Flood Cleanup in Greenville, SC, From River Rise to Rebuild

How Fast the Reedy Moves

The City's hazard mitigation plan notes that more than 4 inches of rain in a few hours can lift the Reedy from about a foot to 15 feet downtown, putting it two to three feet over its banks. In February 2020, a monitoring station downtown recorded a rise of over 11 feet within a few hours. During Helene in 2024, the National Weather Service recorded a record crest on the Saluda River at Greenville of 20.26 feet, beating the 1949 record.

Floodwater Isn't Clean Water

We treat river and street floodwater as contaminated. That means:

• carpet, pad and upholstered furniture that sat in it are discarded
• drywall and insulation are cut out above the waterline
• framing, slabs and hard surfaces are cleaned and disinfected before drying
• crawl spaces are cleared of mud and wet insulation

Getting Back In Safely

Wait until officials say your area is clear. Keep the main breaker off if water reached outlets. Don't walk through standing water in the house, and wear boots and gloves. Take photos of the waterline and damage before cleanup starts.

Greenville Flood Cleanup, Step by Step

1. Pump out standing water and shovel out mud and debris.
2. Remove ruined materials and bag them for disposal.
3. Clean and disinfect exposed surfaces.
4. Dry with dehumidifiers and air movers, logging moisture daily.
5. Rebuild walls, floors and trim once readings are back to normal.

The City released an updated floodplain map in 2024. If your property was added, or you're rebuilding after a flood, it's worth checking before you replace finishes.

Water that pooled under the house instead of inside it is covered on our crawl space water page. For an overview of everything else, head back to our Greenville home page.