Sewage Backup: What to Do First
People searching for this usually say the drain is backing up or the floor is covered in dirty water. That is a Category 3 situation, which means the water is grossly contaminated and should not be touched. Stay out of the room, keep children and pets away and do not run more water down the drains.
Call the 24/7 line. A crew uses protective equipment, extracts the water, removes porous materials that cannot be cleaned and sanitizes the area. If the backup is in the city's sewer line, the sewer utility must be notified, and the dispatcher can tell you who to call.
When Flooding Is an Emergency
Flooding is an emergency when water is entering the building, when it came from outside or from a drain, or when it covers a large area of floor. The dispatch line answers at night and on weekends, and same-day response is offered when crews are available. No arrival time is promised.
While you wait, avoid contact with the water, turn off power at the panel only if you can reach it on dry ground and move valuables up. Leave the area and call 911 for any electrical or gas risk. Take photos from the doorway before anything is moved.
Flood Risk Around Bellflower
Bellflower sits on former farmland that was watered by artesian wells and by San Gabriel River floods before the river was contained. The city's draft housing element describes the river flooding each year along what is now Bellflower Boulevard. That history is why the FEMA Flood Map Service Center is worth checking for your own address, since flood zone status is a property-by-property question.
Rain is concentrated in the cooler months. NOAA's 1991 to 2020 normals for Long Beach Daugherty Field show about 12 inches a year, with roughly 10.5 inches falling between November and March. In 2024 an atmospheric river set single-day rainfall records at Long Beach Airport, with 1.50 and 2.57 inches on back-to-back days, according to news coverage of National Weather Service data.
Basement Flooding Cleanup
Basements are uncommon in many Southern California homes, so this section applies to the ones that have them and to lower-level rooms, below-grade garages and parking areas in multi-unit buildings. Water that comes in from outside or from a floor drain is treated as contaminated until proven otherwise.
The crew pumps the water out, removes wet drywall, carpet and insulation that cannot be cleaned, sanitizes and dries the space. Restoration does not stop water from coming back. If groundwater or drainage is the cause, a drainage or waterproofing contractor handles that side, and we will say so on the call.
| Category | Example | Handling |
|---|---|---|
| Category 1 | Clean supply water | Extract and dry, often in place. |
| Category 2 | Washing machine or dishwasher discharge | Extract, remove porous materials, treat and dry. |
| Category 3 | Sewage, storm runoff and standing floodwater | Contain, remove porous materials, clean, sanitize and dry. |
Flood Insurance and Claims
The California Department of Insurance says standard homeowners policies generally exclude flood damage. Flood coverage is bought separately, usually through the National Flood Insurance Program, and a new policy typically takes effect 30 days after purchase. Renters need their own flood coverage too if they want it.
Some drain backups are covered by a policy endorsement, and others are not. Check your policy or ask your insurer, and document everything with photos before cleanup. We provide readings and a written scope, but we do not promise a claim will be approved.
Cost Factors
Flood restoration pricing follows the water category, the area, the materials that must be removed, how many days of drying are needed and how much is rebuilt. Category 3 jobs cost more because of protective gear, containment and disposal.
Scope and price are explained before work starts.
Dirty water or drain backup? Stay out and call. The line is answered 24 hours a day.
Flood and Backup FAQ
Yes. The 24/7 line is open at night, on weekends and on holidays. Same-day response is offered when crews are available, and no arrival time is promised.
Both involve contaminated water. A sewage backup comes from a drain or sewer line and floodwater comes from outside. Both are handled as Category 3 under the S500 standard.
It is not recommended. The water is contaminated, and porous materials often have to be removed. Trained crews use protective gear and proper disposal.
Standard homeowners policies generally exclude flood, according to the California Department of Insurance. Check your policy or ask your insurer about backup coverage and a separate flood policy.
Use the FEMA Flood Map Service Center and enter your address. Your insurer or lender can also tell you.
No. Waterproofing and drainage are a different trade. Restoration deals with damage that has already occurred. See water mitigation for drying and water damage repair for the rebuild.