Water Damage Restoration in Hammond, IN

First Steps for Water in a Home in Hammond

• Burst pipe: shut the main water valve, then open the lowest faucet to drain the lines (burst pipe steps).
• Stay clear of wet outlets and cords.
• Photograph the damage, then call your insurer.

How Often Hammond Floods

Jasper, Lake, Newton and Porter counties (Indiana part of the metro) logged flooding on 33 days from 2016 to 2025 (64 NOAA reports), July most often.

At the Lansing gauge, June is the wettest month with 4.8 inches on average.

Freezing Nights in Hammond

Hammond averages 126 nights a year at or below 32°F (Park Forest station). About 53 of them drop to 20°F or colder. NOAA counted 24 winter storm, ice or extreme cold days in Jasper, Lake, Newton and Porter counties (Indiana part of the metro) from 2016 to 2025.

Unheated crawl spaces, attics and garages freeze first (Red Cross); keep the heat at 55°F or more (IBHS).

Storms and Disasters in Hammond

Jasper, Lake, Newton and Porter counties (Indiana part of the metro) were named in 5 federal weather or fire declarations since 2016 (OpenFEMA).

Notable NOAA storm reports

• June 11, 2026: Tornado, EF3 (Lake County)A strong long track tornado with estimated peak winds of 165 mph touched down near the intersection of Grand Boulevard and Clay Street just east of Interstate 65 in rural Lake County.
• August 18, 2025: Flash flood (Lake County)Several instances of flash flooding took place around Gary, Hammond, Whiting, and East Chicago. A sewer storage facility exceeded capacity and overflowed. Multiple basements were flooded in Hammond.
• September 17, 2023: Flash flood (Lake County)Heavy rain fell across parts of far northwest Lake County causing significant flooding and flash flooding. In Hammond, numerous streets were flooded with cars stranded in the flood waters.
• May 7, 2023: Hail, 1.75 inch hail (Newton County)A report out of Lake Village mentioned hail approximately 1.75 inches in diameter breaking car windshields.
• February 28, 2017: Thunderstorm wind, 96 mph gust (Lake County)A wind gust to 95 mph was measured two miles west of East Chicago.

Federal disaster declarations

• August 25, 2026: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And FloodingFlood, FEMA DR-4933
• August 15, 2026: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And FloodingFlood, FEMA EM-3651
• January 24, 2026: Severe Winter StormWinter Storm, FEMA EM-3641
• April 15, 2023: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And TornadoesSevere Storm, FEMA DR-4704
• May 4, 2018: Severe Storms And FloodingFlood, FEMA DR-4363

Hammond Housing at a Glance

Census figures for the city of Hammond (American Community Survey, 2020 to 2024): 32,877 housing units, a median build year of 1952, 89% built before 1980, 78% before 1970, 62% owner occupied.

Indiana Insurance Help for Water Claims

Claim problems in Indiana go to the Indiana Department of Insurance.

Flood damage needs a separate flood policy, which typically starts 30 days after purchase (FloodSmart). Look up Hammond flood zones on FEMA's flood maps.

Restoration Cost Guide for Hammond

Sources: Bob Vila, May 2023; III, 2019 to 2023.

Areas Served Around Hammond

The same 24/7 line covers the Hammond metro area, including:

• Hammond
• Gary
• Portage
• Merrillville
• Crown Point
• Valparaiso
• Schererville
• Hobart
• East Chicago
• St. John
• Munster
• Highland

Other Indiana city guides

• Indianapolis water damage restoration

Water damage restoration in all cities

Questions

When is the first freeze in Hammond?

The median first night at or below 32°F is October 20 and the median last is April 23 at the Park Forest station (NOAA normals, 1991 to 2020).

How fast does mold start?

Dry wet materials within 24 to 48 hours (EPA).