The Nansemond River runs through Suffolk, and when it rises during a storm it can flood low ground and reach homes. In Hurricane Matthew in October 2016 the National Weather Service flagged minor to moderate flooding on the river at the North Main Street crossing. A homeowner should stay out of the water, shut off power at a dry panel and call for a crew.
Key takeaways
- The Nansemond River runs through Suffolk, so river flooding is a real possibility for homes near it and for homes on low ground nearby.
- During Hurricane Matthew in October 2016, the National Weather Service flagged minor to moderate flooding at the North Main Street crossing.
- River water is treated as contaminated, so porous materials it has reached are assessed for removal rather than simply dried.
- River water can seep into a house through the crawl space, the slab edge and the lower walls as well as through doors.
- The first steps are to stay out of the water, avoid electrical hazards and photograph the damage before anything is moved.
Where does the Nansemond River run through Suffolk?
The Nansemond River runs through Suffolk. Its water rises with heavy rain and with the storm events that bring water into the area.
A homeowner's risk depends on the ground and the drainage around the house, not only on the river's name. A house on low ground near the river or near a stream that feeds it can take water sooner than a house on higher ground, and the route the water takes depends on the lay of the land.
This guide does not give a height for the river or a map of which streets flood. The useful question for a homeowner is whether the house sits on low ground, whether its lowest openings are close to the surface and whether storm water has reached it before. A technician reads those points when it arrives.
What happened when the river flooded during Hurricane Matthew?
In October 2016 Hurricane Matthew brought flooding to Suffolk, and the National Weather Service flagged minor to moderate flooding on the Nansemond River at the North Main Street crossing. Homes on Gates Road also flooded, with one resident reporting water more than six feet deep.
The event showed that the river and the streets can flood together, and that a storm's water can reach a house from more than one direction at once. Hampton Roads also felt more impact than the forecast had expected, which is a reminder that a rain forecast is not a measure of what a given house will take.
The lessons from that storm are practical. Homes near the river and on low ground need to be read carefully after a flood, and the readings should be taken from the lowest point of the house upward, including the crawl space and the cellar where they exist.
How does river water behave inside a house?
River water soaks into drywall, insulation and the wood beneath the floor, and it can wick upward past the visible water line. Silt and debris it carries can hold moisture against surfaces, and some of the water may be contaminated.
A river that enters through a door or a foundation often leaves a line on the walls, but the water inside the wall can rise higher than the line shows. The subfloor and the joists may stay wet for days after the surface looks dry, and insulation can hold water long after the room seems clear.
Because river water has crossed soil, streets and sometimes sewage, it is treated as contaminated. Porous materials that it has reached are assessed for removal, and the crew works in protective equipment. The category of the water is recorded before drying starts, so the decision can be checked later.
Which parts of the house take water first?
The lowest parts of the house take water first. Crawl spaces, cellars, the bottom of the walls, the subfloor and the lower rooms are the places where river water tends to collect and stay.
Crawl spaces are a common point of entry for flood water, because the vents and the access door let water in where the floor is close to the ground. Once inside, the water reaches the joists and the subfloor, which the living space above does not show.
Garages, back doors and sliding doors can also let water in when the ground around them is flooded. A threshold at ground level is a common path, and the crew checks the wall beside the door and the floor beyond it.
What should a homeowner do first if the river floods the house?
Stay out of standing water, turn off power at the panel only if it can be reached from a dry place, and call for a crew. Photograph the water and the damage before anything is moved, and write down the time the water appeared.
Do not wade into water where outlets, cords or appliances sit. Flood water can hide open holes, debris and live wiring, and a floor that looks sound may not be. Wait until the building has been checked before going back in.
Once it is safe, keep the photographs and notes together. The crew will also record readings and photographs, and both sets of records help the insurer understand what happened and when.
Does flood water from a river count as a standard homeowner claim?
Often it does not, because many standard homeowner policies generally exclude flood water from rivers and streets. Coverage depends on the policy, and the insurer decides the claim under its wording.
A homeowner should read the policy and ask the insurer directly whether flood water is covered and whether any separate flood coverage applies. The answer depends on the wording, and it is not something a restoration company can decide.
The crew's readings, photographs and written log help show the source and the extent of the water. If a claim is denied or stalls, the Virginia Bureau of Insurance, part of the State Corporation Commission, accepts homeowner complaints.
What can a homeowner do before the next river flood?
Check the low points of the property, keep drains and vents clear, and know where the main valve and the electrical panel are. Photograph the house and its lower levels while they are dry, so a clear baseline exists.
Look at how the ground slopes toward the house and whether water collects at the foundation, the garage or the crawl space vents. Small changes such as clearing a gutter or a drain can keep water away from the lowest openings during a storm.
Keep the number of the restoration line, the plumber and the roofer in one place, so the calls can be made quickly when the next storm comes. A little preparation shortens the first hour after a flood.
What should you check in the first hour after river water arrives?
The first hour is about safety, the power, the source and the photographs. A few checks made calmly can save time and protect the house while help is on the way.
Check whether the water is still rising. If it is, do not try to move the contents of the house across the room, and do not try to stop the water by hand. Mark the height of the water on a wall or a door frame with a pencil and note the time, because that record is useful later.
Check the lowest openings: the door sill, the garage threshold, the crawl space vents and the bottom of the cellar stairs. Note whether the water came in there. Then call the water line and describe what you have found, so the crew knows where to start.
How does river water affect a house over several days?
River water keeps moving through a house for days, as it soaks into materials and as the ground around the foundation stays wet. A cleanup that stops once the surface dries can miss moisture that is still moving.
The first day shows the visible water. The second and third days show the stains, the swelling of the baseboards and the first smell of damp materials. A subfloor that was soaked may take days to show its condition, because moisture moves slowly through wood and insulation.
For that reason the drying plan should cover several visits, with readings at each one. A homeowner who notices a new smell, a soft spot or a new stain after the crew has left should tell the crew, because the readings may need to be taken again.
What should a homeowner tell the crew about the river?
The crew needs to know what the homeowner saw of the water, when it came, how high it rose and which way it moved. That information helps the technician decide where to start the readings.
Describe the water as you saw it. Say whether it came up through the floor, in through a door or along the lower wall, and whether it was still rising when you first looked. Say whether the water looked muddy, carried debris or had an odor, because those details affect the category of the water and the protection the crew wears.
Tell the crew whether the house has a cellar, a crawl space or a slab, and where the access to each is. Say whether anyone in the house has breathing problems or a health condition that could be affected by the work. The technician plans around those answers, and a clear account on the first call saves time on arrival.
Frequently asked questions
Is my house at risk from the Nansemond River?
It depends on the ground, the drains and the lowest openings of the house, not only on its distance from the river. A technician reads the house on arrival. You can also ask your local government about the flood risk for your address.
How high did the river rise in Matthew?
The National Weather Service flagged minor to moderate flooding at the North Main Street crossing. This guide does not give a height for the river, and it should not be read as one.
Can I drain river water myself?
Only shallow water, and only if the power is off and you are not standing in water. Do not use a household vacuum or an extension cord near water. Call a crew for anything more than a little water.
Is river water in the house dangerous?
It can be. River water can carry bacteria, silt and debris, and it may be mixed with sewage. Keep children and pets out of affected rooms and wash your hands after any contact.
Will the walls have to come down?
Some may. Drywall that has absorbed river water and cannot be dried back to a sound state usually comes out, and the readings decide which sections. The crew explains each removal before it is made.
Should I stay in the house during a river flood cleanup?
Only if the house is safe and the affected rooms are not in use. The crew will say which rooms are unusable and for how long. Keep children and pets away from the work area, and follow the technician advice on where to stay while the drying continues.
This guide is general information for Suffolk (independent city) homeowners, not a substitute for an on-site inspection. Prices are estimates. See our disclaimer.