Pascagoula Water Damage Restoration and Storm Flood Cleanup

Where a Big River Meets the Mississippi Sound

Pascagoula sits at the mouth of the Pascagoula River, on the river's east bank where it empties into the Mississippi Sound. Moss Point lies to the north and Gautier sits across the river to the west. Formed upstream by the Leaf and Chickasawhay rivers, the Pascagoula drains roughly 8,800 square miles of south Mississippi before it reaches the coast here.

The city's average elevation is under 10 feet, and more than a third of its 24.5 square miles is water. Few places on the coast have less margin between everyday life and the water level. That shapes almost every water damage call in the city:

• Surge from the Sound can spread across much of town during a hurricane.
• Water coming down the river can meet surge pushing up the estuary.
• Heavy rain, which averages about 61.7 inches a year and peaks in August, has little elevation to drain away from.
• Inside the house, pipe, appliance and water heater failures happen here as anywhere.

Katrina in Pascagoula: Over 90 Percent Under Water

When Hurricane Katrina came ashore on August 29, 2005, over 90 percent of Pascagoula, the easternmost coastal city in Mississippi, was flooded by surge. Most homes along Beach Boulevard were destroyed, and the public library and naval vessels under construction were damaged. In Jackson County, surge flowed up the river estuary and combined with freshwater flooding, and tides swept barges and boats against the I-10 bridge over the Pascagoula River.

The National Hurricane Center put the surge at 17 to 22 feet along the eastern half of the Mississippi coast, from roughly Gulfport to Pascagoula, and found it reached at least six miles inland in many places. Jackson County had also been severely damaged by Camille in 1969.

Those storms are a big reason residents here think carefully about flood insurance, elevation and what to do when a storm is on the way. For the cleanup itself, see our flood cleanup and storm damage cleanup pages.

When You Get Back Into a Flooded House

1. Wait for the all-clear. Return only when officials say it is safe, and walk the outside first to look for structural damage, downed lines and gas odors.
2. Keep the power off. Do not turn on electricity in a house that took on water until it has been checked. Never stand in water to reach a breaker.
3. Assume the water is dirty. Surge and river floodwater are Category 3 and can carry sewage, fuel and chemicals. Wear rubber boots and gloves.
4. Photograph before you clean. Capture the high-water mark, every room, appliances and ruined contents. Insurers will want to see them.
5. Start airing out only if safe. Open windows and doors to vent, but leave heavy demolition to professionals.
6. Line up help early. After a big storm, demand for crews rises fast. Call (888) 817-5061 to be connected with an independent local restoration company.

For an indoor leak, the first step is simpler: shut off the main water valve, then follow the same safety and photo steps.

What Flood Damage Restoration Involves

Flood damage restoration in Pascagoula usually takes longer than drying out a clean-water leak, because contaminated materials have to come out first.

Water and debris removal

Pumps and extractors clear standing water, and mud and debris are removed by hand. Our water extraction page covers the equipment.

Tear-out

Carpet, pad, insulation and drywall that soaked in floodwater are generally removed. Crews often cut walls a set height above the water line so the cavity can be cleaned.

Sanitizing

Exposed framing, slabs and subfloors are cleaned and treated to deal with contamination from the floodwater.

Drying to a target

Dehumidifiers and air movers run while technicians log moisture readings, and nothing gets closed up until materials are dry. See structural drying for more.

Rebuilding

Then comes water damage repair. Confirm any rebuild contractor through the Mississippi State Board of Contractors' online search.

Shipyards, Refineries and Commercial Water Losses

Pascagoula is an industrial city. Ingalls Shipbuilding is the state's largest private single-site employer, and the city is also home to a major Chevron refinery and other plants. Around them are offices, warehouses, restaurants and retail space that can suffer the same roof leaks, sprinkler breaks and storm flooding as homes, only on a bigger scale.

For a commercial loss, the restoration company you are connected with can help with moisture mapping across large areas, drying plans that keep parts of a building open, and documentation for the insurer. Property managers and business owners can call (888) 817-5061 around the clock.

Mold Control in a Low-Lying Coastal City

EPA guidance says mold may start to grow on damp materials in as little as 24 to 48 hours. After a hurricane, power outages and the number of damaged homes can delay drying, which gives mold a head start. In smaller leaks, the culprit is usually a slow drip inside a wall or under a sink that went unnoticed.

Per an industry roundup of state requirements, Mississippi does not have a state license specifically for mold remediation, and the Mississippi State Board of Contractors' homepage does not list one. Ask any company handling mold removal in Pascagoula about its training, for example IICRC certification, how it sets up containment, and whether it will give you written moisture readings and clearance records. Read more about mold removal.

Flood Policies, Wind Claims and Good Records

• Flood needs its own policy. Standard homeowners policies generally exclude flood, including surge. Coverage comes from the NFIP or a private flood insurer.
• Plan ahead. A new NFIP policy typically has a 30-day waiting period, so it must be bought well before a storm.
• Separate the causes. Wind damage to a roof is usually a homeowners or wind claim, while rising water is a flood claim. Photos of each help.
• Check your map. Look up your address on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center.
• Keep everything. Save receipts, moisture logs and the restoration company's reports.

How an insurer decides a claim is up to the insurer, not WaterQ. When you are ready, call (888) 817-5061. Neighbors across the river in Gautier can use the same free line.

Pascagoula Areas and Neighboring Gulf Coast Towns

WaterQ's free line connects callers throughout Pascagoula and nearby Jackson County and Alabama Gulf Coast communities with independent local restoration providers.

Neighborhoods

• Downtown Pascagoula (historic Scranton)
• Beach Boulevard
• Denny Avenue (U.S. 90) corridor
• Telephone Road corridor
• Jackson Avenue area
• Old Spanish Fort area
• Singing River Island

Nearby communities

• Moss Point
• Gautier
• Ocean Springs
• Escatawpa
• Biloxi
• Gulfport
• Vancleave
• Grand Bay, Alabama
• Bayou La Batre, Alabama

Local emergency and flood resources

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

• City of Pascagoula
• Mississippi Emergency Management Agency (MEMA)
• FEMA Flood Map Service Center