Water damage · Emergency service
Flood damage cleanup in New York
Flood cleanup treats outside floodwater as contaminated: it removes water and mud, cuts out wet drywall and insulation above the waterline, sanitizes, and dries the structure. Floodwater carries sewage and chemicals, so porous materials it touched are usually discarded.
Flood damage cleanup in New York: local conditions
Partner coverage for water damage in New York includes 670 ZIP codes, with local pages for Rochester, Yonkers, Buffalo, White Plains. Call with your ZIP to confirm a company serves your address.
Hurricane Sandy in 2012 flooded coastal neighborhoods, and the remnants of Ida in 2021 caused deadly flash flooding in New York City basement apartments.
In New York City: Intense rain overwhelms the city's combined sewers and floods basement apartments, which is a safety hazard as well as property damage. In Rochester: High lake levels in 2017 and 2019 flooded and eroded homes along the shore, including the Charlotte area. In Yonkers: Heavy rain, like Ida's remnants in 2021, overwhelms drainage and floods basements and low streets. In Buffalo: Rapid thaws after big storms flood basements.
Brownstones, pre-war apartment buildings and old frame houses often have cast-iron stacks, plaster walls and steam heat, all of which affect how water damage is handled.
New York State licenses mold assessors and mold remediation contractors through the Department of Labor (Article 32 of the Labor Law) for jobs over 10 square feet. Home improvement contractors are licensed locally, for example by New York City's Department of Consumer and Worker Protection.
What you can expect
- One call connects you with an independent restoration company that serves your ZIP code.
- Fast call-back during business hours
- Serving New York
- Photo and moisture documentation for insurance
Flood damage cleanup at a glance
- Category
- Water damage
- Emergency service
- Yes, call for fastest response
- Typical first step
- Make safe
- Area
- New York
Other risks in New York
Lake-effect snow and ice dams
Buffalo and other areas downwind of the Great Lakes get extreme snowfall, which leads to ice dams, roof leaks and frozen pipes.
Multi-unit water losses
In apartment and co-op buildings, a single leak can damage several units, and responsibility is split among the building, the unit owner and insurers.
Signs you need flood damage cleanup
- Water entered from outside, at doors or through the slab
- A visible waterline on walls
- Mud or debris left on floors
How the work is done
Make safe, then Remove water and debris, then Flood cuts and sanitizing, then Dry and verify. See the full flood damage cleanup process.
What affects the cost
Prices depend on the job, so restoration companies in New York quote after an assessment. The main drivers are how much area is affected, how long it stayed wet, and what has to be removed or rebuilt. See the full list of flood damage cleanup cost factors.
Flood damage cleanup questions
Do I need a licensed mold company in New York?
Yes, for most jobs. New York requires a licensed mold assessor and a separate licensed mold remediation contractor for projects larger than 10 square feet.
What should a New York City renter do after a leak from upstairs?
Report it in writing to the landlord or management, photograph the damage, and contact your renter's insurer for your belongings. Building repairs are the owner's responsibility.
Is flood damage covered by homeowners insurance?
Usually not. Rising water from outside is typically covered only by a flood policy (NFIP or private). Water from a burst pipe is a different claim under your homeowners policy.
Can drywall that got flood water be dried?
Generally no. Floodwater is contaminated, so the IICRC S500 standard calls for removing porous materials it soaked, including drywall and insulation, above the waterline.
Cities in New York
Other services in New York
Related pages
More about water and storm damage in New York, or see flood damage cleanup nationwide.
Related services
Emergency water extraction
Water extraction is the first step of any water loss: removing standing and absorbed water with powerful pumps and extractors before drying starts.
Learn more
Sewage backup cleanup
Sewage cleanup treats the water as Category 3 (grossly contaminated): crews in protective gear remove it, discard porous materials it touched, clean and disinfect hard surfaces, and dry the structure.
Learn more
Mold remediation
Mold remediation removes mold growth under containment so spores don't spread, cleans or discards affected materials, and corrects the moisture problem that let it grow.
Learn moreWater, mold or fire damage? Get the right crew on it.
One call connects you with an independent restoration company that serves your ZIP code. Fast call-back during business hours.