Water damage restoration in Benton, Arkansas
Benton has its own river, its own gauge and one utility for water, sewer and power. Here is what that means when water gets into a house.
A referral service, not a contractor. Your callback request is passed to an independent restoration company that works your part of central Arkansas. Riverstage does not perform the extraction, drying or repairs.
One number for most emergencies
Benton Utilities, overseen by Benton's Public Utility Commission, provides electric, water and wastewater service. Its "Who do I call?" page lists one emergency number, 501-776-5930, for a water leak at the meter, a fire hydrant or in the street, for a sewer back-up or overflowing manhole, and for a power outage. Its freeze page says customers with a problem can call that number at any time, and that the utility can shut the water off in an emergency to prevent more damage.
The same page lists 501-776-5938 for permits and inspections, 800-482-8998 for the statewide utility-locate service that marks buried lines before digging, and 800-992-7552 for a natural gas smell.
The Saline River at Benton
The Saline crested at 29.27 feet on September 4, 2008, from the rain of Hurricane Gustav. Homes along the lower end of River Street and its side streets flooded, along with the manufactured home subdivision on Henry Street.
Serious flooding: the industrial area, ground near the airport, and the water supply impoundment downstream of I-30 and the nearby manufactured home subdivision.
River Street in southwest Benton may flood from backwater up Willow Depot Creek, especially if heavy rain falls in Benton while the river is high. McNeil and Salt creeks can flood too.
Low pastures along the west bank. Action stage is 17 feet.
Crests on record
- April 1, 1927: 30.5 ft, the flood of record
- January 30, 1969: 29.68 ft
- September 4, 2008: 29.27 ft
- December 25, 2009: 27.63 ft
- March 8, 1990: 26.62 ft
- April 6, 2025: 26.4 ft
The April 2025 crest is a reminder that major Saline River floods are not ancient history. Check the NWS gauge page when heavy rain is forecast upstream.
September 1978 in Benton
The flash flood that hit Little Rock on September 13, 1978 reached Saline County too. The Encyclopedia of Arkansas records three deaths in Benton. Gray Street was said to be under eight feet of water at one point, and the Hidden Valley subdivision under more than three feet after creeks rose and blocked its covered bridge. The dam at Lake Pauline collapsed, covering the Lakeview subdivision, and 300 residents were evacuated. Nearby Shannon Hills had 200 residents displaced.
Creek flooding like that does not wait for the Saline River gauge. It follows small streams and low streets.
Before you hire in Benton
- Get a written scope that says what will be dried, what removed, and whether rebuilding is included.
- For permits and inspections on the repair, call Benton's inspection line, 501-776-5938, and ask whether the job needs one.
- If a restoration company needs to dig, for a drain or a sump, buried lines get marked through the statewide locate service first.
- River or creek water is Category 3. Ask how the company will handle contaminated materials. The storm and flood page explains why.
Typical national price ranges are in the water damage cost ranges.