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Water damage · Emergency service

Flood damage cleanup in Florida

Flood cleanup treats outside floodwater as contaminated: it removes water and mud, cuts out wet drywall and insulation above the waterline, sanitizes, and dries the structure. Floodwater carries sewage and chemicals, so porous materials it touched are usually discarded.

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Brown floodwater covering a yard and road after heavy rain

Flood damage cleanup in Florida: local conditions

Partner coverage for water damage in Florida includes 1,023 ZIP codes, with local pages for Miami, Tampa, Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, Pensacola, St. Petersburg, Naples, West Palm Beach, Sarasota, Hollywood, Pompano Beach, Boca Raton, Clearwater, Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Daytona Beach, Palm Bay, Melbourne, Panama City, Hialeah, Kissimmee, Bradenton, Fort Pierce, Port St. Lucie, Vero Beach, Miami Beach, Delray Beach, Boynton Beach, Jupiter, Largo, Port Charlotte, North Port. Call with your ZIP to confirm a company serves your address.

Coastal areas face surge and wind damage from June through November, and inland areas get flooding rain and long power outages.

In Miami: Coastal neighborhoods face surge and wind, and Hurricane Irma in 2017 flooded parts of Brickell and Coconut Grove. In Tampa: Helene's 2024 surge flooded homes in South Tampa, Davis Islands and Shore Acres across the bay. In Orlando: Slow-moving storms like Ian (2022) can drop over a foot of rain, flooding low-lying neighborhoods and retention ponds. In Fort Lauderdale: The April 2023 storm showed how quickly streets and homes can flood when rain overwhelms drainage.

Most homes are concrete block on slab, with AC air handlers in closets, garages or attics. Condos and high-rises are common along the coast, where one leak can affect many units.

Florida licenses mold assessors and mold remediators through the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR), and licenses contractors through the Construction Industry Licensing Board. Verify both with DBPR's license search.

What you can expect

  • One call connects you with an independent restoration company that serves your ZIP code.
  • Fast call-back during business hours
  • Serving Florida
  • Photo and moisture documentation for insurance

Flood damage cleanup at a glance

Category
Water damage
Emergency service
Yes, call for fastest response
Typical first step
Make safe
Area
Florida

Other risks in Florida

Humidity and mold

Year-round humidity means wet materials grow mold quickly. Sweating AC ducts and air handlers cause mold even without leaks.

Roof and plumbing leaks

Aging roofs and older supply lines, including polybutylene in some homes built from the late 1970s to mid-1990s, are common sources of water claims.

Signs you need flood damage cleanup

  • Water entered from outside, at doors or through the slab
  • A visible waterline on walls
  • Mud or debris left on floors

How the work is done

Make safe, then Remove water and debris, then Flood cuts and sanitizing, then Dry and verify. See the full flood damage cleanup process.

What affects the cost

Prices depend on the job, so restoration companies in Florida quote after an assessment. The main drivers are how much area is affected, how long it stayed wet, and what has to be removed or rebuilt. See the full list of flood damage cleanup cost factors.

Flood damage cleanup questions

Do I need a licensed mold remediator in Florida?

Florida requires mold assessment and remediation for pay to be done by DBPR-licensed professionals, with exemptions for very small areas. Ask for the license number and check it on DBPR's site.

Does Florida homeowners insurance cover flood damage?

No. Flood and storm surge require a separate NFIP or private flood policy. Wind damage is covered under homeowners or windstorm coverage, usually with a hurricane deductible.

Is flood damage covered by homeowners insurance?

Usually not. Rising water from outside is typically covered only by a flood policy (NFIP or private). Water from a burst pipe is a different claim under your homeowners policy.

Can drywall that got flood water be dried?

Generally no. Floodwater is contaminated, so the IICRC S500 standard calls for removing porous materials it soaked, including drywall and insulation, above the waterline.

Cities in Florida

Other services in Florida

Related pages

More about water and storm damage in Florida, or see flood damage cleanup nationwide.

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Mold remediation removes mold growth under containment so spores don't spread, cleans or discards affected materials, and corrects the moisture problem that let it grow.

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Guides

Water, mold or fire damage? Get the right crew on it.

One call connects you with an independent restoration company that serves your ZIP code. Fast call-back during business hours.

(866) 948-3156
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