Document the condition
Note location, timing, weather relationship, changes over time, and any previous work. Photos and simple measurements can improve the first conversation.
Read the local context
Champaign was founded in 1855 along the Illinois Central Railroad, and the city has grown across a county that sees real tornado exposure -- Illinois averages roughly 54 to 64 tornadoes a year, a rate comparable to the Great Plains, with Champaign County itself recording 79 tornadoes between 1950 and 2019. That storm exposure, layered onto housing stock spanning more than 150 years of construction, is why water and storm damage response stays in demand across the Champaign-Urbana area.
Ask what will be hidden
A written scope should explain the preparation and verification that will no longer be visible at completion, not just the finished appearance.
Compare complete scopes
Look for protection, access, materials, permits, testing, cleanup, restoration, exclusions, warranties, and change-order rules.
What official local sources add
The City of Champaign requires a permit (a $70 fee) for new or modified connections to the municipal stormwater drainage system and is the permitting authority for land-disturbing activity, requiring an approved stormwater control plan for qualifying construction projects. Champaign coordinates that permitting with Champaign County, the City of Urbana, the University of Illinois, and the Village of Savoy through the Champaign County Stormwater Partnership's shared MS4 permit program. Reconstruction work that changes grading or drainage after a water event can trigger Champaign's stormwater permit requirements, worth checking before rebuilding begins.
Sources were reviewed 2026-07-26. Confirm parcel-specific flood zones, historic-district status, permits, and current requirements with the relevant authority before authorizing work.