Water damage restoration in Greenbelt starts with stormwater. The City of Greenbelt's Community Flood Resiliency Plan, dated April 2026, says intense, short-duration summer storms overwhelm the local drainage system and cause localized flooding in low-lying areas. Our 24/7 emergency line serves Greenbelt, about three miles northeast of College Park, and this page explains what that history means for you.
The Stormwater Problem Greenbelt Has Documented
The plan describes a July 19, 2025 storm that dropped about 2.72 inches of rain in two hours and caused extensive flooding, followed by a July 31 storm of about 1.83 inches over seven hours.
An earlier event on August 10, 2022 brought rain at up to three inches per hour, according to the National Weather Service as reported by the Greenbelt News Review. The mayor said at the time that the rainfall was more than the stormwater system could handle.
The plan names specific places. Inadequate storm drain inlet capacity was the likely primary issue at Lakeside Drive and Westway in July 2025. Pipes under parking lots near Crescent Road and Centerway, close to Roosevelt Center, lack capacity, and the plan cites potentially dangerous basement apartment flooding in that area. If you live or work there, take photos of any water and call us for extraction.
When Water Is Spreading in Greenbelt
Basement and ground-floor flooding is the emergency pattern here. Water that rises quickly can reach outlets and panels before you notice it.
If Water Is Still Spreading
Get out of the water
Do not wade through a flooded basement while power is on. Leave it to a crew with protective gear.
Call the utility if needed
For sewage or electrical risk, WSSC Water's sewer backup line is 301-206-4002. Call 911 for gas or electrical danger.
Move to higher ground
Take medications, documents and phones upstairs. Lift valuables off lower shelves if you can do it safely.
Document from the edge
Photograph and film the water level before pumping starts. Note the time you first saw it.
Around-the-clock dispatch covers Greenbelt. Call now if water is rising or still moving.
☎ Call (301) 936-0619A Planned Town With Its Own Housing Types
Greenbelt was the first of three New Deal Greenbelt Towns. Construction began on January 13, 1936, and the first tenants moved in on September 30, 1937. The original core, Old Greenbelt, is the Greenbelt Historic District, listed on the National Register in 1980 and designated a National Historic Landmark District in 1997.
Greenbelt Homes, Inc., a cooperative of 1,600 homes, built its first homes in 1937, and its members own the co-op together and share its costs. If you live in a co-op home, check your cooperative's rules on who handles repairs and insurance, and tell the co-op's maintenance staff as well as your insurer. Photos help both.
Greenbelt ZIP Codes We Serve
Greenbelt's residential and business addresses use ZIP 20770, the primary ZIP for this page. ZIP 20771 is a unique ZIP assigned to NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, which sits next to the eastern boundary of the city. Call the line if your address uses either one.
Indian Creek, Greenbelt Lake and What the Plan Says About Flood Risk
Riverine flooding is a separate matter from street flooding. The plan models 100-year and 500-year floods along Indian Creek, and says a 100-year flood would affect five buildings near the Franklin Park area while a 500-year flood would affect twelve. The Greenbelt Lake forebay and nearby athletic fields are also expected to flood, and the plan treats that as more acceptable than building flooding.
The plan also notes that the city could encourage residents to keep storm drains clear, disconnect rooftop downspouts to pervious areas and add rain gardens. These are practical steps for a Greenbelt lot, and they do not replace flood insurance. Check the FEMA flood map for your address.
Services Greenbelt Calls Us For
Basement flooding drives most Greenbelt calls, so flood damage restoration and emergency water removal lead the list. Water damage cleanup follows once the water is out and wet drywall, carpet and pad have to come off. Where walls stay damp, water mitigation dries the structure, and mold remediation is the follow-up when drying was delayed.
Utility and Permits for Greenbelt Addresses
WSSC Water provides water and sewer service in Greenbelt, and says the owner maintains the sewer service from the property line to the building. Prince George's County's Department of Permitting, Inspections and Enforcement issues county permits, and the city can tell you whether a city permit also applies.
The same crews also serve Hyattsville to the southwest and Beltsville to the north.
Greenbelt Water Damage Questions
Yes. The line is open 24 hours a day, every day. Call (301) 936-0619 with your address and what is happening. Same-day response is offered when available, and no arrival time is promised over the phone.
We cover both Greenbelt ZIP codes. ZIP 20770 serves the city's homes and businesses, including Old Greenbelt around Roosevelt Center. ZIP 20771 is the unique ZIP for NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, next to the city's eastern boundary. Call to confirm any address.
Stay out of the water if power may be on, call 911 for electrical or gas danger, and tell your landlord in writing. Photograph the water before it is pumped, and call us for extraction and drying. If sewage is involved, WSSC Water's sewer backup line is 301-206-4002.
Not necessarily. The plan models flood risk for the city and names problem areas. For your own address, check the FEMA flood map and ask your insurer about flood and sewer backup coverage.