When flooding is an emergency in Draper
Flooding is an emergency whenever water is entering faster than you can stop it, or whenever it came from outside or from a drain. Draper has seen both: mud from the Corner Canyon burn scar, groundwater in a neighborhood, and a storm that overwhelmed roads in a single evening. Flood damage restoration here starts with the 24/7 dispatch line.
This page is for storm, river, groundwater and sewage events. A pipe break in a kitchen is a different job and is covered by emergency water removal. The difference matters because flood water is usually Category 2 or 3 under the ANSI/IICRC S500 standard, which changes how materials are handled.
What Draper's flood events looked like
In August 2008, the Corner Canyon fire burned the mountainside above Draper, and during the next storm the National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning for debris flow. The city handed out about 15,000 sandbags, and no mudslide came that night. A burned slope sheds water faster, so homes below one carry a standing risk of mud even when the rainfall is modest.
In June 2009, mud from the same burn scar put 2 to 3 feet of water and mud into three homes near 12600 South and 2100 East.
In January 2023, groundwater flooded more than thirty homes in the Bellevue neighborhood, several with inches of water inside, and the city said its storm drain system was working normally. On August 3, 2023, the mayor said a little over 2 inches fell in more than an hour and declared a state of emergency.
What these events share is that none of them were broken pipes. Standard homeowners policies do not cover flood losses, including post-wildfire mudflows, according to the Utah Insurance Department, so the first insurance question is whether you have a separate flood policy. The department notes that NFIP policies have a standard 30-day waiting period, so coverage cannot be bought after the storm is already on its way.
Basement flooding cleanup
Basement floods are the most common flood job along the Wasatch Front, because water runs downhill and finds the lowest point. Window wells that fill, foundation cracks, a failed sump pump or a groundwater rise can each bring in water without any pipe breaking.
The work follows a sequence. Power is made safe, standing water is pumped out, and wet carpet and pad are removed. Drywall is cut above the water line, usually a foot or two higher, because wicking carries moisture up the wall. The slab and framing are then dried with air movers and dehumidifiers until readings are normal.
Be honest about what restoration does not do. It repairs damage after water gets in. It does not waterproof a foundation or regrade a yard, and if the same basement floods every spring, that needs a different trade after we finish. Ask your city building office what permits any exterior work requires.
Sewage backup: what to do first
Sewage is a stay-out situation
If raw sewage is coming up through a drain or toilet, keep people and pets out, do not touch it, and do not run the washer or other fixtures. If water has reached outlets or the panel, call the utility or 911 before calling us. Turn off power only if the panel is dry and safe to reach.
Sewer backups are Category 3 water. Porous materials that touched it, such as carpet, pad and drywall, are removed rather than cleaned, and the area is sanitized afterward. Hard surfaces and framing can usually be cleaned and treated.
In Draper, sewer service in most areas comes from a sewer district that was formerly the South Valley Sewer District and was renamed Jordan Basin Improvement District in June 2024. If the backup is in the main line, the district may need to be told, and a plumber should clear the blockage. Standard flood insurance covers sewer backup only when an active surface flood caused it, so ask your insurer whether your policy has water backup coverage.
Mold after flooding
The EPA advises drying water-damaged items within 24 to 48 hours to prevent mold, and says mold control means moisture control. Floods make that window harder to meet, because everything is wet at once. If drying slips past that window, the mold remediation page explains the next step.
What shapes the cost of flood restoration
Water category
Flood and sewage water is Category 2 or 3, which adds removal, protection and disposal.
Depth and area
A few inches across a slab and two feet across a finished level are different jobs.
Materials
Finished basements have carpet, pad, drywall and insulation that cannot be saved.
Drying days
Concrete and framing dry slowly, which means more equipment days.
Mud and debris
Silt and mud add cleanup time before drying starts.
Rebuild scope
Everything removed has to be replaced afterward.
Check your policy, ask your insurer, and ask whether you have flood coverage before the next storm. Want your real number? Call (385) 988-9410. We also serve nearby towns, including Herriman.
Water coming in from outside?
Call the 24/7 line. We explain the scope and price before work starts.
Common questions
Do you handle flood damage emergencies at night or on weekends in Draper?
Yes. Dispatch answers 24/7, including weekends and holidays. Same-day response is available when a crew is available, and we do not promise a specific arrival time.
Does homeowners insurance cover flooding?
Standard homeowners and renters policies do not cover flood losses, according to the Utah Insurance Department. Flood insurance is a separate policy with a standard 30-day waiting period. Check your policy and ask your insurer.
Can a flooded finished basement be saved?
Often the structure can, but carpet, pad, insulation and low drywall usually cannot. The decision depends on the water category and how long materials stayed wet.
Is sewage backup different from other flooding?
Yes. It is Category 3 water, so porous materials are removed and the area is sanitized. Keep people and pets out until it has been cleaned.
Will you waterproof my basement?
No. Restoration repairs damage after water gets in, and waterproofing is a different trade. We will say so plainly if a basement needs it.