Southaven Water Damage Restoration, Repair and Storm Cleanup

Just Across the State Line From Memphis

Southaven is DeSoto County's largest city and the third-most populous in Mississippi, with 54,648 residents in the 2020 census. It sits right across the Tennessee border, roughly 14 miles south of downtown Memphis, and it takes its name from its position south of Whitehaven.

Unlike river towns farther south, Southaven has almost no open water inside its 41.5 square miles. That changes the kind of calls homeowners make. Most water damage in Southaven starts with a heavy thunderstorm, a roof opened up by wind, or a plumbing failure inside the house, not a rising river.

Rain is still plentiful. The city averages nearly 55 inches of precipitation a year, and strong storms can drop a lot of it in a short time on rooftops, driveways and parking lots that shed water quickly.

Starter Homes, Growing Subdivisions and Aging Plumbing

Southaven began as a village of small starter-home subdivisions built by Memphis homebuilder Kemmons Wilson, the founder of Holiday Inn, and it incorporated in 1980. Many of the city's earliest houses are now decades old, and newer neighborhoods have filled in around them.

In any home that has been lived in for a long time, the common culprits are familiar:

• Water heaters that rust through at the bottom of the tank.
• Washing machine and dishwasher hoses that split without warning.
• Supply lines under sinks and toilets that weaken over time.
• Roof flashing and shingles that let water into the attic after a hard storm.

Newer homes are not immune. An ice maker line or a loose fitting behind a refrigerator can soak a kitchen floor overnight. Fast water extraction limits how far that water spreads into subfloors and walls.

Severe Weather and the 2008 Super Tuesday Tornado

North Mississippi's biggest weather threats are heavy thunderstorms, flash flooding and tornadoes, and the state ranks first nationally in tornado deaths per capita for 1985 to 2019. Southaven saw this on February 5, 2008, when an EF2 tornado touched down during the Super Tuesday outbreak, damaged numerous buildings and moved on into Memphis. No deaths were reported in Southaven.

Wind damage often becomes water damage. A few missing shingles or a cracked skylight can let rain soak insulation and ceiling drywall until it sags. If that happens, keep people out of the room below, put a bucket under the leak and call for help before the ceiling gives way.

Professional storm damage cleanup usually begins with a tarp and board-up, then removal of wet insulation and drywall, then drying.

Your Checklist for the First Hour

1. Stop the source. Turn off the fixture valve or the home's main shutoff. Learn where yours is before you need it.
2. Watch for electrical hazards. Do not wade into water near outlets, cords or appliances. If a ceiling is wet near a light fixture, leave that circuit off.
3. Sort out the water type. Clean supply-line water is Category 1. Storm runoff that comes in from outside or a sewage backup is Category 3 and should be handled with gloves, boots and disinfection.
4. Document before cleaning. Photograph the source, the affected rooms and any damaged furniture or electronics.
5. Move valuables. Get rugs, documents and electronics out of the wet area and lift furniture off wet carpet.
6. Get connected. Call (888) 817-5061 and we will connect you with a local restoration professional in the Southaven area.

How Southaven Water Damage Repair Usually Unfolds

Each loss is different, but local restoration companies tend to follow the same stages.

Assessment

The crew locates the source and maps how far moisture has moved with meters and infrared cameras. On a slab foundation, water can travel under flooring into the next room without showing on the surface.

Extraction and removal

Standing water is pulled out, and saturated carpet pad, baseboards and lower drywall may be cut away so wall cavities can breathe.

Drying and monitoring

Air movers and dehumidifiers are positioned to pull moisture out of framing and subfloors, and readings are taken until materials reach dry targets. See how structural drying works.

Rebuild

Then comes the water damage repair: drywall, paint, trim, flooring and cabinets. Look up any contractor on the Mississippi State Board of Contractors' online search, and ask about insurance and training such as IICRC certification.

Keeping Mold Out of Walls and Attics

Following EPA guidance, mold can take hold on wet building materials within roughly a day or two. A slow leak behind a vanity or a soaked attic after a storm is exactly the kind of hidden moisture that leads to mold removal later.

According to an industry roundup of state requirements, Mississippi does not license mold remediation as its own specialty, and the Mississippi State Board of Contractors' homepage lists no mold remediation license. Because of that, ask each company what training and certifications its staff hold, how it will set up containment, and whether it will provide written moisture or clearance records at the end.

Read more about mold cleanup and containment.

Claims, Flood Coverage and Commercial Losses in DeSoto County

• Sudden plumbing leaks are often handled under a homeowners policy, but long-term seepage and wear may not be. Read your policy's water damage terms.
• Flood is a separate policy. Standard homeowners coverage generally excludes flood, including surface water that flows in from outside. NFIP policies typically take 30 days to start.
• Keep a paper trail. Save photos, drying logs, invoices and receipts for tarps or emergency services.
• Businesses and venues. Retail space, offices and medical buildings around Southaven Towne Center, the Landers Center and Baptist Memorial Hospital-DeSoto need restoration work that respects operating hours and tenant access.

WaterQ has no say in what an insurer will pay, but organized records help. Call (888) 817-5061 to reach a local provider, day or night. Nearby, see our pages for Horn Lake and Olive Branch.

Southaven Areas and DeSoto County Communities Served

Our free referral line connects callers throughout Southaven and nearby DeSoto County and Memphis-area communities with independent local restoration providers.

Neighborhoods

• Snowden Grove Park area
• Southaven Towne Center area
• Landers Center area
• Baptist Memorial Hospital-DeSoto area

Nearby communities

• Horn Lake
• Olive Branch
• Hernando
• Walls
• Lake Cormorant
• Whitehaven
• Memphis, TN

Local emergency and flood resources

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

• City of Southaven
• DeSoto County, Mississippi
• Mississippi Emergency Management Agency (MEMA)
• FEMA Flood Map Service Center