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Storm damage and Helene

When storm rain gets in, make the power safe, photograph everything, and report it. Triple-I says wind-driven rain is covered by homeowners and renters insurance;1 flood is not part of most Georgia home policies.2

Last reviewed October 24, 20268 sources, numbered in the textSee sources

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The data

One day of Helene against a normal month

Rain at Gainesville, from the National Weather Service office in Peachtree City, which covered Hurricane Helene's pass on September 24 to 27, 2024.3

  • A normal September, whole month3.89 in.
  • September 27, 2024, one day5.16 in.
    The wettest single day of the month at Gainesville.3
  • September 2024, whole month10.22 in.
    6.33 inches above normal.3
National Weather Service Peachtree City/Atlanta, September 2024 climate summary, Gainesville site.3

What Helene brought

The Peachtree City office describes gusts of 50 to 80 mph and widespread rain of 6 to 14 inches across Georgia as Helene moved through.3 Gainesville's September ended at 10.22 inches, 6.33 above normal.3

Rain that comes in versus water that rises

How the water got inUsually
Rain through wind damage to the roof, a wall or a windowCovered: wind-driven rain1
Rising water from outsideNot covered without a separate flood policy2,1
Sewer or drain backupOnly if your policy includes it or you added a rider1

A new National Flood Insurance Program policy usually takes effect 30 days after purchase, with some exceptions.4

Before the next storm

  • Look for missing, damaged and aging shingles and repair them.1
  • Clear debris from gutters and downspouts, and aim downspouts away from the house.1
  • Make sure the ground slopes away from the foundation.5

After it passes

  • Stay off flooded roads: a foot of moving water can carry most cars.6
  • Keep generators out of the house and garage.7
  • Photograph the damage and keep damaged items for the adjuster.8

How this works

What happens when you call

It is free to call, and calling commits you to nothing.

  1. A woman on a screened back porch talks on the phone after a summer storm, broken pine branches on the wet lawn.
    1

    You call

    Tell them what happened and where. Have the address ready.

  2. 2

    We connect you

    A call network puts you through to an independent local restoration company that serves Gainesville and is taking calls.

  3. A technician crouches by a washing machine and shows the homeowner its supply hose, a water stain along the wall behind.
    3

    They assess and quote

    If you want a visit, they look at the damage and quote their own price. Ask for it in writing.

We are a free referral service, not a contractor. The company that answers sets its own prices. How this service works

A couple sit on the back steps of their brick house with glasses of iced tea and smile, pines behind them after the rain.

Want a local company to look at it?

Free to call. An independent restoration company that serves Gainesville answers, and you decide what happens next.

Call (770) 536-9258

Gainesville Water Damage Advice is a free referral and information service, not a contractor. Calls go through our call-tracking line to independent local restoration companies, and we may be paid when a call qualifies. We do not do the work and do not set prices or availability. How it works

Sources

Each numbered note on this page points here. We read every page on October 24, 2026. Where sources disagree we say so; where we could not find a source we left the claim out. We are not affiliated with any of these organizations.

  1. Triple-I (Insurance Information Institute), How to protect your home from water damage. No date shown (page copyright 2026). www.iii.org/article/how-to-protect-your-home-from-water-damage
  2. Georgia Office of Commissioner of Insurance and Safety Fire, Home insurance. No date shown. oci.georgia.gov/insurance-resources/home
  3. National Weather Service, Peachtree City/Atlanta office, September 2024 Climate Summary (includes Hurricane Helene, September 24-27). September 2024 data. www.weather.gov/ffc/September2024ClimateSummary
  4. FEMA FloodSmart (National Flood Insurance Program), Buy a Flood Insurance Policy. No date shown. www.floodsmart.gov/get-insured/buy-a-policy
  5. U.S. EPA, A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture and Your Home. Page updated February 18, 2026. www.epa.gov/mold/brief-guide-mold-moisture-and-your-home
  6. National Weather Service (NOAA), Turn Around Don't Drown. Undated page, read October 24, 2026. www.weather.gov/safety/flood-turn-around-dont-drown
  7. CDC, Safety Guidelines: Reentering Your Flooded Home. Page updated August 24, 2026. www.cdc.gov/floods/safety/reentering-your-flooded-home-safety.html
  8. Triple-I (Insurance Information Institute), Settling insurance claims after a disaster. No date shown (page copyright 2026). www.iii.org/article/settling-insurance-claims-after-a-disaster
Call (770) 536-9258Free service. We'll connect you with a local restoration company. How it works