Most of the year East County is dry, then a few winter storms deliver much of the rain at once. Hillside lots shed water fast, the San Diego River and Los Coches Creek rise, and runoff finds the low doorway, the garage slab or the gap under a slider.
Why runoff counts as contaminated
Water that crossed yards, streets and fields carries soil, fertilizer, animal waste and fuel. The IICRC standard treats it as Category 3, so the crew removes porous materials it touched rather than drying them.
- Carpet and pad pulled and discarded
- Drywall cut at least 2 feet above the water mark
- Mud shoveled out and the floor cleaned before drying
- Surfaces treated with an EPA-registered antimicrobial
Where the water comes in
Lots at the base of a slope or below a long driveway take the most water, and so do homes near the river bottom and the creeks. Flat ground with no fall away from the walls lets water sit against the slab edge.
The Ready.gov flood page covers safety during the storm, and the FEMA flood maps shows mapped flood zones.
Drying after a storm
Indoor humidity climbs during a rainy stretch, so the drying team leans on LGR or desiccant dehumidifiers and keeps doors closed. The storm runoff risk check helps plan before the next storm, and sewage cleanup explains the same Category 3 steps for backups.