Quick answer
For water damage in Shallowater, TX, shut off your main valve first, or turn off the well pump breaker if you are on a private well. After hours, call Shallowater Police at 806-696-4225 for a water or sewer emergency. 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. On weekdays call City Hall for a water or sewer service call. Evenings and weekends, call the police line, and the officer on duty will reach the right city crew.
- 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. Lubbock averages about 84 nights a year at or below 32°F, and the last freeze often comes after April 4. Split pipes in outside walls are the usual cause, so ask for the wall to be opened and dried.
Lubbock County had 13 flash flood warnings in 2026 so far, the most in a decade. Low streets fill fast in a South Plains downpour, so stay out of standing water on roads.
What to know about water damage in Shallowater
1913
The year Shallowater held a celebration for its founding and the railroad's completion. The townsite company picked the name Shallowater to attract settlers.
Source: Handbook of Texas, Shallowater
Ripley first
The Ripley Townsite Company formed on May 22, 1909, named for a Santa Fe official. The station was called Pacita from 1920 to 1922, and the town incorporated in 1955.
Source: Handbook of Texas, Shallowater
City services
Shallowater provides water, sewer, and trash collection, plus police, fire, and ambulance service, from City Hall at 801 Avenue G.
Source: City of Shallowater
Homes in Shallowater
About 77% are owner-occupied, 21% were built since 2010, and the median value is about $210,000.
3 damaged homes
After the February 2021 winter storm, 16 homeowners in ZIP 79363 registered for FEMA aid. Inspectors found damage at 3 homes, totaling about $10,876. Hurricane Alex in 2010 added 4 more. Owners who did not apply are not counted.
Freezes and rain
The NOAA weather station at Lubbock, about 13.8 miles away, averages 84.1 nights a year at or below 32°F and 14.6 at or below 20°F. In half of years the first freeze comes by November 2 and the last one after April 4. Pipes in outside walls, attics, and pier-and-beam crawlspaces are the first to split. It also averages 18.33 inches of rain a year, with about 4.0 days of an inch or more.
Check your ZIP
How often does Lubbock County get flash flood warnings?
The National Weather Service issued 40 flash flood warnings that included Lubbock County from 2016 through November 12, 2026, peaking at 13 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 | 3 |
| 2017 | 0 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 4 |
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 4 |
| 2024 | 5 |
| 2025 | 6 |
| 2026 | 13 |
Cost and insurance in Shallowater
How much does water damage restoration cost in Shallowater?
Most jobs run $450 to $16,000 (Angi). Rain water that flows in from outside is a flood claim. Dry West Texas air helps, but wall cavities still need fans and readings.
Water removal and restoration in Shallowater
The company that answers handles burst pipes in long freezes, roof leaks after hail, sewer backups, and storm water from playa flooding, plus burst pipes, appliance leaks, drying, and septic backups.
Shallowater questions
Who do I call about a water or sewer problem in Shallowater after hours?
The Shallowater Police Department at 806-696-4225. If the officer is on patrol, the Lubbock County Sheriff's Office answers and contacts the officer, who calls out city staff.
How cold does Shallowater get?
The NOAA station at Lubbock averages about 84 nights a year at or below 32°F and about 15 at or below 20°F.
How did Shallowater get its name?
The townsite company chose it to attract settlers, and the town celebrated its founding and the railroad's completion on June 26, 1913.
Which ZIP codes does this page cover?
ZIP 79363, Shallowater.
Related guides
Other Texas towns- Water mitigation vs. restoration
- 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: