Over the past week, heavy rain and storms rolled across South Florida and left streets, yards, and too many homes underwater. Broward County took the worst of it. Fort Lauderdale saw saltwater pushed up through low-lying streets, and neighborhoods from Davie to Pompano Beach woke up Wednesday morning to roads still covered in water. If your home or business took on water this week, the first 24 hours are what decide whether this is a cleanup job or a full reconstruction project. Here's exactly what I'd tell you to do — in order — before my crew ever walks through your door.
Make sure it's safe before you touch anything
South Florida floodwater isn't just rain. It can carry fuel, sewage, and debris — especially after it backs up through storm drains. If your electrical panel is on a wet wall or sitting in standing water, don't wade in to shut it off; call FPL or your utility and let them handle it. Don't use any outlet, switch, or appliance that got wet, and don't reset a breaker that tripped during the storm until it's been checked. If the water came up through your drains or you smell sewage, treat it as contaminated and keep your family out of the room.
Stop more water from coming in
If it's storm surge or sheet flooding rolling in from outside, there's only so much you can do until the water recedes — but if a pipe burst, a drain backed up, or a roof leak is still active, shut off the source now. Hit your main water valve if it's a supply line. If a roof leak is still dripping, get a bucket under it and move whatever's underneath. The goal is to stop the clock on how much of your house gets wet. Every minute a wall stays wet is a minute closer to mold.
Document everything before you move a thing
Photos and video of every room, every wet wall, every piece of furniture — before you touch any of it. Wide shots first, then close-ups. Your phone date-stamps them automatically. This is the proof your insurance claim is built on, and once drywall or flooring is torn out, that proof is gone. I've seen too many claims get underpaid because nobody photographed the water line on the baseboard before it was ripped off. Photograph the water line, the wet carpet, the stained ceiling, the standing water depth against a ruler or a door frame.
Call your insurance and open the claim
Call your carrier the same day. Ask exactly what they need — most want photos, a short description of what happened, and a list of what's damaged. Tell them you're bringing in a licensed mitigation company, and that you're starting drying now. Do not wait for the adjuster to show up before you start drying; waiting is how a small loss turns into a mold problem. Your policy almost certainly requires you to mitigate further damage, and the carrier expects you to act fast. We'll meet your adjuster on-site and walk them through the scope — but you have to open the claim first.
Start moving water and air — fast
If it's safe and the water is clean, start getting it out. A wet/dry shop vac, buckets, mops — whatever you have. Pull up area rugs and anything sitting in the water. Move furniture off wet floors and put foil or wood blocks under the legs so they don't bleed stain into the carpet or flooring. Then get air moving: open windows if the air outside is drier, run fans, and keep your AC on. The math in South Florida is unforgiving. Once drywall and insulation stay wet, mold can start in 24 to 48 hours in this humidity. The faster you pull the moisture out, the less we have to cut out later.
Call a company that does the whole job — not just the dry-out
This is where I see South Florida homeowners get hurt the most. A mitigation crew comes in, dries the house, and leaves you with a gutted room and a list of three other contractors you now have to hire, schedule, and chase. South Florida Water and Mold Restoration is different. I hold a Florida Certified General Contractor license (CGC1535089) and a Mold Remediator license (MRSR142), so the same team handles the dry-out, the mold remediation, and the rebuild — framing, drywall, flooring, paint, and cabinetry — start to finish. One call, one contract, one accountable local owner you can reach directly.
If your property took on water this week, don't wait. Call me at 954-923-3340 — we're based in Davie and we're typically on-site within 30 to 60 minutes for emergencies. We'll meet your adjuster, document every dollar of loss with thermal imaging and moisture logs, and put your property back together like it was — or better. One company. Start to finish.
About the author
Pasquale "Pat" Caiazza
Owner & Master Restorer
South Florida Water & Mold Restoration · Licensed CGC1535089 & MRSR142 · Serving South Florida since 2005.
