Quick answer
For water damage in Chilhowee, MO, shut off your main valve first, or turn off the well pump breaker if you are on a private well. For a meter or main break, call the city at 660-678-3738. Then call a water damage restoration company; drying should start within 24 to 48 hours. Missouri insurers must acknowledge your claim within 10 working days.
Do this first
Local water and sewer lines.
Both numbers come from the Missouri State Auditor's list of local governments.
- Shut off the water. Turn off the valve where water comes into the house. Chilhowee distributes its own water; call the city at 660-678-3738 for a break at the meter or main.
- 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. City sewer runs to a three-cell lagoon south of town. If a floor drain overflows during heavy rain, the sewer may be full; call the city before running more water.
Johnson County has had 8 flash flood warnings so far in 2026, the most since 9 in 2019. Water that ponds against old brick foundations downtown can wick into walls for days.
What to know about water damage in Chilhowee
21
Historic buildings in the Chilhowee Historic District downtown, most built from 1904 to 1910. The nomination notes water damage inside at least one building.
Source: National Register nomination, Chilhowee Historic District
Water from a rural district
Chilhowee buys its water from Johnson County PWSD 2 and serves about 382 people.
A three-cell lagoon
City sewage goes to a three-cell lagoon designed for 60,000 gallons a day and 600 people, about 39,000 gallons a day in actual use.
Source: Missouri DNR permit MO-0096091
2 damaged homes
After the June to August 2008 storms and floods, 2 homeowners in ZIP 64733 registered for FEMA aid. Inspectors found damage at 2 homes, totaling about $16,338. Owners who did not apply are not counted.
Named for the Smoky Mountains
A.M. Perry named the town Chilhowee when he surveyed it in 1858, after the Cherokee name for the Smoky Mountains. A new town site was laid out in 1895.
Source: State Historical Society of Missouri, Johnson County place names
Homes in Chilhowee
The median home dates to 1966 and about 47% were built before 1960. About 70% are owner-occupied.
Freezes and rain
The NOAA weather station at Clinton, about 13.4 miles away, averages 116.6 nights a year at or below 32°F and 44.9 at or below 20°F. In half of years the first freeze comes by October 21 and the last one after April 17. Pipes in outside walls, unheated basements, and crawlspaces are the first to split. It also averages 43.33 inches of rain a year, with about 12.7 days of an inch or more.
Check your ZIP
How often does Johnson County get flash flood warnings?
The National Weather Service issued 46 flash flood warnings that included Johnson County from 2016 through November 12, 2026, peaking at 9 in 2019. 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 | 4 |
| 2017 | 5 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 9 |
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2021 | 4 |
| 2022 | 3 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 5 |
| 2025 | 3 |
| 2026 | 8 |
Cost and insurance in Chilhowee
How much does water damage restoration cost in Chilhowee?
Most jobs run $450 to $16,000 (Angi). If Norris Creek or heavy rain sends water in from outside, that is a flood claim, not a homeowners claim. Old brick and plaster in downtown buildings dry slowly and need moisture readings.
Water removal and restoration in Chilhowee
The company that answers handles storm leaks in older brick buildings, burst pipes, water heater failures, sewer backups, and creek water, plus burst pipes, appliance leaks, drying, and septic backups.
Chilhowee questions
Who supplies water in Chilhowee?
The city distributes water it buys from Johnson County PWSD 2. Call the city at 660-678-3738.
What was Chilhowee called before?
Simpson's Store, after James Simpson, who opened a store here in 1855 or 1856.
Did FEMA find flood damage in Chilhowee?
Yes. After the 2008 floods inspectors found damage at 2 homes in ZIP 64733.
How many buildings are in the Chilhowee Historic District?
21 contributing buildings, built from about 1904 to 1930.
What is the oldest building in the historic district?
The former Bobbs and Murphy real estate office at 103 South Main Street, built in 1904.
How big is the Chilhowee sewer lagoon?
It is designed for 60,000 gallons a day and runs at about 39,000.