# Flooded basement cleanup and crawlspaces in the Paseo > Flooded crawlspaces, cellars and below-grade rooms in the Paseo: storm runoff into pier-and-beam houses, wet clay soil and drying the floor above. URL: https://waterdamageoklahomacity.com/flooded-basement-cleanup-paseo/ Section: Home > Service areas > Paseo > Flooded Crawlspaces and Cellars in the Paseo Last updated: 2026-10-31 Disclosure: Water Damage Oklahoma City is a call-in referral service. Your call is connected to an independent, licensed local contractor who speaks with you on that call; we do not perform the work ourselves. Few Paseo houses have full basements. Most sit on piers over a shallow crawlspace, and a handful have a small cellar or a below-grade room. After a heavy spring storm, water runs off yards and stucco walls into those spaces and sits there in the clay. The floor above stays damp, and musty air rises into the house. Our [flooded basement cleanup](https://waterdamageoklahomacity.com/services/flooded-basement-cleanup/) page covers below-grade flooding in general. If you call, you will be connected with an independent local contractor, who can go through what is under your house during that call. ## Key facts - Floodwater is treated as contaminated because it can carry sewage, chemicals and debris [1]. - Clay soil under central Oklahoma homes swells when it gets wet and can stay saturated for days [9]. - Flood insurance, not a standard homeowners policy, is generally what covers damage from rising surface water [2]. ## What lies under a Paseo house The Paseo's bungalows, Craftsman houses and stucco cottages were mostly built on pier-and-beam foundations [7]. Under the floor is a crawlspace a couple of feet deep, with soil or a vapor barrier on the ground, wood joists overhead and supply and drain lines running between them. Some homes have small cellars or below-grade utility rooms added over the years. These spaces were not built to stay dry in every storm. Foundation vents, gaps around pipes and low spots in the yard all let water in. Once it is there, the clay soil holds it, and the space stays humid long after the rain stops. ## Spring storms and runoff into Paseo crawlspaces The National Weather Service in Norman issues flash flood warnings for the metro when heavy rain falls quickly [3]. On Paseo streets, runoff from flat roofs and scuppers often lands right next to the foundation. Gutters on older cottages may be undersized or clogged with leaves from mature trees. When the soil around the house is already wet, more water flows into the crawlspace through vents and low points. Standing water there can rise to touch ductwork, insulation and the bottoms of joists. ## Pumping out a flooded Paseo crawlspace A common order of work. 1. **Turn off power to anything under the house:** Ducts, wiring and equipment may sit in the water. 2. **Pump standing water from the crawlspace:** Portable pumps clear water from the low spots. 3. **Remove wet insulation, debris and torn vapor barrier:** EPA advises discarding porous items that cannot be dried and cleaned [1]. 4. **Dry the joists and subfloor with dehumidifiers:** Readings show when the wood is back to normal. ## A damp floor and musty smell above Water under the house affects the rooms above. Original wood floors may cup or gap, and plaster walls near the floor may stain. A musty, earthy smell often rises through gaps in old floors and around registers. Drying the crawlspace usually fixes the smell, but floors may need time to settle. Avoid sanding or refinishing until the wood has fully dried. In homes built before 1978, painted trim and walls may contain lead, so any sanding should follow lead-safe practices [10]. ## Cellars and below-grade rooms in Paseo homes Where a cellar or below-grade room exists, it often has concrete or brick walls and a floor drain. Water comes in through cracks, the drain or a stairwell door. It collects quickly and carries dirt and possibly sewage from overloaded lines, so it is treated as contaminated [1]. Stored items such as boxes, fabric and paper usually cannot be saved after floodwater reaches them. Wood shelving may be cleaned or replaced. Concrete and brick can be cleaned and dried. The [Paseo](https://waterdamageoklahomacity.com/areas/paseo/) page explains more about local foundations. ## Details to share when calling about water under a Paseo house These help the crew plan the visit. - **How you reach the crawlspace:** Exterior hatch, interior access or a cellar stair. - **Whether ducts or equipment sit under the floor:** These may need cleaning or replacing. - **Roughly how much water sits under the floor:** A rough guess is fine. - **Whether rain or plumbing caused it:** It changes cleanup and coverage. ## Insurance for flooding under the floor Rising surface water is generally covered only by flood insurance [2]. A burst pipe under the house is often handled by a homeowners policy if it was sudden. Long-term seepage is usually excluded. Write down the date of the storm and take photos of the crawlspace before work starts. Renters in Paseo homes should report water to the owner, who is generally responsible for the building. The tenant's renters policy covers their belongings if they carry one. The Oklahoma Insurance Department offers consumer guidance [5]. ## Mold under Paseo floors EPA recommends drying within 24 to 48 hours to reduce mold [4]. Crawlspaces are hard to dry quickly, so mold on joists and subfloor is common after storms. Small amounts on wood can often be cleaned. Heavier growth may require removing the affected material once the area is contained. Our [mold risk guide](https://waterdamageoklahomacity.com/guides/mold-risk-after-water-damage/) lists warning signs. Watch for odor that returns after rain, which usually means water is still getting in. ## Keeping storm water out from under the house Extend downspouts several feet from the foundation and make sure roof scuppers do not dump water next to the crawlspace. Regrade low spots so the soil slopes away. A fresh vapor barrier on the crawlspace floor limits moisture rising from the clay. Exterior changes visible from the street, such as new gutters or grading near the front, may need historic review in the Paseo district [8]. Our [structural drying](https://waterdamageoklahomacity.com/services/structural-drying/) page explains how a crew dries a crawlspace after a leak. ## Flooded Crawlspaces and Cellars in the Paseo: questions ### Does my Paseo cottage have a basement? Most do not. They usually sit on a crawlspace, and a few have a small cellar or below-grade room. ### Why does my house smell musty after it rains? Water is probably collecting under the floor. Clay soil holds it, and the humid air rises into the rooms above. ### Can I pump the crawlspace myself? If it is safe and power is off, you can start. The crew still needs to remove wet insulation and dry the wood. ## Sources 1. [U.S. EPA: Flood cleanup to protect indoor air quality](https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/flood-cleanup-protect-indoor-air-quality) 2. [FEMA FloodSmart: National Flood Insurance Program](https://www.floodsmart.gov/) 3. [National Weather Service, Norman forecast office](https://www.weather.gov/oun/) 4. [U.S. EPA: A brief guide to mold, moisture and your home](https://www.epa.gov/mold/brief-guide-mold-moisture-and-your-home) 5. [Oklahoma Insurance Department](https://www.oid.ok.gov/) 6. [Ready.gov: Floods](https://www.ready.gov/floods) 7. [Wikipedia: Paseo Arts District](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paseo_Arts_District) 8. [A Better Life OKC: Historic neighborhoods and preservation districts](https://www.abetterlifeokc.com/historic-neighborhoods) 9. [Wikipedia: Expansive clay](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expansive_clay) 10. [U.S. EPA: Lead renovation, repair and painting program](https://www.epa.gov/lead/lead-renovation-repair-and-painting-program-rules) ## Talk to someone Call (405) 957-0358 (+14059570358). Your call connects to an independent local contractor who speaks with you on that call.