Columbia is inland, but the 2015 flood and Hurricane Helene both hit hard. Here is how to prepare a home, deal with the ordinary mess and know when to call a specialist.
Being two hours from the coast does not take Columbia out of the storm picture. The October 2015 flood is still spoken of in the city, and the canal that supplies part of its water is still being repaired because of it. Hurricane Helene in 2024 reached the Midlands with force as well.
This guide covers the everyday mess that comes with weather here, and it marks a firm line: cleaners deal with grit and film, while water damage, mold and debris belong to other trades.
The National Weather Service says the storm of October 1 to 5, 2015 brought more than 20 inches of rain to parts of South Carolina, and nine of the 19 deaths were in Richland County, which includes Columbia. State officials reported more than 1,500 water rescues and significant urban flooding in the metro area. Columbia Water says repairs to the Columbia Canal stem from that flood, and a new Congaree River intake for the Canal plant began construction in late 2025.
Hurricane Helene followed in September 2024. The National Hurricane Center says it destroyed 21 structures and caused major damage to 112 more in Lexington and Richland Counties, from a mix of wind and freshwater flooding. The airport recorded a 58 knot gust on September 27, and the state saw an estimated 1.59 million outages between September 26 and 28.
Everyday rain is significant too. Normal annual precipitation is 45.24 inches, with July wettest at 5.35.
The best time to prepare is on a dull weekday in spring, well before anything is on the map. Most post-storm mess comes in through a door or starts in a kitchen without power. These small jobs pay off when something does arrive.
With about 1.59 million outages estimated across the state during Helene, many people here know this routine. When power returns, go through the refrigerator and freezer first, throw out what has spoiled, then wash the shelves and let them air before restocking. Mop any spills and take care of any smell at the source.
Summer outages are harder, with dew points near 70 degrees in July and August. Open up the house when the outside air is cooler, then close it and run the air conditioning as soon as you can. Check under sinks and in closets on outside walls for any damp spots.
Start by looking for what cleaning cannot fix: wet ceilings, damp carpet, a musty smell or a soft spot on a wall. If you find one, deal with the cause first and bring in a roofer or a restoration company. Standing floodwater can carry contaminants, so keep children and pets out of it until it has been checked.
If the home stayed dry, the job is simple. Sweep porches, shake mats and vacuum entries before wet grit gets ground into carpet. Wipe door tracks and window sills, where wind-driven rain leaves a line of silt. Dry wood floors quickly. Yard debris needs its own plan. Columbia's Solid Waste and Recycling handles yard waste inside city limits, and Lexington does not collect construction materials such as carpet.
When TotalCare Cleaning comes to Columbia, a visit will handle what the weather leaves on finished surfaces: floors, sills, tracks, baseboards and bathrooms. A One-Time Deep Clean makes sense once the home is dry and any repairs are done. It does not include water extraction, drywall work, mold or hauling debris and construction waste.
Waiting for the trades to finish also saves a step, because their dust gets cleaned up in the same visit. A recurring plan can then deal with the steady grit that about 109 rainy days a year bring in.
The questions Columbia homeowners ask most often about this topic, answered plainly.
TotalCare Cleaning will service Columbia and surrounding areas with background-checked cleaners and is insured up to $1 million. Re-clean guarantee: if we missed something, tell us by the end of the next day and we come back to fix it. Beyond Clean. TotalCare.
