Where storm water comes from around the mountain
Stone Mountain gets about 50 inches of rain a year, and a lot of it arrives in short, heavy summer thunderstorms and in the remnants of tropical storms in late summer and fall. The granite dome and the red clay around it shed water fast, so small streams like Stone Mountain Creek and Snapfinger Creek rise quickly, and the Yellow River along the Gwinnett line floods low ground in big events. The September 2009 floods put water into homes across DeKalb and Gwinnett, and smaller flash floods follow every few summers.
- Surface runoff through doors and walk-out basements
- Creek and river flooding in low-lying neighborhoods
- Clogged storm drains backing water onto streets and yards
- Wind-driven rain through damaged roofs, covered on roof leak water damage
Why flood water is handled as Category 3
Water that crosses the ground carries soil, sewage, fertilizer and fuel. IICRC S500 classifies it as Category 3 the moment it enters the building. The extraction crew wears protective gear, pumps and extracts the water, and removes porous materials it touched: carpet, pad, the lower drywall and wet insulation. Hard surfaces and framing are cleaned and treated with an EPA-registered antimicrobial, HEPA air scrubbers run during the work, and only then does the drying team set equipment for structural drying.
Contents that sat in flood water, such as upholstered furniture, mattresses and particleboard, usually cannot be saved. Photograph them before they go to the curb.
Flood coverage and the claim file
Standard homeowners policies usually exclude flood from rising surface water; that is what a flood policy covers. FloodSmart.gov explains how the National Flood Insurance Program works, and Ready.gov covers flood safety before and after. A complete file includes photos of the water line, a moisture map, daily readings and an itemized scope. See basement flooding cleanup for lower-level losses.