Summer in North Texas means severe thunderstorms, flash floods, and water damage. Johnson County experiences 2-4 major flood events every summer—are you ready? This guide covers Cleburne-specific flood risks and practical steps to protect your home.
70| 71|Why Summer Flooding Hits Johnson County Hard
72|North Texas sits in "Flash Flood Alley." Here's why our summers are dangerous:
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- Slow-moving thunderstorms - Summer weather patterns stall over DFW, dumping 4-8 inches of rain in hours 75|
- Clay soil - Johnson County's tight clay doesn't absorb water—it runs off into streets and homes 76|
- Nolan River flooding - Cleburne sits along the Nolan River, which rises fast during heavy rain 77|
- Drought then deluge - Texas droughts bake soil hard, then summer storms hit and water sheets off like pavement 78|
June-September is peak season. The 2015 Memorial Day flood and 2019 summer storms each caused millions in Johnson County damage. It will happen again.
81| 82|Cleburne's High-Risk Flood Areas
83|Know your flood zone. These Cleburne areas flood most often:
84| 85|🌊 Nolan River Corridor
86|Properties near the Nolan River (especially south of downtown) flood when the river overtops banks. If you're within 1/4 mile of the river, you're in a flood zone. Check FEMA Flood Maps for your address.
87| 88|🌊 Buffalo Creek Areas
89|Western Cleburne near Buffalo Creek sees flooding during heavy rain. Neighborhoods off Westhill Drive and areas near Cleburne State Park experience basement and crawl space flooding.
90| 91|🌊 Low-Lying Neighborhoods
92|Older homes in central Cleburne with pier-and-beam foundations and no sump pumps. Areas near older storm drains that can't handle modern rainfall rates.
93| 94|🌊 FM 4 & US-67 Underpasses
95|Not homes, but critical warning: these flood fast. If you're driving and see water over the road, turn around, don't drown. Most Texas flood deaths are in vehicles.
96| 97|Signs Your Home Is at Risk
98|You're vulnerable if you have:
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- ✅ Basement or crawl space (water always seeks the lowest point) 101|
- ✅ Yard that slopes toward your foundation 102|
- ✅ Gutters that overflow or downspouts draining near your house 103|
- ✅ Cracks in foundation or basement walls 104|
- ✅ No sump pump (or an old one that hasn't been tested) 105|
- ✅ Lived here < 10 years (haven't experienced a 100-year flood yet) 106|
Summer Flood Prep: 15 Action Items
109|Do these BEFORE storms hit:
110| 111|Exterior Defense
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- Clean gutters and downspouts - Clogged gutters overflow onto foundation. Cleburne's oak and pecan trees drop debris constantly. Clean quarterly. 114|
- Extend downspouts - Discharge water 6-10 feet AWAY from foundation. Most Cleburne homes dump water right next to the house. Wrong. 115|
- Grade your yard - Soil should slope AWAY from foundation (6 inches drop over 10 feet). If water pools near your house, add dirt and regrade. 116|
- Seal foundation cracks - Even small cracks let water in during floods. Use hydraulic cement or hire a foundation specialist. 117|
- Install window well covers - If you have basement windows, cover them. Cleburne's rare hail also shatters unprotected windows. 118|
- Check sump pump - Pour 5 gallons of water into the sump pit. Pump should activate in seconds. Test battery backup too. 119|
Interior Prep
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- Move valuables off basement floors - Store boxes on shelves, not concrete. One flood ruins everything. 124|
- Install backwater valve - Prevents sewage from backing up into your home when city sewers overflow. Required by code in many areas but missing in older Cleburne homes. 125|
- Know your main water shutoff - If flooding happens, shut off main water to prevent pressure surges from damaging pipes. 126|
- Unplug basement electronics - Water + plugged-in devices = electrocution hazard. Unplug washers, dryers, freezers if flooding is imminent. 127|
Emergency Readiness
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- Buy flood insurance - Homeowner's policies DON'T cover flood damage. You need separate flood insurance through FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program. Policies take 30 days to activate—buy NOW before summer storms hit. 132|
- Create a go-bag - Documents, photos, medications, clothes. If evacuation orders come, you leave immediately. 133|
- Save emergency contacts -
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- Us: 817-677-8330 (24/7 emergency water extraction) 135|
- City of Cleburne Emergency Management: 817-645-0908 136|
- Johnson County Sheriff (non-emergency): 817-556-6000 137|
- Oncor Electric (power outages): 888-313-4747 138|
139| - Sign up for emergency alerts - City of Cleburne Alert System sends texts/emails during flood warnings. 140|
- Know your evacuation route - If Nolan River floods, US-67 north is your escape. Plan alternate routes if main roads flood. 141|
What To Do When Flash Flood Warnings Hit
144|Cleburne's flash flood warnings come from National Weather Service Fort Worth. When you get an alert:
145| 146|IMMEDIATE Actions (0-30 minutes)
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- ⚡ Monitor weather radar - Use NWS Fort Worth Radar to track storms. Look for red/purple cells (heavy rain). 149|
- ⚡ Move cars to high ground - If you have a low-lying driveway or street flooding history, park on higher ground. 150|
- ⚡ Test sump pump - Make sure it's working BEFORE water arrives. 151|
- ⚡ Charge phones - Floods cause power outages. Full battery = you can call for help. 152|
- ⚡ Fill bathtubs with water - If flooding causes water supply contamination, you'll need clean water for flushing toilets. 153|
During Active Flooding (Water Entering Home)
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- 🚨 Turn off electricity - If water reaches electrical outlets or panel, shut off power at the main breaker. Electrocution risk is real. 158|
- 🚨 Evacuate if instructed - Don't wait. Water rises fast in Texas floods. 159|
- 🚨 Call us: 817-677-8330 - We respond 24/7. If flooding is active, we'll mobilize for immediate extraction once safe. 160|
- 🚨 DO NOT walk through flood water - 6 inches of moving water knocks adults over. Flood water contains sewage, chemicals, sharp debris. 161|
- 🚨 DO NOT drive through flooded roads - "Turn around, don't drown." 12 inches of water floats cars. Most Texas flood deaths are drivers. 162|
After the Flood: First 24 Hours Are Critical
165|Once water recedes, the race against mold begins. Texas humidity means mold grows in 24-48 hours.
166| 167|Hour 1-3: Safety Check
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- ✅ Check for structural damage - Sagging ceilings, cracks in walls, shifted foundation 170|
- ✅ Smell for gas - If you smell gas, evacuate and call Atmos Energy: 888-286-6700 171|
- ✅ Don't turn power on yet - Have an electrician inspect if water reached outlets or panel 172|
Hour 3-24: Emergency Water Removal
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- Call us immediately: 817-677-8330 177|
- We extract standing water with industrial pumps 178|
- Remove soaked carpet, padding, drywall (can't be saved) 179|
- Set up commercial dehumidifiers and air movers 180|
- Treat with antimicrobials to prevent mold 181|
DON'T try to dry flood damage yourself. Shop vacs and box fans aren't enough. You'll end up with mold throughout your house and an insurance claim denial for improper mitigation.
184| 185|Insurance Claims for Flood Damage
186|Critical distinction: Flood insurance vs. homeowner's insurance.
187| 188|Homeowner's Insurance Covers:
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- ✅ Burst pipes inside your home 191|
- ✅ Roof leaks from storm damage 192|
- ✅ Sump pump failure (if you have equipment breakdown coverage) 193|
- ✅ Sewer backups (if you have that endorsement) 194|
Homeowner's Insurance DOES NOT Cover:
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- ❌ Water entering from outside (rain, rising rivers, flash floods) 199|
- ❌ Groundwater seeping through foundation 200|
- ❌ Overland flooding from any source 201|
You MUST have separate flood insurance for external water damage. Most Cleburne homeowners don't have it. Get a quote here—policies start around $500/year.
204| 205|We Help With Claims: Whether it's flood or homeowner's insurance, we provide documentation adjusters need:
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- Photos and videos of damage 208|
- Moisture readings and drying logs 209|
- Itemized scope of work and cost estimates 210|
Summer Flood Resources for Cleburne Residents
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- National Weather Service Fort Worth - weather.gov/fwd - Real-time warnings 215|
- FEMA Flood Maps - msc.fema.gov - Check if you're in a flood zone 216|
- Cleburne Emergency Management - 817-645-0908 217|
- Johnson County Emergency Operations - johnsoncountytx.org/emergency 218|
- Texas Flood Information - floodhelp.texas.gov 219|
- Our 24/7 Emergency Line - 817-677-8330 220|
Final Thoughts: Don't Wait for the Storm
223|Every summer, we respond to 50+ Cleburne flood emergencies. Most homeowners say the same thing: "I didn't think it would happen to me."
224| 225|The best time to prepare was last year. The second-best time is today.
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- Clean your gutters this weekend 229|
- Test your sump pump 230|
- Get flood insurance (30-day waiting period) 231|
- Save our number: 817-677-8330 232|
Summer storms are coming. Be ready.
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