Storms are part of living here
Central Florida gets afternoon thunderstorms most summer days. They build fast, drop a lot of rain in a short time and move on. Most of the time nothing happens. Sometimes a gutter overflows, a flashing gives way or a low yard sends water toward the door.
Then there is hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to November 30. Hurricanes and tropical storms bring hours of heavy rain and strong wind, sometimes several days in a row. Inland Orlando does not get storm surge, but it does get flooded streets, overwhelmed retention ponds and rain pushed sideways into homes.
How storm water gets inside
- Wind-driven rain. Strong wind pushes water through gaps that stay dry in a normal rain: around windows, under sliding glass doors, through soffit vents and past door thresholds.
- Roof leaks. Lifted shingles, damaged flashing or a fallen limb let water into the attic. It soaks the insulation first, then shows up as a stain or a sagging spot in the ceiling below.
- Rising water. When streets and yards flood, water can come in under doors and through the garage, spreading across the slab and under flooring.
Attic and ceiling water is easy to underestimate. Wet insulation holds water against the drywall and keeps dripping long after the rain stops. If a ceiling is bulging or sagging, stay out from under it.
Clean water and floodwater are not the same
Rain that comes straight through a roof or window starts out fairly clean. Water that rose from the ground is a different thing. Floodwater runs across streets, lawns and drainage systems and picks up whatever is there, including sewage, fuel, fertilizer and bacteria. Treat it as contaminated.
That changes what can be saved. Porous materials that floodwater touched, like carpet, pad, drywall, insulation and upholstered furniture, usually have to come out. They soak up the contamination and cannot be cleaned reliably. Hard surfaces like tile, concrete and sealed wood can usually be cleaned and dried. We will walk you through what goes and what stays, and why.
Clean rainwater does not stay clean forever either. After a day or two in a warm house, it starts to grow bacteria, and mold can begin within 24 to 48 hours. That is why we move quickly.
What we do after a storm
We check that the space is safe to work in, then document everything with photos and moisture readings. Standing water comes out first. Materials that cannot be saved are removed and bagged. Then we clean the remaining surfaces and set up drying equipment sized for the space.
We come back to take readings until the structure is dry. You get the photos and readings for your records. We work with all insurance companies and document everything your adjuster needs: photos, moisture readings and a detailed, itemized estimate. If a roof or window needs repair, get it covered or fixed first so the water does not keep coming in. Drying a room that is still getting wet does not work.
Busy after big storms, still answering
After a named storm, many homes and businesses across the area need help at once. Call or text us at 407-807-8528 as soon as it is safe. Send photos if you can. We will tell you honestly when we can be there and what to do in the meantime to limit the damage.
If the water came from inside, like a pipe or an AC line, see our water damage restoration page.