Most homes here have a storm story. This guide covers what to do ahead of a named storm, what comes first afterward, and where a house cleaner fits in once it is safe.
Storms shape housing in this region more than any other single force. Parts of the metro sit at or below sea level, and residents can name a storm from memory the way people elsewhere recall a snowstorm.
This is a practical guide for the inside of a home. TotalCare Cleaning does not do storm restoration, flood work or debris clearing, so the part it can help with comes last. Everything before that belongs to officials, insurers and contractors, and this guide keeps that order clear.
The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30, peaking around September 10. Hurricane Katrina in 2005 flooded about 80 percent of New Orleans after levee and floodwall breaches, and its surge pushed several feet of water into north shore communities from Slidell to Mandeville, with high water marks of 12 to 16 feet.
Hurricane Ida in August 2021 took out all power in Jefferson Parish, helped by the collapse of a large transmission tower along the Mississippi River, and produced a 96 knot gust in Mandeville. Rain alone can do it too: the May 1995 flood dropped upwards of 20 inches on Metairie in twelve hours and also flooded Kenner, Harahan and River Ridge.
The City of Kenner points out that most of the parish and city sits at or below sea level, so rain that falls there must be pumped out.
Evacuation decisions come from local officials, so follow them first. If you have time to prepare the home, these tasks help when you return.
Safety. Stay out if there is structural, roof or electrical damage. If you smell gas, leave and call for help.
Records. Photograph everything before you move it, and call your insurer. Kenner residents should note that the city ranks in the top 10 Louisiana communities for flood policies according to FEMA, and residents get a 20 percent flood policy discount through the city's standing in FEMA's community program.
Repairs and dry-out. Wet drywall, insulation and flooring are contractor work. In this humidity, with dew points near 74 degrees at the height of summer, drying rarely happens by itself.
Then cleaning. When repairs are done and the home is dry, a One-Time Deep Clean can remove what the contractors left behind.
Once a home is dry and safe, a cleaner can take on drywall dust, grit in window tracks, film on cabinet fronts and dust on fans and vents. If the refrigerator spent days without power and you want the inside cleaned, that is part of a One-Time Moving Clean, as is the inside of the oven and cabinets.
A cleaner cannot deal with floodwater, sewage, mold growth, wet walls or a pile of ruined furniture. Hire a restoration contractor for those. Be wary of anyone who offers to do it all cheaply door to door after a storm, and report a real problem to the Attorney General's Consumer Protection section at 1-800-351-4889.
Rivers add their own concern north of the lake. Covington sits on the Bogue Falaya and Tchefuncte rivers, and the city publishes real-time gauges for both on its flood page. Slidell's National Weather Service office recorded 11.63 inches of rain from Katrina alone. In Mandeville, FEMA rules led owners to elevate historic homes after Katrina, so stairs and raised entries are part of what a visit will contend with.
The questions Metairie homeowners ask most often about this topic, answered plainly.
TotalCare Cleaning will service Metairie 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.
