Storm and Flood Cleanup in Pasadena, TX: What to Do
After a storm, most standard homeowners policies exclude flood damage, so a Pasadena homeowner near Armand Bayou or Vince Bayou needs separate flood insurance to cover it.
Immediate Safety Steps After a Storm or Flood
FEMA advises against walking, swimming or driving through floodwater, since six inches of moving water can knock a person down and one foot can move a vehicle. Leave if officials order an evacuation, and return only when officials say it is safe.
- Do not enter a flooded home if floodwater remains around the building, there is a gas smell, structural damage, downed wiring or suspected contamination.
- Only cut power at the breaker if you can reach it without touching wet equipment or standing in water.
- Do not run a generator indoors; use it outdoors, away from windows and doors.
FEMA and Ready.gov guidance: leave unsafe conditions and return only when officials say it is safe; do not walk, swim or drive through floodwater.
Read the full FEMA flood safety fact sheet. Once it is safe, shut off your water at the main valve if you can reach it, and see the Pasadena who-to-call guide for which city department to contact next.
Does Flood Insurance Cover This: NFIP vs. Homeowners
Most standard homeowners policies generally exclude flood damage. The National Flood Insurance Program is the separate policy that covers it, up to $250,000 for the structure and $100,000 for contents, with coverage normally starting 30 days after you buy it.
| Coverage | Detail | Checked |
|---|---|---|
| NFIP building coverage limit | Up to $250,000 | September 2026 |
| NFIP contents coverage limit | Up to $100,000 | September 2026 |
| NFIP waiting period | Coverage normally begins 30 days after purchase, with some exceptions | September 2026 |
| TDI insurance complaint line | 800-252-3439 | September 2026 |
- Sudden and accidental water discharge: usually covered under most standard homeowners policies.
- Flood water from outside, including storm surge or bayou overflow: usually excluded from a standard homeowners policy; NFIP flood insurance covers this separately.
- Renters: a renters policy covers your belongings, not the building; tell your landlord about flood damage in writing.
Read the NFIP limits and waiting period at FEMA's flood insurance page or FloodSmart.gov.
Cleanup, Documentation and Mold Risk
Photograph and video the damage before you start cleanup, if it is safe to do so; document rooms, water lines and the source. CDC guidance says to dry the area fully and quickly within 24 to 48 hours after a flood, since wet materials can support mold growth.
- Photograph and video rooms, water lines and affected belongings before cleanup, if it is safe.
- Keep receipts for temporary repairs, lodging and cleanup for your insurer.
- Do not throw away damaged property until your insurer or adjuster has advised you, unless it presents a health or safety hazard; photograph and inventory it first.
CDC guidance: dry the area fully and quickly within 24-48 hours after a flood.
Read the full CDC mold and health guidance for background on drying and cleanup after a flood.
Permits to Rebuild After Storm Damage
Ask the Permit Department, 713-475-5575 or permitdept@pasadenatx.gov, whether your specific rebuilding work needs a permit before you start. If your address sits in the floodplain, check with the Engineering Department for flood-map and elevation information before you rebuild, since floodplain rules can affect how you repair.
- Building permits: Permit Department, 713-475-5575, permitdept@pasadenatx.gov.
- Floodplain requirements, flood maps and elevation information: Engineering Department, 713-475-7835.
- The city adopted the 2024 International Building, Residential, Mechanical and Plumbing Codes, effective February 2, 2026.
- Outside Pasadena city limits, the county office for your address issues permits instead.
If a single pipe failure caused your damage rather than storm flooding, see the Pasadena burst pipe response guide for insurance deadlines specific to that situation.
Texas Insurer Deadlines and the Weather Disaster Extension
The same Texas Insurance Code deadlines that apply to any claim apply after a storm, with one addition: a weather-related catastrophe or major natural disaster, as defined by the commissioner, extends every deadline in this subchapter by an additional 15 days.
| Step | Deadline | Checked |
|---|---|---|
| Insurer acknowledges your claim and requests documents | Not later than the 15th day after the insurer receives notice of the claim, or the 30th business day for an eligible surplus lines insurer, Ins. Code Section 542.055 | September 2026 |
| Insurer accepts or rejects your claim | Not later than the 15th business day after the insurer receives all items, statements and forms it requires, Ins. Code Section 542.056(a) | September 2026 |
| Weather-related catastrophe or major natural disaster, as defined by the commissioner | Every deadline in this subchapter extends by an additional 15 days, Ins. Code Section 542.059(b) | September 2026 |
| Insurer takes more than 60 days after receiving all requested items | May owe interest and other damages, Ins. Code Section 542.058(a) and Section 542.060 | September 2026 |
- A public adjuster is optional; total commission generally may not exceed 10 percent of the settlement, Ins. Code Section 4102.104(a).
Read the deadlines in full at Texas Insurance Code chapter 542. If your insurer is unresponsive after a storm, the Texas Department of Insurance consumer help line, 800-252-3439, takes complaints. For general guidance on who to call in Pasadena, see the Water Damage Pasadena TX homepage.
If That Did Not Work
If a city office or your insurer does not respond, you have other options. Try the same number again, try a different route to the same information, and know who to contact if neither works. This page does not predict how busy any line will be after a storm.
- Try again: call the same number back if it does not go through.
- Try another route: if Public Works, 713-475-7836, does not answer, try City Hall, 713-477-1511, and ask to be transferred.
- Who to contact: for a dangerous situation call 911; for an unresponsive insurer, the Texas Department of Insurance consumer help line is 800-252-3439.
For a single burst pipe rather than a storm, see the Pasadena burst pipe response guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a standard homeowners policy cover flood damage in Pasadena?
What does NFIP flood insurance pay for?
How fast can mold grow after a flood?
Do I need a permit to rebuild after storm flooding?
Does a hurricane change my insurer's claim deadline?
Should I keep or discard flood-damaged belongings?
What storms have flooded Pasadena in recent years?
Water in your home right now?
See who to call first in Pasadena, how to reach your water provider, and how to check your flood zone.
Who to Call First in Pasadena