Water damage · Emergency service
Flood damage cleanup in South Carolina
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 South Carolina: local conditions
Partner coverage for water damage in South Carolina includes 415 ZIP codes, with local pages for Charleston, Columbia, Greenville, Spartanburg, Myrtle Beach, North Charleston, Florence, Anderson. Call with your ZIP to confirm a company serves your address.
Coastal communities face surge and wind, and Charleston sees frequent tidal flooding. Stalled storms can produce historic rainfall inland, as in the 2015 Columbia floods.
In Charleston: King tides regularly flood downtown streets, and the frequency of tidal flooding has increased sharply in recent decades. In Columbia: The October 2015 flood breached dams and flooded homes along Gills Creek and other streams. In Greenville: Heavy rain raises the Reedy River and floods nearby low areas. In Myrtle Beach: Florence's 2018 rain flooded homes across Horry County for weeks.
Historic homes in Charleston and Beaufort, crawlspace homes statewide, and newer slab subdivisions around Greenville, Columbia and the coast.
South Carolina requires residential builders and specialty contractors to be licensed or registered with the Residential Builders Commission (SC LLR). Check the license before hiring.
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 South Carolina
- 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
- South Carolina
Other risks in South Carolina
Humidity and mold
Crawlspaces and attics stay humid, and mold follows leaks quickly.
Ice storms upstate
Upstate South Carolina, around Greenville and Spartanburg, occasionally sees ice storms that knock out power and freeze pipes in crawlspaces.
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 South Carolina 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
Is tidal flooding covered by insurance in South Carolina?
No. Tidal flooding and surge are covered only by flood insurance, not homeowners policies.
How do I verify a South Carolina contractor?
Search the SC Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation for Residential Builders Commission licenses.
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 South Carolina
Other services in South Carolina
Related pages
More about water and storm damage in South Carolina, 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.