Quick answer
For water damage in Gay, GA, shut off your main valve first, or turn off the well pump breaker if you are on a private well. If the Town of Gay bills you and the leak is at the meter or in the road, call City Hall at 706-538-6097. 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. The Town of Gay supplies water inside the town limits and along its lines outside them. City Hall at 706-538-6097 is open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9 to 4.
- 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 less than 1% of the land inside Gay in the high-risk flood zone. The map panels for this area took effect in 2012. 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 Gay
1938
The median year built for homes inside Gay, and 57% went up before 1960. Old supply lines, cast iron drains, and pier foundations let a leak spread under the floor before anyone sees it.
A water system due for work
Gay's water system has not been upgraded since 2004. In its 2025 request to the state's drinking water loan fund, the town asked for $700,000 to clean and paint its tank, replace meters, and replace the copper feed lines and shutoff valves.
Source: Georgia Environmental Finance Authority, 2025 intended use plan
Cotton Pickin' Fair
W. F. Gay became the first postmaster in 1886, and the town was incorporated in 1906. Since 1972 the Gay family's old cotton gin and farm buildings have hosted the Cotton Pickin' Fair each May and October, and scenes for Lawless were filmed there in 2011.
Source: Meriwether County, Gay
Flint River
The Flint River below Big Branch near Molena, about 6 miles from Gay, starts minor flooding at 28 feet. It crested at 32.22 feet on December 26, 2015.
Source: National Water Prediction Service, Flint River below Big Branch near Molena
6 damaged homes
After the January 2023 tornadoes, 33 homeowners in ZIP 30218 registered for FEMA aid. Inspectors found damage at 6 homes, totaling about $23,759. Owners who did not apply are not counted.
Check your ZIP
Flash flood warnings in Meriwether County
The National Weather Service issued 24 flash flood warnings that included Meriwether County from 2016 through November 11, 2026. The year-by-year count is on the Lone Oak page.
Cost and insurance in Gay
How much does water damage restoration cost in Gay?
Most jobs run $450 to $16,000 (Angi). River and creek flooding needs a separate flood policy. Crawlspaces, pier foundations, and mobile home subfloors take longer.
Water removal and restoration in Gay
The company that answers handles leaks in old farmhouses, water under mobile homes, failed well lines, and septic backups, plus burst pipes, appliance leaks, drying, and septic backups.
Gay questions
Who do I call about a leak at the meter or in the road?
If the Town of Gay bills you, call City Hall at 706-538-6097. It is open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, so for a running leak on another day, close your main valve and leave a message. On a private well, turn off the pump breaker and call a plumber.
Does Gay flood?
Less than 1% of the town is in FEMA's high-risk flood zone. Water in homes here more often comes from old pipes, water heaters, and runoff under raised floors.
Which ZIP codes does this page cover?
ZIP 30218, including Gay and nearby parts of the county.
Related guides
Other Georgia towns- Water mitigation vs. restoration
- Sewage backup: what to do first
- 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: