Hyattsville sits just upstream of where the Northwest Branch and the Northeast Branch of the Anacostia River meet near Bladensburg. Flood-control levees line the branches through this part of Prince George's County, but a short, intense thunderstorm can still overwhelm storm drains, fill low streets and push surface water into basements and ground floors in minutes. Sligo Creek and Wells Run rise fast too. Storm water is Category 3, so the restoration team handles it as contaminated water from the first step.
How storm water gets into Hyattsville homes
- Surface water running down a driveway or yard toward the house and under doors
- Basement stairwell drains and window wells that fill faster than they drain
- Storm drains that back up on low streets during a cloudburst
- Wind-driven rain from tropical remnants forcing water through walls and around windows, covered on the roof leak page
How flood cleanup is handled
The extraction crew pumps out the flood water and removes mud and debris. Because flood water carries soil, sewage and chemicals, porous materials it touched, including carpet, pad, drywall to above the water line, insulation and upholstered furniture, are removed and bagged. The mitigation team cleans every hard surface, applies an EPA-registered antimicrobial and runs HEPA air scrubbers, then the drying team dries the structure and verifies it with readings.
Flood coverage is a separate policy
Standard homeowners policies generally exclude rising surface water. Flood damage is usually covered by a separate flood policy, such as one through the National Flood Insurance Program. The restoration team records the moisture map, photos and drying logs either way, so the file is ready for whichever policy applies.
Safety before cleanup
Never walk into flood water where outlets or appliances are under water, and never drive through a flooded street. Wait until the power is off and the water has stopped rising. For a basement that floods from groundwater rather than surface water, see basement flooding cleanup. For flood safety and flood insurance, see National Weather Service flood safety and FEMA flood insurance.