Kenner Water Damage Restoration and Storm Cleanup

Lake to the North, River to the South

Kenner is Jefferson Parish's most populous city, an incorporated municipality with its own city government. It stretches about 15 square miles from the Lake Pontchartrain shoreline at Laketown down to historic Rivertown near the Mississippi River levee. The city's listed elevation is around 7 feet below sea level, so rain that falls between those two bodies of water has to be pumped out.

That geography shapes most water damage in Kenner. A slow, heavy storm can fill streets faster than drainage can clear them, and water then finds the lowest door, often the garage or a ground-level slab. Inside, the usual culprits still apply: failed water heaters, cracked supply lines, leaking dishwashers and roof leaks after high winds.

The City of Kenner website is the place to look for local announcements, while parish-wide updates come from Jefferson Parish.

Floods and Storms in Kenner's Past

Kenner was among the first places to flood on May 8, 1995, when torrential rain hit Jefferson and Orleans parishes. Pumping stations, then rated for about 1 inch of rain per hour, were overwhelmed, and 14,600 homes and apartments flooded in Jefferson Parish alone.

Hurricanes have tested the area too. In 1947, the Fort Lauderdale hurricane left the airport now inside Kenner city limits under two feet of water. After Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport did not reopen to commercial flights until September 13. When Hurricane Zeta came ashore near Cocodrie in October 2020, the airport recorded a gust of 71 mph. In 2021, Hurricane Ida caused major damage in Jefferson Parish, and a transmission tower collapse on the West Bank knocked out power across much of the parish.

These events show why storm damage cleanup in Kenner often involves both roof water and rising water, sometimes in the same house.

Steps to Take Before Help Arrives

• Keep everyone safe. Avoid standing water that may be in contact with outlets, extension cords or a water heater. Do not drive through flooded underpasses or low streets.
• Shut the water off. Close the main valve for any plumbing leak. If your meter shutoff is near the street, find it before you need it.
• Separate clean from dirty water. A broken supply line is usually Category 1. Water that came in from the street or a sewer backup is Category 3 and should be handled with gloves and boots.
• Photograph first. Capture waterlines on walls, the source and damaged contents before cleanup starts.
• Lift and move. Get rugs, papers and electronics off wet floors, and put furniture legs on blocks.
• Make one call. Phone (888) 817-5061, and we will connect you with a local professional for water extraction.

Garages, Slabs and Ground-Level Rooms

When streets flood, the garage is often the first part of a Kenner home to take water. Muddy floodwater there can soak stored boxes, drywall at the base of walls and anything sitting on the floor, then creep under the door into the house. Because floodwater is contaminated, belongings it touches may need to be cleaned or thrown away rather than simply dried.

Inside, water spreading across a slab floor wicks up into baseboards, the bottom of drywall and cabinet bases. Flooring such as laminate can trap moisture underneath where it is hard to see. A restoration crew will usually cut wet drywall above the waterline and pull baseboards so wall cavities can dry out.

From Extraction to Rebuild: How the Work Proceeds

Most water damage restoration in Kenner moves through four stages, though each home is different.

Removal

Extraction equipment pulls standing water from floors and carpet. Floodwater-soaked carpet pad and porous materials are generally removed for flood cleanup.

Assessment

Meters and thermal imaging trace moisture into walls, subfloors and cabinets, giving a baseline for both drying and documentation.

Drying

Dehumidifiers and air movers are placed to dry framing and slabs to normal levels, with readings logged daily. Because outdoor air is humid most of the year, closed-room dehumidification usually does the work.

Restoration

After the home tests dry, water damage repair replaces drywall, insulation, trim and flooring.

Preventing Mold, and Checking a Remediator's License

Wet building materials can start growing mold within 24 to 48 hours, and Kenner's warm, damp climate does nothing to slow it down. A musty smell, spotting along the bottom of walls or warped flooring are signs moisture has been sitting too long.

Louisiana regulates larger remediation jobs. According to the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors, mold remediation work of $7,500 or more requires a Mold Remediation license, and holders must have completed 24 hours of board-approved training covering remediation and basic mold assessment. Since dollar thresholds can be updated, confirm the current requirement and search the company on the LSLBC website before you sign. For details on containment and cleanup, see our mold removal page.

Insurance Basics for Kenner Property Owners

Homeowners insurance usually covers sudden plumbing leaks but generally excludes flood. Rising water from the street calls for an NFIP or private flood policy, and new NFIP policies typically take 30 days to go into effect. That waiting period means coverage has to be in place well before a storm enters the Gulf.

Look up your property on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center, and keep in mind that heavy rain events like May 1995 flooded homes across the parish. When you file, include dated photos, a list of damaged items, invoices for emergency services and the restoration company's drying records. No one can promise a claim outcome, but organized paperwork helps an adjuster understand the loss.

Hotels, Offices and Shops Near the Airport

Kenner's commercial life runs along Williams Boulevard, Veterans Memorial Boulevard and the area around the airport, with hotels, offices, retail and the Pontchartrain Center. Water in a commercial space can halt business quickly, and multi-tenant buildings need careful records showing where water traveled.

Business owners and property managers can call (888) 817-5061, available 24/7, to be connected with a local restoration provider. Ask any company about its licensing, insurance and training before work starts. Nearby, we also cover Metairie and LaPlace.

Kenner Districts and Surrounding Communities

Our free referral line connects callers from Laketown to Rivertown, and in neighboring East Bank and River Parishes communities, with independent restoration companies.

Neighborhoods

• Rivertown
• Laketown
• North Kenner
• South Kenner
• Williams Boulevard corridor
• Chateau Golf and Country Club area
• Esplanade area
• Pontchartrain Center area

Nearby communities

• Metairie
• River Ridge
• Harahan
• St. Rose
• Destrehan
• Luling
• New Orleans
• LaPlace
• Elmwood
• Westwego

Local emergency and flood resources

Official sources for alerts, flood maps and preparedness in and around Kenner:

• City of Kenner
• Jefferson Parish Government
• FEMA Flood Map Service Center
• Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors (license verification)