Three creeks run through Forest Hills: Richland Creek, Otter Creek and Sugartree Creek. The city sits among steep wooded hills, with bottomland along the tributaries, and a heavy rain can push creek water toward homes. A few simple checks tell an owner where a property stands and what a flood cleanup involves.
Key takeaways
- Richland Creek, Otter Creek and Sugartree Creek are the three water bodies within the city limits.
- In May 2010, Richland Creek crested at 19.99 feet, almost 5 feet above the 1979 flood level of 15.13 feet.
- The FEMA Flood Map Service Center and the state TEMA viewer let owners check whether a property sits in a special flood hazard area.
- Creek water carries mud and bacteria, so soaked porous materials are removed.
- Large homes on one to two acre lots mean large floor areas to extract and dry.
Three creeks, many hills
Forest Hills is mostly steep wooded hills. Fertile bottomland lies along tributaries of Richland Creek and Otter Creek, and the south central part of the city sits in the Otter Creek watershed.
Richland Creek, Otter Creek and Sugartree Creek are the three water bodies within the city limits. The Richland Creek watershed covers about 28 square miles and includes Belle Meade and Forest Hills.
Most homes sit on parcels of 1 to 2 acres, and most are single family houses, so the water that reaches one can spread through a large floor plan.
May 2010 and the 1979 flood
Two dated events show how high Richland Creek has risen.
- 1979: an earlier flood with a Richland Creek crest of 15.13 feet.
- May 2010: Richland Creek crested at 19.99 feet, almost 5 feet above the 1979 level.
- May 1 to 3, 2010: the Middle Tennessee flood killed 18 people in the region, according to the National Weather Service.
What those numbers say
A creek crest nearly five feet above the earlier record shows how quickly water can rise in a wet spell. The numbers describe the creek, not any one house, and they say nothing about which streets flooded.
They are still a useful reminder for owners of homes with lower levels, finished basements or low spots near a creek.
How an owner can check flood status
The city floodplain page explains FEMA flood mapping and the National Flood Insurance Program rules. Those rules include elevating new and substantially improved homes above the base flood level.
Two public tools help an owner see where a property stands.
- The FEMA Flood Map Service Center shows the flood maps for an address.
- The state TEMA viewer shows whether a property sits in a special flood hazard area.
- The city floodplain page explains the rules that apply to building and improving a home.
- The city stormwater program runs under a municipal permit and a Storm Water Management Program ordinance.
Why creek water is treated as contaminated
Richland Creek remains on Tennessee's impaired waterbodies list, mainly from pathogens tied to aging sewer pipes and stormwater runoff.
The city's Restore Richland Creek Initiative works with the Cumberland River Compact and TDEC, and most of the creek's pollution comes from urban stormwater runoff.
That context explains why creek water inside a house is not treated like a plumbing leak. It is flood water, with bacteria and silt.
The crew removes porous materials the water touched, and cleans and disinfects what remains.
Large homes mean large floor areas
Most Forest Hills homes are single family houses on lots of one acre or more, and hundreds of dwellings went up after 1970. That means big rooms, long hallways and large finished spaces.
A flood in a large home means a lot of floor to clear, and a storm and creek flood cleanup in Forest Hills starts with the water that is standing.
- Standing water is pumped out and silt is removed from floors.
- Soaked carpet, pad and insulation are cut out and discarded.
- Drywall that wicked water is cut above the high water mark.
- Floors and framing are cleaned and disinfected.
- Dehumidifiers and air movers dry the rest.
Drying a big house the right way
Structural drying in Forest Hills places equipment according to moisture readings in each room. A large house usually needs several dehumidifiers and many air movers, not one or two.
The crew returns to read the walls and floors each day. When the readings match the dry standard, the equipment comes out.
Waiting too long invites trouble. Wet materials past the 24 to 48 hour window can begin to support mold, so extraction and drying start as soon as the water is out.
Records that help the claim
Photos of the water mark, a list of damaged rooms and the daily readings all help the insurer follow the loss. A copy of the FEMA map or the TEMA viewer result for the address can go in the same folder.
Water on a wooded, hilly lot
Steep wooded hills shed water quickly. After a long rain, runoff can arrive at the low side of a lot, a walkout door or a window well before the creek itself rises.
Debris from heavy tree cover can clog drains and swales, so water backs toward the house. Clearing leaves and branches from drains before a storm is a simple step that helps.
The Forest Hills water damage restoration page lists every service the crew provides in town, from extraction to commercial work.
- Check that downspouts discharge away from the foundation.
- Clear leaves from drains and window wells.
- Look for water pooled on the low side of the lot.
- Check the lowest door threshold for wet carpet or baseboards.
Before the next storm
The city has posted severe weather notices about high winds and heavy rain in a short time. Owners can use those notices to plan.
- Check the FEMA map and TEMA viewer for the property.
- Know where the main water shut off and the electrical panel are.
- Move valuables off the floor in low rooms.
- Keep photos of belongings and the house as it stands now.
- Keep the number of a restoration crew where the family can find it.