For Sherman and Denison residents
Water damage restoration in Sherman, TX begins at the main valve. Close it, photograph the damage, then start drying within 24 to 48 hours. Outside flood water is usually excluded from standard homeowners policies. Requests are welcome from Sherman, Denison and 13 nearby towns.
Which Sherman and Denison addresses do you take requests from?
People needing water damage restoration in Sherman, TX can ask from Sherman (75090, 75092 and PO box 75091), Denison (75020, 75021), Gunter 75058, Pottsboro 75076, Bells 75414, Howe 75459, Tom Bean 75489, Whitewright 75491, Van Alstyne 75495, Collinsville 76233, Gordonville 76245, Sadler 76264, Southmayd 76268, Tioga 76271 and Whitesboro 76273.
That is a wide area. Wikipedia gives Grayson County 979 square miles and 135,543 residents at the 2020 Census. A provider decides how far out it drives, so expect to confirm your address by phone.
South of Grayson County, McKinney, Frisco, Prosper and Celina and Allen and Wylie have their own pages.
How far apart are Sherman and Denison?
About 11 miles. Wikipedia says the two city centers are 11 miles apart, with Sherman slightly east of the county's center and Denison in the northeast, one mile south of the Oklahoma line. Together they anchor the Sherman-Denison area and the Texoma region.
The gap matters when you call for help. A crew based in one town may reach the other easily, while the small towns farther out can mean a longer drive. Tell the provider your ZIP and nearest highway.
US 75 and US 82 serve Sherman, and Denison has US 69, US 75 and State Highway 91. Ask which route a provider would take, because a closed road changes the answer.
Does Sherman flood?
Wikipedia describes no flood history for Sherman, so this page will not invent one. It says water covers just 0.20% of the city's 41.5 square miles. There is no big river or lake inside Sherman itself, so street water usually comes from heavy rain that outruns the drains.
The National Weather Service says DFW Airport averages 46.5 days a year with thunderstorms. That airport is in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, not Grayson County, so treat the figure as a regional guide.
Water that comes in from outside is Category 3 under the IICRC S500 standard, which includes rising water from rivers, streams and surface runoff. The flood zone guide shows how to check your lot, and flood cleanup explains what happens next.
What does Lake Texoma mean for homes in Denison and Pottsboro?
It means a huge reservoir sits close to town. Denison Dam, which forms Lake Texoma on the Red River, is 5 miles north of Denison. Wikipedia says the lake covers 89,000 acres and that its flood control pool reaches 645 feet.
The lake has topped its 640-foot spillway five times, in 1957, 1990, 2007 and twice in 2015. It set a record of 645.72 feet on June 1, 2015.
Those records come from the lake's own article and do not name affected houses. If you live near the shore at Pottsboro or Gordonville, ask the seller or landlord what has happened at your address. See buying a flooded house before you sign.
What did the 1896 tornado teach Sherman about storm leaks?
That wind can do far more than leak a roof. Wikipedia says an F5 tornado struck Sherman on May 15, 1896, on a path 400 yards wide and 28 miles long, killing 73 people and injuring 200. About 50 homes were destroyed.
Most storms are far milder, but the leak pattern is familiar. Lifted shingles, bent flashing and broken windows let rain in, and the stain may show up days later. Triple-I says Texas had 902 major hail events in 2025, the most of any state.
After any hard storm, look at ceilings, attic edges and window frames. The storm roof leak page and the hail guide list what to photograph.
How do Sherman, Denison and Grayson County housing compare?
Denison has more empty homes than Sherman, and the county sits in between. Wikipedia counts 18,084 housing units in Sherman with 7.8% vacant, and 10,981 in Denison with 11.6% vacant. A vacant house can leak for days before anyone sees it.
| Place | 2020 population | Housing units | Vacant |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sherman | 43,645 | 18,084 | 7.8% |
| Denison | 24,479 | 10,981 | 11.6% |
| Grayson County | 135,543 | 58,572 | 10.7% |
In the county, 66.6% of occupied homes are owner-occupied. If you own, the repair decisions and the insurance claim are yours. If you are away often, ask a neighbor to check the house after storms.
Why do older towns like Denison and Whitewright need a closer look?
Because they grew up with the railroads. Wikipedia says Denison, Van Alstyne, Howe, Whitewright, Pottsboro and Tom Bean were founded in the 1870s and 1880s, after the Houston and Texas Central and Katy lines reached the county in 1872. Denison itself dates to 1872.
The age of a town does not tell you the age of a house, and plenty of homes have been rebuilt. Still, ask a plumber to look over supply lines, the water heater and the roof if your home is older than your appliances.
Most North Texas houses sit on concrete slabs and basements are rare, so a leak spreads across the floor. The slab leak guide and the water meter leak test show how to spot one.
How do hard freezes affect pipes in Grayson County?
Attic, garage and exterior-wall pipes are the ones that burst. The American Red Cross says pipes in attics, garages, crawl spaces and kitchen cabinets are most at risk, and advises leaving the heat no lower than 55 F when you are away.
The NWS says DFW Airport sees 29.2 days a year at or below 32 F, on average. Let cold water drip from faucets on exposed pipes during a hard freeze, and learn where the main shutoff is.
The frozen pipe prevention guide has the full checklist, and burst pipe water damage covers what to do when one lets go.
How fast must an insurer answer a water damage claim in Texas?
Fairly quickly. The Texas Department of Insurance says a company has 15 business days to acknowledge a claim. It then has 15 business days after getting what it needs to say whether it will pay, and it can extend that by 45 days if it explains why.
Once an insurer agrees to pay, TDI says it must pay within five business days. The NAIC says water from plumbing or a roof leak is typically covered, while ground water, rain runoff and snow-melt are not.
Keep every receipt and photo. The insurance claims guide has a record-keeping list, and the CLUE report page explains how past claims follow a house.
What are the first steps when water is in the house?
Stop the source, then protect yourself. Ready.gov warns that six inches of moving water can knock a person down, so stay out of flowing water. For a leak inside, the CDC says to dry out the home within 24 to 48 hours.
- Turn off the water at the main valve, or the meter box if the house valve fails.
- Switch off power to wet areas only if the panel is dry and you can reach it.
- Photograph the damage, then move small valuables out of reach.
- Call your insurance company and note the claim number.
- Ask a restoration provider what drying readings they will record.
The emergency page has more, and water removal explains pumping and extraction.
Sources: Sherman, Texas; Denison, Texas; Lake Texoma; Grayson County, Texas (all Wikipedia, citing the 2020 Census); NWS, DFW records and normals; Triple-I, hail; American Red Cross, frozen pipes; TDI, getting your insurance claim paid; NAIC homeowners insurance; IICRC S500; CDC, About Mold and Your Health; Ready.gov, floods.