Water damage restoration in Derby, KS
Derby sits where the Big Ditch hands its water back to the Arkansas River, and three creeks of its own run through town. Here are the City's flood facts and public works numbers.
Referral service, not a contractor. A callback request is passed to an independent local restoration company. We do not perform the extraction, drying or repairs ourselves.
Derby numbers
- Water leak or flooding emergency: 911 (the City's own instruction)
- Public Works, weekdays 7–4: 316-788-0301
- Public Works after hours: 316-788-1557
- Floodplain permits, City Hall: 316-788-1519
Four waterways, three recent floods
The City of Derby's floodplain management page names four main waterways running through town: Spring Creek, Dry Creek, Trail Creek and the Arkansas River. It identifies high water crossings and possible flooding around High Park, Madison Avenue, and Kay Street near Riley Park, and it counts three significant floods in the past 25 years: 1993, 1995 and 2016.
The river side has its own record. In the Halloween Flood of 1998, the National Weather Service logged a record crest of 16.60 feet on the Arkansas River at Derby on November 1. Wichita's Big Ditch floodway rejoins the Arkansas just west of town, which is why that gauge matters to anyone living near the river. Upstream, Haysville watches the same Derby gauge for the Arkansas.
Derby posts a flood warning sign at James and Trail Creek. The City's advice is to heed NWS flood warnings, never drive around barriers because a road or bridge may be washed out, and use a pole or stick to test the ground before stepping into standing water.
Flood insurance in Derby: the local facts
Derby participates in the National Flood Insurance Program, so anyone in town can buy a federal flood policy, even if their property has flooded before. The City holds a Class 7 rating in FEMA's Community Rating System, which it says gives homeowners a 15% reduction in flood insurance premiums.
Three points from the City's page are worth repeating because people get them wrong:
- Homeowners policies don't cover flood damage. Flood is a separate policy with a 30-day wait.
- Policies bought because a lender required them often cover the building only. Derby notes that in its kind of flooding, contents usually take more damage than the structure, so ask about contents coverage.
- If your problem is sewer backup, flood insurance is not the answer; the City suggests asking about a sewer backup rider on your homeowners policy. Cleanup steps are on the sewer backup page.
This is the City's general guidance, not a coverage opinion. This line does not handle insurance claims.
When the water is on the City's side
Derby's Public Works Department includes both a Water Utility division and a Floodplain Management division. For urgent problems, including water leaks and flooding, the City tells residents to call 911. For non-emergencies, the Public Works office answers 316-788-0301 from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays, and 316-788-1557 after business hours.
Dumping into ditches or creeks makes flooding worse, and Derby asks residents to report it to Public Works at the same 788-0301 number.
Before rebuilding
Floodplain permits come through City Hall at 611 Mulberry Rd. (316-788-1519), and the stormwater manager and floodplain administrator can be reached through Public Works. A large flood repair inside a mapped floodplain should start with a call there, so you know what the City will look at before you sign a rebuild contract. The storm and flood page has more on hiring after a flood.
Derby's own flood-proofing list
From the City's floodplain page, with notes.
Protect a Derby home
Before the next storm- Electrical
Raise what can short out
Have an electrician raise electrical components at least 12 inches above your flood elevation.
- Drains
Block the back door
Have a plumber install backflow valves or plugs so floodwater cannot push up through floor drains.
- Basement
Seal the low openings
Waterproof the basement and its entrances, including cellar windows.
- Household
Write the plan down
Make a checklist of what to do in a flood and post it where everyone can find it.
The City also notes that keeping water away by regrading or a small berm can work on large lots with shallow flooding outside the floodway. It does not recommend sealing walls with watertight closures in houses with basements, or where water will be more than two feet deep.
Derby questions
Is Derby covered by the referral line?
Yes. Derby is part of the Sedgwick County coverage area. Whether an independent restoration company is available right away depends on the day. If none can take the job, you may not hear back.
How do I find out if my Derby home is in a floodplain?
Derby points residents to FEMA's flood map service center, searchable by address, and to Sedgwick County's detailed floodplain maps. The City also publishes a flood information brochure.
Who handles a water main leak in my Derby street?
The City's Water Utility, part of Public Works. Call 911 for an urgent leak or flooding, as the City instructs, or Public Works at 316-788-0301 during business hours.