Quick answer
For water damage in Dawsonville, GA, shut off your main valve first, or turn off the well pump breaker if you are on a private well. City customers call 706-265-3256 at any hour; Etowah Water customers call 706-265-3395 after hours. 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, or turn off the well pump breaker if you are on a private well. City of Dawsonville customers call 706-265-3256, day or night. Most of the rest of Dawson County is on Etowah Water and Sewer Authority, whose after-hours line is 706-265-3395.
- 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 4% of the land inside Dawsonville in the high-risk flood zone, mostly along Flat Creek, Sweetwater Creek, and Pigeon Creek. The map panels for this area took effect in 2018. 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 Dawsonville
16.2 ft
The record crest of the Etowah River at GA 9 near Dawsonville, on January 7, 1946. The river came close in May 2013 at 15.9 feet and during Hurricane Ivan in September 2004 at 15.78. Minor flooding starts at 13 feet in south Dawson County, and at 16 feet pastures and horse stables flood.
Source: National Water Prediction Service, Etowah River at GA 9 near Dawsonville
From 619 to 3,720
Dawsonville had 619 residents in 2000 and 3,720 in 2020. About 40% of its homes went up in 2010 or later, and 73% are owner-occupied. In newer houses, a failed washing machine hose, ice maker line, or fitting is a common source of a sudden leak.
Sources: Wikipedia, Census Reporter
Two water systems
The City of Dawsonville runs water and sewer inside the city. Etowah Water and Sewer Authority serves Dawson County only, with water and sewer for homes and businesses outside the city.
Sources: City of Dawsonville water, Etowah Water and Sewer Authority
12 damaged homes
After Hurricane Ivan in September 2004, 21 homeowners in ZIP 30534 registered for FEMA aid. Inspectors found damage at 12 homes, totaling about $26,951. Owners who did not apply are not counted.
Freezes and rain
The NOAA weather station near Cumming, about 14 miles away, averages 67 nights a year at or below 32°F and 8 at or below 20°F. In half of years the first freeze comes by November 4 and the last one after April 4, so pipes in crawlspaces and outside walls are exposed for much of the year. It also averages 56 inches of rain a year, with about 18 days of an inch or more; January is the wettest month on average.
Check your ZIP
How often does Dawson County get flash flood warnings?
The National Weather Service issued 19 flash flood warnings that included Dawson County from 2016 through November 11, 2026, peaking at 4 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 | 0 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 3 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2022 | 0 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 3 |
| 2025 | 1 |
| 2026 | 4 |
Cost and insurance in Dawsonville
How much does water damage restoration cost in Dawsonville?
Most jobs run $450 to $16,000 (Angi). River and creek flooding needs a separate flood policy. Basements built into a slope take longer.
Other Dawson County numbers
Septic backup
The Dawson County Environmental Health office handles septic permits and failing systems: 706-265-2930. For a public health emergency after hours, the state line is 1-866-782-4584.
Emergency management
Dawson County EMA posts storm and flood updates and coordinates shelters and road closures: 706-344-3666. Call 911 for anyone in danger.
Source: Dawson County
Power outage
More than one utility serves Dawson County, so call the one on your power bill. It depends on your address.
- Georgia Power: 888-891-0938
- Amicalola EMC: 706-253-0359 (Jasper), 706-276-0359 (Ellijay), 706-864-0359 (Dahlonega)
- Jackson EMC: 800-245-4044
- Sawnee EMC: 770-887-2363
Sources: each utility's outage page; county list from Georgia 811
Water removal and restoration in Dawsonville
The company that answers handles Etowah River and creek water, hillside runoff, and leaks in new subdivision homes, plus burst pipes, appliance leaks, drying, and septic backups.
Dawsonville questions
Am I on city water or Etowah Water?
Check your bill. City of Dawsonville customers call 706-265-3256 at any hour. Etowah Water and Sewer Authority customers call 706-216-8474 from 8 to 4:30, or 706-265-3395 after hours. If you have no bill, you are on a private well.
How high does the Etowah get near Dawsonville?
The gauge at GA 9 starts minor flooding at 13 feet and major flooding at 21 feet. Its top crests were 16.2 feet in January 1946, 16.03 feet in January 1954, and 15.9 feet in May 2013.
Which ZIP codes does this page cover?
ZIP 30534, including Dawsonville and nearby parts of the county.
Related guides
Other Georgia towns- Sewage backup: what to do first
- 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: