Shreveport Water Damage Restoration, Flood and Freeze Help

A Louisiana City That Also Freezes

Most Louisiana water damage stories involve hurricanes. Shreveport's list is different. Sitting on the west bank of the Red River in the far northwest corner of the state, the city gets ice and sleet storms in winter and the occasional hard freeze that coastal cities rarely see.

February 2021 is the clearest example. The National Weather Service in Shreveport recorded a low of 1 degree on February 16, breaking the daily record by 19 degrees, and temperatures stayed below freezing from February 13 through at least February 18. Water main breaks and major pipe bursts were reported from southwest Arkansas through northwest Louisiana, along with water shortages across much of the area.

When a frozen line thaws, the leak often starts in an attic, a wall cavity or under a pier-and-beam floor where no one sees it right away. If you find one, shut off the main valve, open faucets to relieve pressure and call (888) 817-5061 so we can connect you with a local provider for water extraction and drying.

Flash Floods, the Red River and Cross Bayou

Normal precipitation here is a little over 51 inches a year, with June the wettest month. Most of the time that rain drains away. Occasionally it does not.

• March 2016. Over March 8 to 11, a rain gauge in the Southern Hills neighborhood measured 13.14 inches, and the regional airport logged 11.51 inches. Numerous roads and schools closed, and crews performed numerous high-water rescues across the area.
• June 2015. The Red River reached its highest level in more than 70 years, flooding portions of Louisiana from upstream all the way to just south of Alexandria.

Low ground along Cross Bayou, the river and the city's lake neighborhoods can collect runoff quickly during heavy storms. Water that enters from outside should be treated as Category 3, since it may carry sewage and debris. That calls for removal of soaked porous materials and sanitizing, which is the core of flood cleanup.

Hail, Wind and Spring Tornado Season

Spring and summer bring severe thunderstorms with heavy rain, hail, damaging winds and tornadoes to the Shreveport area. Hail can bruise shingles in ways that are not obvious from the ground, and the first sign of trouble may be a brown ring on a ceiling weeks later.

After a storm, look for missing shingles, dented gutters and vents, and water stains in upstairs rooms or the attic. A restoration company can tarp the roof, dry the attic insulation and ceiling, and coordinate with a roofer. Our storm damage cleanup page walks through what is usually involved.

Steps That Protect Your Home and Your Claim

1. Be safe around power. Keep out of standing water near outlets, cords or appliances.
2. Close the valve. Know where your main shutoff is, whether in the yard box, the garage or a utility closet.
3. Document before you clean. Take wide and close-up photos of the water, the source and damaged contents.
4. Remove what you can. Pull rugs, books and electronics out of wet rooms and prop furniture up on blocks.
5. Ventilate carefully. In summer heat, running the air conditioning usually dries a house better than open windows.
6. Get help started. Call and we will connect you with a local company that handles water removal, drying and repair.

How Drying and Repair Are Handled

Water damage restoration in Shreveport generally follows four stages, whether the cause is a thawed pipe or a flooded den.

Assessment

Technicians identify the water category, map moisture with meters and thermal imaging, and note which materials can be dried in place.

Extraction and removal

Standing water is extracted, and materials that cannot be saved, such as saturated pad or contaminated drywall, are removed.

Drying

Commercial dehumidifiers and air movers run for several days while readings are logged. Read about structural drying to see what dry standards mean.

Rebuild

Water damage repair in Shreveport then covers drywall, paint, floors and cabinets. Before hiring, it is reasonable to ask a provider about its licensing, insurance and training credentials, for example IICRC certification.

Shreveport Mold Cleanup and the LSLBC License

Following EPA guidance, mold can appear on damp materials within 24 to 48 hours. Shreveport averages about 91 days a year above 90 degrees, and that summer heat combined with humidity makes quick drying important after any leak.

In Louisiana, mold remediation jobs worth $7,500 or more call for a Mold Remediation license from the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors (LSLBC). License applicants must finish 24 hours of board-approved training covering remediation and basic mold assessment. Homeowners can confirm a company's status through Verify Licensure on lslbc.gov, and it is wise to check the current thresholds directly with the board.

Learn more about mold removal and why containment matters for larger areas.

Historic Districts, Lake Homes and Commercial Buildings

Shreveport has more than 60 named neighborhoods, from older districts such as Highland, South Highlands and Ledbetter Heights to lake areas like Cross Lake and newer southeast subdivisions such as Southern Trace. Each brings its own concerns: older homes may have plaster and original wood floors, while slab homes can hide supply-line leaks under flooring.

Offices, retail, medical buildings and rental properties benefit from phased drying plans and written moisture records for owners and tenants. Insurance-wise, standard homeowners policies generally exclude flood, so rising water calls for an NFIP or private flood policy, which typically has a 30-day waiting period. Sudden pipe bursts are often handled differently, so review your policy and check flood zones on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center.

Neighbors across the river can see our Bossier City page. Anyone in the city can call (888) 817-5061, day or night.

Shreveport Neighborhoods and ArkLaTex Communities

WaterQ's free referral line connects callers across Shreveport and nearby Caddo and Bossier Parish communities with independent local restoration companies.

Neighborhoods

• Downtown
• Highland
• South Highlands
• Broadmoor
• Pierremont
• Queensborough
• Allendale
• Ledbetter Heights
• Cedar Grove
• Mooretown
• Lakeside
• Cross Lake
• Southern Hills
• Southern Trace
• Shreve Island
• Stoner Hill
• Sunset Acres
• University Terrace
• Western Hills
• Long Lake Estates

Nearby communities

• Bossier City
• Blanchard
• Greenwood
• Keithville
• Stonewall
• Mooringsport
• Vivian
• Haughton
• Benton
• Marshall, Texas

Local emergency and flood resources

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

• City of Shreveport Alert Center
• City of Shreveport - Report a Concern
• NWS Shreveport
• FEMA Flood Map Service Center