Quick answer
For water damage in Oakwood, TX, shut off your main valve first, or turn off the well pump breaker if you are on a private well. For a leak at the meter or a sewer backup, call Oakwood City Hall at 903-545-2131. 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 your main valve, or turn off the well pump breaker if you are on a private well. The City of Oakwood runs water and sewer in town; call City Hall at 903-545-2131 for a leak at the meter or a backup in the street line.
- 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. Older pier-and-beam houses stay damp underneath longer than the rooms above, so ask for moisture readings in the crawlspace.
Low roads toward the Trinity River bottoms can flood after a hard rain. Never drive through water over a road. River and creek floodwater can carry sewage and septic runoff, so treat it as contaminated.
What to know about water damage in Oakwood
53%
Share of homes in Oakwood built before 1960. The median home here dates to 1957, so many supply lines and drains are decades old.
Moved for the mud
The City of Oakwood says the town was founded in 1870 three miles from the Trinity River, and the river's frequent overflow left that first site too muddy. In 1878 the New York and Texas Land Co. moved the town to sandier ground.
Source: City of Oakwood history
Water and sewer since 1928
Oakwood had a lighting system by 1912 and a water and sewage system by 1928. The town burned three times, in 1891, 1908, and 1917, and was rebuilt each time.
Source: City of Oakwood history
Cotton town peak
Oakwood reached 542 people by 1904 and peaked at about 1,100 in 1925, when it had three cotton gins. The boll weevil and the Great Depression began its decline in the early 1930s.
Source: Handbook of Texas, Oakwood
25 damaged homes
After the April to June 2024 storms and flooding, 42 homeowners in ZIP 75855 registered for FEMA aid. Inspectors found damage at 25 homes, totaling about $66,646. The February 2021 winter storm added 14 more. Owners who did not apply are not counted.
Freezes and rain
The NOAA weather station at Palestine, about 17 miles away, averages 30 nights a year at or below 32°F and 2 at or below 20°F. In half of years the first freeze comes by November 19 and the last one after March 12. Pipes in outside walls, attics, and pier-and-beam crawlspaces are the first to split. It also averages 44 inches of rain a year, with about 14 days of an inch or more.
Check your ZIP
How often does Leon County get flash flood warnings?
The National Weather Service issued 13 flash flood warnings that included Leon County from 2016 through November 12, 2026, peaking at 6 in 2024. 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 | 0 |
| 2019 | 0 |
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 0 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 6 |
| 2025 | 1 |
| 2026 | 3 |
Cost and insurance in Oakwood
How much does water damage restoration cost in Oakwood?
Most jobs run $450 to $16,000 (Angi). Trinity River and creek flooding needs a separate flood policy. Pier-and-beam houses and older plaster take longer.
Water removal and restoration in Oakwood
The company that answers handles burst pipes in older houses, crawlspace water, sewer backups in town, and septic problems on county roads, plus burst pipes, appliance leaks, drying, and septic backups.
Oakwood questions
Who do I call about a leak at the meter?
Call Oakwood City Hall at 903-545-2131. The city runs both water and sewer. For a leak inside your property line, close your main valve and call a plumber.
Who handles a failing septic tank in Leon County?
Leon County requires septic permits. Its OSSF designated representative can be reached at 903-322-3101. A restoration company handles the cleanup inside the house.
Where is Oakwood?
On State Highway 79, three miles west of the Trinity River, in the northeastern corner of Leon County.
What are homes like in Oakwood?
Older and modest. About 69% of homes are owner-occupied, the median value is about $111,500, and 13% are mobile homes. More than half were built before 1960.
Which ZIP codes does this page cover?
ZIP 75855, including Oakwood and nearby parts of Leon County.
Related guides
Other Texas towns- Burst pipe, not frozen
- Sewage backup: what to do first
- 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: