Quick answer
For water damage in Candler-McAfee, GA, shut off your main valve first. If DeKalb County sends your water bill and the leak is at the meter or the sewer main, call DeKalb Watershed's 24-hour line at 770-270-6243. Then call a water damage restoration company; drying should start within 24 to 48 hours, before mold sets in.
Do this first
After-hours water lines.
- Shut off the water. Close your main valve; in most of these homes it is near the meter at the street or where the line enters the house. If the leak is at the meter, in the street, or sewage is coming up from the county main, DeKalb County Watershed Management takes water main breaks and sewer emergencies around the clock at 770-270-6243.
- Make it safe and document it. Cut power to wet rooms from a dry spot, photograph the damage, then report the claim.
- Start drying within 24 to 48 hours. Crawlspaces, basements, and slab homes with carpet hold moisture longer than they look.
FEMA's flood map puts about 6% of the land inside Candler-McAfee in the high-risk flood zone, mostly along Doolittle Creek, Shoal Creek, and Cobbs Creek. The map panels for this area took effect between 2007 and 2013. Check your own address on FEMA's Flood Map Service Center. Never drive or walk through moving water, and treat floodwater as contaminated.
What to know about water damage in Candler-McAfee
84%
Share of homes in Candler-McAfee built before 1980. The median home went up in 1963, and about 35% were built in the 1950s. Where original galvanized supply pipe or cast-iron drain line is still in place, it corrodes from the inside and tends to fail at the joints.
Between I-20 and I-285
Candler-McAfee sits about 10 miles east of downtown Atlanta and south of Decatur. I-20 runs along its south side and I-285 to the east, with East Lake Golf Club on its northern edge, Belvedere Park to the north, and Panthersville to the south.
Source: Wikipedia
169 damaged homes
After the September 2009 floods, 232 homeowners in ZIP 30032 registered for FEMA aid. Inspectors found damage at 169 homes, totaling about $122,253. Hurricane Ivan in September 2004 added 32 more. Owners who did not apply are not counted.
159 flood insurance claims
Since 1978, the National Flood Insurance Program has recorded 159 flood claims on buildings in ZIP 30032. The most came in 2009, with 15, from the September 2009 floods. Of those, 55 were on buildings outside FEMA's high-risk zone. Buildings without flood insurance are not counted.
Source: FEMA NFIP claims data (OpenFEMA)
Check your ZIP
How often does DeKalb County get flash flood warnings?
The National Weather Service issued 75 flash flood warnings that included DeKalb County from 2016 through November 11, 2026, peaking at 13 in 2026. Each one means flooding is happening or about to happen.
Source: our count from the National Weather Service warning archive, Iowa Environmental Mesonet.
| Year | Warnings |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 5 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 5 |
| 2020 | 10 |
| 2021 | 7 |
| 2022 | 6 |
| 2023 | 8 |
| 2024 | 12 |
| 2025 | 5 |
| 2026 | 13 |
Cost and insurance in Candler-McAfee
How much does water damage restoration cost in Candler-McAfee?
Most jobs run $450 to $16,000 (Angi). Creek and street flooding needs a separate flood policy. Older homes on crawlspaces take longer.
Other DeKalb County numbers
Septic backup
The DeKalb County Environmental Health office handles septic permits and failing systems: 404-508-7900. For a public health emergency after hours, the state line is 1-866-782-4584.
Emergency management
DeKalb County EMA posts storm and flood updates and coordinates shelters and road closures: 770-270-0413. Call 911 for anyone in danger.
Source: DeKalb County
Power outage
More than one utility serves DeKalb County, so call the one on your power bill. It depends on your address.
Sources: each utility's outage page; county list from Georgia 811
Water removal and restoration in Candler-McAfee
The company that answers handles leaks from aging supply lines and cast-iron drains, water heater failures, and storm runoff into crawlspaces, plus burst pipes, appliance leaks, drying, and septic backups.
Candler-McAfee questions
Who do I call about a leak at the meter or sewage from the main?
DeKalb County Watershed Management. Its 24-hour emergency line, 770-270-6243, takes water main breaks and sewage system emergencies. Billing questions go to customer service at 404-378-4475. A leak on your side of the meter, or a clog in your own sewer line, is the owner's to fix.
Candler-McAfee is unincorporated. Who handles roads and storm drains?
DeKalb County. Report a blocked storm drain or water running from a drain in dry weather to DeKalb Watershed at 770-270-6243. For a flooded road, stay out of the water and call 911 if anyone is in danger.
Which ZIP codes does this page cover?
ZIP 30032, including Candler-McAfee and nearby parts of the county. For Belvedere Park, see the Belvedere Park page.
Related guides
Other Georgia towns- Burst pipe, not frozen
- Water mitigation vs. restoration
- Mold after water damage
- Mold remediation cost
- Does homeowners insurance cover water damage?
- How long water damage takes to dry
- Water in the crawl space
Local phone numbers checked November 2026: