Monsoon flood and storm water cleanup in Tucson
Monsoon season runs from mid-June through September. A single storm can drop an inch of rain in under an hour onto ground that can't absorb it. Water comes in under doors, through flat roofs and around swamp cooler stands, and washes run through neighbourhoods that were bone dry an hour earlier.
How monsoon water gets in
- Flat or low-slope roofs with ponding water and cracked coatings or blocked scuppers.
- Evaporative cooler penetrations on the roof and their drain lines.
- Sliding doors and thresholds on the side of the house the storm hits.
- Yards graded toward the house, or block walls that channel runoff to the foundation.
- Roof damage from microbursts, which can lift shingles and tiles in seconds.
Floodwater is category 3
Water that ran across the ground before it entered the house carries soil, bacteria and whatever was on the street. Restoration crews treat it as contaminated: wet carpet and pad come out, drywall is cut above the water line, and everything is cleaned and treated before drying.
Insurance and flood coverage
Standard homeowner's policies generally cover rain that comes through a storm-damaged roof, but not surface water that flows in from outside. That needs a separate flood policy. Document everything and call your insurer either way, because the line between the two is something they decide.
Questions people ask
When is monsoon season in Tucson?
The National Weather Service defines it as June 15 through September 30. The heaviest storms usually come in July and August.
My roof only dripped a little. Do I need a crew?
If water reached insulation or drywall, it holds moisture longer than you'd think. A moisture reading is cheap insurance against mold showing up in October.