Water Damage Help in Cumberland, RI
Cumberland runs along the Blackstone River, which flooded roads, businesses and homes in town in March 2010, and storms in 2023 and 2024 washed out local roads and flooded basements. RI Water Damage Help is a free referral line: calling (401) 466-0446 connects you with an independent local water damage company.
Last updated October 29, 2026
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How has flooding hit Cumberland?
The Blackstone River at the Woonsocket gauge crested at 14.4 feet, 2.4 feet above moderate flood stage, and the National Weather Service reported flooding of roads, businesses and houses in the Cumberland, Lincoln and Pawtucket areas. Its photo of the crest shows the river at Ashton Mill on the Cumberland–Lincoln line. The same gauge crested about a foot higher in October 2005.
Source: National Weather ServiceThe town’s hazard mitigation plan says about 200 residents of the One Mendon Road senior housing complex were evacuated, Mendon Road was closed from Broad Street to the Lincoln line, and floodwater collapsed a section of Nate Whipple Highway near North Cumberland Middle School. About 228 residents and businesses filed damage claims totaling just over $2.6 million.
Source: Town of Cumberland Hazard Mitigation Plan, 2023The plan records 4 to 6 inches of rain in about five hours, heaviest south of Route 295 toward the Central Falls line. Curran Road, Rawson Road, Abbott Street, Industrial Road, England Street and Scott Road were impassable for hours.
Source: Town of Cumberland Hazard Mitigation Plan, 2023During the January 2024 storm, West Sneech Brook washed out part of Westwood Drive off Mendon Road, and several nearby homes had basement flooding.
Source: WPRIHow old are homes in Cumberland?
Census estimates put the median Cumberland home at 1972, and about 14% of its roughly 14,900 homes were built in 1939 or earlier. Many of the oldest are in the mill villages along the Blackstone, where the town’s hazard plan places most of its flood-insured properties.
Data: Census ACS 2020-24
Where is flood insurance concentrated in Cumberland?
FEMA data cited in the town’s 2023 hazard mitigation plan show 52 National Flood Insurance Program policies in Cumberland and 46 claims since 1978. The plan says most insured properties are in the historic mill villages of Ashton, Berkeley and Lonsdale along the Blackstone River, and it lists four repetitive-loss commercial or industrial properties. Abbott Run has a series of dams, and the plan rates the Diamond Hill Reservoir Dam as high hazard. (Town of Cumberland Hazard Mitigation Plan)
What do official sources say about flood risk in Cumberland?
- Triple-I notes that standard homeowners policies exclude flood damage, which is insured separately through the NFIP or private insurers. (Triple-I)
- According to FloodSmart, a new NFIP flood policy generally takes effect 30 days after purchase, with limited exceptions. (FloodSmart)
- The EPA says that if wet materials are dried within 24 to 48 hours of a leak, mold will not grow in most cases. (EPA)
- NOAA posts live river levels and flood stages for the Blackstone River gauge at Woonsocket, upstream of Cumberland. (NOAA National Water Prediction Service)
- FEMA’s Flood Map Service Center lists the official flood zone for any Cumberland address. (FEMA Flood Map Service Center)
Related service guides
- River or groundwater in a lower level: flooded basement cleanup and drying.
- River, flash or coastal flooding: flood damage repair.
- Sewer backup during a storm: sewage backup cleanup.
- Roof leaks from wind and rain: storm damage cleanup.
- Ice dams and roof-edge leaks after snow: ice dam roof leaks.
Other guides: water damage restoration, mold inspection and removal, sewage backup cleanup, cost guide, insurance FAQ.
To see how Cumberland compares with the rest of the state, check the Rhode Island flood and water damage risk by town guide.
Water damage in Cumberland, RI: common questions
Does homeowners insurance cover Blackstone River flooding in Cumberland?
Triple-I says standard homeowners policies exclude flood damage, including river flooding. Flood coverage is sold separately through the NFIP or private insurers, and FloodSmart says new NFIP policies usually take 30 days to start.
Which parts of Cumberland have flooded?
The town’s hazard mitigation plan names the Blackstone River mill villages of Ashton, Berkeley and Lonsdale, Mendon Road, Nate Whipple Highway and, in the September 2023 storm, roads south of Route 295. WPRI reported basement flooding near Westwood Drive in January 2024.
Can I get help with mold in Cumberland?
Not right now. Mold referrals aren’t available for Cumberland yet, but water damage referrals are. If mold is growing because of a recent leak or flood, a water damage company can still dry out the source.
How fast does water damage need to be dried out?
The EPA says drying wet materials within 24 to 48 hours of a leak prevents mold growth in most cases.
Nearby towns we cover
- Water damage help in Lincoln
- Water damage help in Woonsocket
- Water damage help in Pawtucket
- Water damage help in Providence
All Rhode Island towns we serve · RI Water Damage Help home
Who runs this site?
This guide is published by RI Water Damage Help, a small Rhode Island referral website. We don’t do cleanup work ourselves. Facts above link to public records and news reports. Spot an error? Email help@riwaterdamage.com.
Request a free water damage quote in Cumberland, RI
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Water damage in Cumberland?
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