Home · Flood & Storm Damage
When water comes in from outside, rising from a flooded street, pushed in by a king tide or driven through a slider by a storm, it’s a different job from a burst pipe. It’s contaminated, it often involves two insurance policies, and it tends to hit a whole neighborhood at once. Aqua Revive’s flood damage restoration in Boca Raton cleans up outside water as Category 3, dries the structure, and documents flood water and wind-driven rain separately so each policy gets the evidence it needs.
Call (561) 979-0130
Our worst flooding often comes from rain, not hurricanes. On October 26, 2025, the city’s public works director said parts of Boca got upwards of nine inches of rain in two hours (WFLX). Streets in Palm Beach Farms were close to knee-deep (WPTV). Heavy rain has also flooded Boca Chase Drive in West Boca (CBS12).
Every fall, the highest tides of the year push water over seawalls and up storm drains along the Intracoastal and Lake Boca Raton. Sometimes that happens on a sunny day, and it’s worse when rain or an onshore wind lines up with it. King tides have flooded the campground at Spanish River Park (CBS12).
Hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30. Storms don’t need to make landfall here to cause damage. An outer band of Hurricane Ian produced an EF-2 tornado across Boca and Delray Beach on September 27, 2022 (NWS).
Rain forced around sliders, windows and doors, through cracked stucco or under damaged roof tiles shows up inside as wet drywall, baseboards and ceilings.
FEMA’s current flood maps for Boca Raton took effect December 20, 2024, and a large part of the city lies in a Special Flood Hazard Area. Check your address on the City of Boca Raton flood map.
Don’t walk through floodwater inside or outside. It carries sewage, chemicals and debris, and can hide live electrical hazards.
Keep power off to flooded areas until an electrician or we have checked them.
Never run a generator inside the home or garage, and keep it well away from windows and doors. The CDC warns about carbon monoxide poisoning after storms.
Photograph the high-water line on walls and furniture before anything is moved. It’s key evidence for a flood claim.
If your roof or a window is open to the weather, cover it to prevent further damage.
We record where water came from: rising floodwater, wind-driven rain, a damaged roof, or several at once. Each may fall under a different policy.
We photograph and measure the flood line in every affected room before anything is removed.
Pumps and extractors remove standing water. All floodwater from outside is handled as Category 3.
Drywall is flood-cut above the wet line, and wet insulation, carpet, pad and porous items that floodwater reached are removed and listed.
Remaining surfaces and framing are cleaned and treated with an EPA-registered antimicrobial.
Structural drying runs until moisture readings reach the dry standard. That matters even more when the whole neighborhood is wet and the air outside won’t help.
Repairs follow, matched to what was there.
Usually not. In insurance terms, flood generally means water rising onto the property from outside, such as a flooded street, a tide or overflowing water bodies. Rain blown in through a window or roof is typically a homeowners policy question, and coverage often depends on whether wind created an opening. Your policy wording decides.
After a big storm, every restoration company, plumber, electrician and drywall supplier in the area is stretched, and insurers are handling thousands of claims. The best things you can do are get on a list early, document thoroughly, and start drying fast to stop the damage spreading while you wait for adjusters.
| Source of water | Usually handled under | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Rising floodwater, storm surge, king tide water | Flood insurance (NFIP or private) | Standard homeowners policies exclude flood. New NFIP policies usually have a 30-day waiting period. |
| Rain entering through wind damage to the roof, windows or walls | Homeowners policy | Hurricane losses in Florida usually carry a separate hurricane deductible, often a percentage of your dwelling coverage |
| Water from a pipe or appliance, even during a storm | Homeowners policy | Describe it as a plumbing leak, not a flood |
When both policies apply, expect two adjusters. We keep the documentation for each source separate so neither insurer can point to the other.
General information, not insurance or legal advice. Florida claims must generally be reported within one year of the date of loss; report storm damage as soon as you can.
Flood jobs usually cost more per square foot than clean-water leaks. Category 3 removal, disinfection, disposal, protective equipment and longer drying all add up, and after a regional storm, materials and labor get tighter. You get an itemized estimate split by water source, so each insurer sees its share.
Removing standing water fast.
Drying the structure to its dry standard after flood water is removed.
Tracing hidden water sources in walls, ceilings and slabs.
If storm water sat before cleanup began.
Cleanup when the water is Category 3.
Rebuilding after flood cuts.
Storm and flood water in offices, stores and condo buildings.
We handle storm and flood water in East Boca & Downtown (33432, 33431), Northeast Boca and the Intracoastal (33487), Central Boca (33486, 33433) and West Boca (33434, 33428, 33496, 33498). We also cover Highland Beach, Delray Beach, Deerfield Beach, Boynton Beach, Coconut Creek, Parkland and Lighthouse Point.
33432, 33431, 33487
33487
33486, 33433
33434, 33428, 33496, 33498
No, standard homeowners policies exclude flood, meaning water rising onto the property from outside. That needs a separate flood policy through the NFIP or a private insurer. Wind-driven rain through storm damage is a different matter and is usually a homeowners claim.
New NFIP flood policies generally don’t take effect until 30 days after purchase, with some exceptions such as policies bought with a new mortgage. Buying flood insurance once a storm is in the forecast is usually too late for that storm.
Yes. Outside floodwater is Category 3 water. It can carry sewage, bacteria, fuel and chemicals. Avoid contact, keep children and pets away, and wash right away with soap and clean water if you’re exposed.
Usually, yes, where floodwater touched them. The standard approach is a flood cut: removing drywall a set distance above the high-water line, so the wall cavity and insulation can be cleaned, treated and dried properly.
Use the City of Boca Raton’s flood map or FEMA’s Flood Map Service Center. The current maps took effect December 20, 2024. A large part of the city is in a Special Flood Hazard Area, so it’s worth checking even if you weren’t in one before.
Check your homeowners and flood policies and their deductibles, photograph your home and belongings, clear gutters and drains, check that sliders and windows seal properly, and save our number. Seasonal owners should also arrange for someone to check the home after any storm.
Stay out of the water, photograph the high-water line, and call (561) 979-0130. We’ll clean up safely, dry it properly, and keep the evidence for every policy involved.
