Quick answer
For water damage in Kenedy, TX, shut off your main valve first, or turn off the well pump breaker if you are on a private well. After hours, call Kenedy's emergency line at 830-780-3931. Then call a water damage restoration company; drying should start within 24 to 48 hours. Texas insurers must acknowledge your claim within 15 days.
Do this first
Local water and septic lines.
- Shut off the water. Close the valve at your meter box, then call the city's water and sewer line. After 5 p.m. and on weekends, use the city's after-hours emergency number.
- 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. About 22% of Kenedy's homes were built before 1960, and 60% are rented. Renters should tell the landlord in writing right away, since the owner's policy covers the building.
Karnes County had 7 flash flood warnings in 2021 and 6 in 2023. Creeks and low streets around town can run high fast, so never drive into water over a road.
What to know about water damage in Kenedy
202
Homes in Kenedy where FEMA inspectors found damage after Hurricane Claudette in July 2003, out of 260 registrations, about $328,271 in all.
Kenedy Junction
Kenedy was founded in 1886 on the San Antonio and Aransas Pass Railway, on land bought by Mifflin Kenedy. The post office name was shortened to Kenedy in June 1887.
Source: Handbook of Texas, Kenedy
Hot wells
Hot mineral water found near the depot in 1915 led to the Hot Wells Hotel and Bath House, which ran for almost 25 years. The town incorporated in 1910.
Source: Handbook of Texas, Kenedy
City utilities
The city runs water and sewer from City Hall at 303 West Main Street, open weekdays 8 to 5, and keeps an after-hours emergency line.
Sources: City of Kenedy public works, New to Town
Homes in Kenedy
About 40% are owner-occupied, 9% are mobile homes, and the median value is about $140,300.
Harvey and 2021
Hurricane Harvey brought 117 Kenedy registrations and 59 damaged homes, about $87,605. The February 2021 winter storm added 23 damaged homes.
How often it freezes
The NOAA weather station at Karnes City 2N, about 13 miles away, averages 10.6 nights a year at or below 32°F and rarely drops to 20°F. In half of years the first freeze comes by December 9 and the last one after February 16. Pipes in outside walls, attics, and pier-and-beam crawlspaces are the first to split.
Check your ZIP
How often does Karnes County get flash flood warnings?
The National Weather Service issued 19 flash flood warnings that included Karnes County from 2016 through November 12, 2026, peaking at 7 in 2021. 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 | 0 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 0 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2021 | 7 |
| 2022 | 0 |
| 2023 | 6 |
| 2024 | 0 |
| 2025 | 2 |
| 2026 | 0 |
Cost and insurance in Kenedy
How much does water damage restoration cost in Kenedy?
Most jobs run $450 to $16,000 (Angi). Hurricane rain or creek water that flows in from outside is a flood claim. Humid South Texas air slows drying, so run the AC with the fans.
Water removal and restoration in Kenedy
The company that answers handles hurricane rain and roof leaks, sewer backups, old drain lines, and slab leaks, plus burst pipes, appliance leaks, drying, and septic backups.
Kenedy questions
Who do I call about a water or sewer emergency in Kenedy after hours?
The city's after-hours emergency line, 830-780-3931. During the day, call water and sewer at 830-583-3217.
Has Kenedy flooded before?
Yes. FEMA found damage at 202 Kenedy homes in Karnes County after Hurricane Claudette in 2003 and 59 after Hurricane Harvey in 2017.
How did Kenedy get its name?
From Mifflin Kenedy, the chief backer of the San Antonio and Aransas Pass Railway. The town began as Kenedy Junction.
Which ZIP codes does this page cover?
ZIP 78119, Kenedy.
Related guides
Other Texas towns- Burst pipe, not frozen
- Water mitigation vs. restoration
- Burst pipe repair cost
- Texas insurance claim deadlines, in plain English
- Frozen and burst pipes: what to do
- Does homeowners insurance cover water damage?
- How long water damage takes to dry
Local phone numbers checked November 2026: