Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly.
John Ward carts flooded contents of his Hermitage Avenue home to a city-provided trash container in Ellendale on Friday, July 29, 2022. Thursday afternoon storms filled residents' streets and basements with water from the River des Peres for the second time this week. "If they'd come with a good buyout offer, I'm gone," said Ward, a 29 resident of Ellendale. Photo by Robert Cohen, rcohen@post-dispatch.com
"This year I quit paying my flood insurance. I had been pay $2,500 a year since 2008," said Timothy Grotrian, who cleans out his flooded basement on Friday, July 29, 2022, at his home along the 1200 block of Waldron Avenue in University City. Grotrian said his basement took in more than 5 feet of water during the first flash flooding on Tuesday and more than 2 feet of water after Thursday's rain.
"These tires used to be in the garage," said Anthony Saddler, who cleared items from his flooded basement on Friday, July 29, 2022, on Wilson Avenue in University City. Saddler said his home has been condemned since Tuesday evening.
"I am just digging through a lifetime of memories.... water always wins," said Ty Treutelaar, who clears out items in his flooded basement on Friday, July 29, 2022, along the 1100 block of Birch Lane in University City.
ST. LOUIS — John Ward hauled garbage bags of his ruined belongings to the curb of his home in St. Louis’ Ellendale neighborhood on Wednesday.
Nine inches of rain dumped on the region Tuesday, beating the previous record set in 1915 by 2 inches and flooding swaths of the metro area, including Ellendale, which flooded again on Thursday.
Ward said he had flood insurance for a while, but, over the years, the price tag was high and water had never reached his house, so he canceled it.
“For the last year, I was paying $100 a month,” he said.
It’s not yet known how costly Tuesday’s historic flood will be for the St. Louis region. Insurance agents across the metro area say they’re still fielding calls from customers about damage and expect more.
Agents warn, however, that flood damage is not covered under a typical homeowner’s insurance policy and many homeowners won’t have flood insurance. That means repairs are expected to come out of folks’ own pockets.
Even if a property owner has flood insurance, the policy may only cover the building and not personal belongings. Others may not cover things like a damaged fence. And flood insurance may not cover sewer backups or sump pump failures, said Tracie Bibb, an agent with Allstate Insurance.
Insurance companies rely on an adjuster’s physical inspection to determine whether a structure was damaged by water that overflowed from a sewer, drain or sump, or flood water from rivers or lakes that overflow their banks or oversaturated ground.
Farmers Insurance agent Paul Hauser said he heard from many customers on Wednesday who had water in their basements and others also experienced sump pump failure. But one client from University City did have flood damage.
“She has flood insurance, so she’s gonna get some financial assistance,” Hauser said.
Flood insurance can be pricey. Policies can range from $600 a year to $1,500-$2,000 if the property is in a special designated area, he said.
“It’s definitely an extra expense,” Hauser said. Policies purchased now would not cover damage from previous flooding.
Property owners in high-risk flood areas with federally-backed mortgages are required to have flood insurance — as are those who received federal disaster aid, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
“Everyone doesn’t have to have that extra coverage and that’s unfortunate,” said Crystal Swanigan, claims manager for St. Louis-based Powers Insurance, which received around 80 claims related to the flood on Tuesday. Calls are still coming in, she said.
It’s not clear how many Americans have flood insurance. The National Flood Insurance Policy, which FEMA manages, has issued more than five million policies and collects about $4.6 billion in annual revenue from policyholders’ premiums, fees and surcharges. It provides over $1.3 trillion in coverage.
Katie Reuther said she didn’t know how she’d cover the cost of new electrical panels and other damage to the basement of her boutique shop 301 Whistle Stop on St. Peters’ Main Street.
She didn’t buy flood insurance on the building because it wasn’t in a floodplain or a flood risk, she said.
“It wasn’t recommended,” she said.
Reporter Katie Kull contributed to this story.
"I am just exhausted. I am waiting to hear back from cleaning services and insurance companies," said Jamal Walls, who takes a moment to breathe, from clearing out items from his flooded basement on Friday, July 29, 2022, in the 7000 block of Dartmouth Avenue in University City.
Kasey Hawkins, 10, joins family members helping her aunt Kenquita Hawkins move from her apartment in The Reserve at Winding Creek apartments in Hazelwood on Friday, July 29, 2022. Residents scrambled for moving trucks when told they had to vacate the complex by the end of the day.
"This year I quit paying my flood insurance. I had been pay $2500 a year since 2008," said Timothy Grotrian, who cleans out his flooded basement on Friday, July 29, 2022, at his home along the 1200 block of Waldron Avenue in University City. Grotrian said his basement took in more than 5 ft of water during the first flash flooding on Tuesday. His basement flooded again yesterday during the heavy rains, flooding with more than 2 ft. of water. Photo by Laurie Skrivan, lskrivan@post-dispatch.com
A resident of The Reserve at Winding Creek apartments in Hazelwood dons a mask before entering her building to clean out her unit on Friday, July 29, 2022.
Ernie Carr, 76, carries away a two-day-old dehumidifier after Tuesday's flood that was destroyed in Thursday's second flood in Ellendale on Friday, July 29, 2022. Carr and his wife Nancy, who have lived in the neighborhood for 40 years, had just finished cleaning up more than six feet of water in their basement from the River des Peres Thursday morning.
"I am just digging through a lifetime of memories.... water always wins," said Ty Treutelaar, who clears out items in his flooded basement on Friday, July 29, 2022, along the 1100 block of Birch Lane in University City.
Mia Henderson clears out carpet from flooded basement on Friday, July 29, 2022, along the 7000 block of Dartmouth Avenue in University City. More than a dozen of houses were flooded along the street from flash flooding Tuesday. Photo by Laurie Skrivan, lskrivan@post-dispatch.com
"I was sitting with my children on the edge of the couch and the water kept rising. It looked like we were on a cruise ship. I don't swim," said Patricia Saddler, who recalls how the water kept rising on the first floor of her house early Tuesday morning, as she salvaged clothing on Friday, July 29, 2022, at her home along the 1000 block of Wilson Avenue in University City. Saddler's home has been condemned since Tuesday evening. Photo by Laurie Skrivan, lskrivan@post-dispatch.com
Brinkley Sandvall, who flew in from Texas to help clean up her brother's flooded home, uses bleach water to clean toys on Friday, July 29, 2022, along the 1000 block of Wilson Street in University City. Photo by Laurie Skrivan, lskrivan@post-dispatch.com
Ernie Carr, 76, carries away a two-day-old dehumidifier brought by his grandson after Tuesday's flood that was destroyed in Thursday's second flood in Ellendale on Friday, July 29, 2022. Carr and his wife Nancy, who have lived in the neighborhood for 40 years, had just finished cleaning up more than six feet of water in their basement from the River des Peres Thursday morning when four more feet came, floating away their new purchase. Photo by Robert Cohen, rcohen@post-dispatch.com
John Ward takes a moment to pet Vickie Barton's dog Freya while emptying his wheelbarrow into a city-provided trash container in Ellendale on Friday, July 29, 2022. Thursday afternoon storms filled residents' streets and basements with water from the River des Peres for the second time this week. "If they'd come with a good buyout offer, I'm gone," said Ward, a 29 resident of Ellendale. Photo by Robert Cohen, rcohen@post-dispatch.com
"These tires used to be in the garage," said Anthony Saddler, who cleared items from his flooded basement on Friday, July 29, 2022, on Wilson Avenue in University City. Saddler said his home has been condemned since Tuesday evening.
Ernie Carr, 76, takes a rest while his son-in-law washes down his basement that filled with Thursday's floodwater from the River des Peres for the second time in a week in Ellendale on Friday, July 29, 2022. "Two times in a week, and it's never happened," said Carr, who has lived on Hermitage Avenue for 40 years. "So what did MSD do?" Photo by Robert Cohen, rcohen@post-dispatch.com
Steve Gibson's dog Ripper sniffs water soaked rags used to clean up Gibson's classic car garage behind his Hermitage Avenue home in Ellendale after Thursday's flood, the second in a week, on Friday, July 29, 2022. Gibson raised two cars in his garage, including his 1968 Plymouth Barracuda. Photo by Robert Cohen, rcohen@post-dispatch.com
Mud-coated dolls sit in the backyard of the Hermitage Avenue home of Ernie and Nancy Carr following two floods of the River des Peres in Ellendale on Friday, July 29, 2022. Photo by Robert Cohen, rcohen@post-dispatch.com
John Ward carts flooded contents of his Hermitage Avenue home to a city-provided trash container in Ellendale on Friday, July 29, 2022. Thursday afternoon storms filled residents' streets and basements with water from the River des Peres for the second time this week. "If they'd come with a good buyout offer, I'm gone," said Ward, a 29 resident of Ellendale. Photo by Robert Cohen, rcohen@post-dispatch.com
Ernie Carr, 76, tosses away a lifetime of running bibs and numbers after his basement flooded twice in a week in Ellendale on Friday, July 29, 2022. Carr and his wife Nancy, who have lived in the neighborhood for 40 years, had just finished cleaning up more than six feet of water in their basement from the River des Peres Thursday morning when four more feet flowed inside that afternoon. Photo by Robert Cohen, rcohen@post-dispatch.com
Larry Ball carries artwork from his apartment in the Reserve at Winding Creek Apartments in Hazelwood on Friday, July 29, 2022. Residents, many who were rescued by boat from the flooded complex on Tuesday, scrambled for moving trucks when told they had to vacate the complex by the end of the day. Photo by Robert Cohen, rcohen@post-dispatch.com
A family member of Kenquita Hawkins peers from a truck as neighbors pack up and leave the Reserve at Winding Creek Apartments in Hazelwood on Friday, July 29, 2022. Residents, many who were rescued by boat from the flooded complex on Tuesday, scrambled for moving trucks when told they had to vacate the complex by the end of the day. Photo by Robert Cohen, rcohen@post-dispatch.com
"We lost everything," said Keith Terry as he looks over his toppled refrigerator while cleaning out his apartment in the Reserve at Winding Creek Apartments in Hazelwood on Friday, July 29, 2022. Residents, many who were rescued by boat from the flooded complex on Tuesday, scrambled for moving trucks when told they had to vacate the complex by the end of the day on Friday. Photo by Robert Cohen, rcohen@post-dispatch.com
Kenquita Hawkins has a final look inside her unit before shutting the door after salvaging what she could from the Reserve at Winding Creek Apartments in Hazelwood on Friday, July 29, 2022. Residents, many who were rescued by boat from the flooded complex on Tuesday, scrambled for moving trucks when told they had to vacate the complex by the end of the day. Photo by Robert Cohen, rcohen@post-dispatch.com
"This year I quit paying my flood insurance. I had been pay $2500 a year since 2008," said Timothy Grotrian, who cleans out his flooded basement on Friday, July 29, 2022, at his home along the 1200 block of Waldron Avenue in University City. Grotrian said his basement took in more than 5 ft of water during the first flash flooding on Tuesday. His basement flooded again yesterday during the heavy rains, flooding with more than 2 ft. of water. Photo by Laurie Skrivan, lskrivan@post-dispatch.com
Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly.
Steph Kukuljan covers real estate and development for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. She is a St. Louis native.
Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.
FEMA representatives will join members of other agencies in confirming whether the area needs a federal Major Disaster Declaration.
John Ward carts flooded contents of his Hermitage Avenue home to a city-provided trash container in Ellendale on Friday, July 29, 2022. Thursday afternoon storms filled residents' streets and basements with water from the River des Peres for the second time this week. "If they'd come with a good buyout offer, I'm gone," said Ward, a 29 resident of Ellendale. Photo by Robert Cohen, rcohen@post-dispatch.com
"This year I quit paying my flood insurance. I had been pay $2,500 a year since 2008," said Timothy Grotrian, who cleans out his flooded basement on Friday, July 29, 2022, at his home along the 1200 block of Waldron Avenue in University City. Grotrian said his basement took in more than 5 feet of water during the first flash flooding on Tuesday and more than 2 feet of water after Thursday's rain.
"These tires used to be in the garage," said Anthony Saddler, who cleared items from his flooded basement on Friday, July 29, 2022, on Wilson Avenue in University City. Saddler said his home has been condemned since Tuesday evening.
"I am just digging through a lifetime of memories.... water always wins," said Ty Treutelaar, who clears out items in his flooded basement on Friday, July 29, 2022, along the 1100 block of Birch Lane in University City.
Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device.