Kaufman, TX

What happened in Kaufman County on October 28, 2023?

County emergency management reported 10 to 12 inches of rain in about eight hours on October 28, 2023, called it a 1,000-year event and said about 20 homes were affected. Roads, drains and ditches could not handle it. Two drivers died on flooded FM 1390 near Warsaw, and 26 people were evacuated from Kaufman, College Mound and a rural area near Warsaw. The Texas A&M climate bulletin put the week's county high at 14.96 inches.

Those are event facts, not a statement about any particular property's flood risk. They do explain why residents raised questions about ditch and drain maintenance afterward, and why a heavy fall rain deserves attention here. Never drive into a flooded road; the water is usually deeper and faster than it looks.

If water reached your home, the flood damage cleanup page explains how extraction, removal of wet materials and drying work, and the Kaufman County flood cleanup guide covers what to document.

Who handles floodplain questions and permits in Kaufman?

The Kaufman County Floodplain Management office, at 101 N. Houston Street in Kaufman, issues floodplain permits for unincorporated Kaufman County. If you plan to rebuild, raise or repair a structure on a rural lot outside the city limits, call that office before the work starts, because permit rules can affect what repairs are allowed.

Inside city limits, permit rules are set by the city, and a crew can tell you what has to be opened up and removed, but it does not issue permits. Plumbing, electrical and HVAC repairs need licensed trades, and some repairs may need a permit. Ask the city or county office about yours.

Flood insurance is a separate policy from homeowners coverage, through FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program or a private insurer, and it typically has a waiting period of about 30 days. A homeowners policy generally excludes flood and sewer backup unless endorsed, so check your policy now rather than after a storm.

What do older county-seat buildings do when a pipe or roof fails?

Older frame houses and small commercial buildings near the square often have plaster or older drywall, mixed-era plumbing and attic spaces that were never designed around modern insulation. A split line in an attic can drip for hours before a ceiling shows a stain. Older homes can also contain asbestos in joint compound, textured ceilings or flooring, so check with the state health department before anyone sands or scrapes damaged material.

A crew uses moisture meters and thermal tools to find hidden water, places air movers and dehumidifiers and re-checks until materials are dry. Plumbing, electrical and HVAC repairs after the leak need licensed trades, and the crew's job is the water.

For a business near the square or on the highway, the commercial water damage page explains how a walkthrough and quote work.

How should a rural lot near Kaufman handle septic and well problems after rain?

Private septic systems are common in unincorporated Kaufman County. After heavy rain, a saturated drain field can push wastewater back toward the house, and the first sign may be a slow drain or a gurgling toilet. Treat sewage water as the highest-risk category: keep children and pets out, do not flush and call.

A septic contractor pumps or repairs the tank and field; the crew handles the extraction, drying and cleanup inside the home. See sewage cleanup for the process.