After a storm pushes water into your home, make it safe first: stay out of standing water near outlets, shut off the main water valve if a pipe is involved, and photograph everything before moving it. Then call your insurer, cover openings, and start drying quickly, because EPA advises drying wet materials within 24 to 48 hours.
Key takeaways
- Safety comes first: stay out of standing water near outlets, and turn off power to the area only if the panel is dry and safe to reach. If it is not, leave it alone and call for help.
- Take photos and video before anything is moved, then keep a list of what was wet. The crew can add moisture readings and photos you can share with your insurer; coverage is decided by your insurer.
- Rain-driven water usually enters through the roof, windows, doors and garage door, while rising water comes up from the ground or in from a canal or the lagoon. Which one it was matters for the water category and for insurance.
- A homeowners policy often covers wind-driven rain that enters through a storm-damaged opening and usually does not cover flood. Flood is a separate policy, generally with a 30-day waiting period, so check your policy for a separate hurricane deductible and ask your agent.
- EPA advises drying water-damaged materials within 24 to 48 hours. That is a guideline, not a deadline, and mold may have started growing even when materials dried inside that window.
- Atlantic hurricane season runs 1 June to 30 November, with the peak around 10 September. Frances and Jeanne in September 2004 are the reminder that the peak matters here.
What should I do first when storm water gets into the house?
Get everyone to a dry, safe spot, avoid standing water near outlets and cords, and do not wade through water that may be carrying sewage or debris. Shut off the main water valve if a pipe is involved. Turn power off to the area only if the panel is dry and safe to reach.
The first hour is about safety, not cleanup. Water and electricity do not mix, and a flooded garage or lanai can have live circuits at floor level. If the panel is wet or you have to stand in water to reach it, do not touch it; call the utility or an electrician instead.
Next, look at where the water is coming from. Water falling from a ceiling points to the roof or an upstairs source. Water at floor level that looks muddy points to flooding from outside, and water that smells like sewage points to a backup. Those are three different kinds of water problem, with different categories, different drying plans and different insurance questions.
Wear boots and gloves if you must walk through a wet area, and keep children and pets out of it.
- Move to a dry area and keep out of standing water near outlets and cords.
- Shut the main water valve if a supply line or fixture is involved.
- Turn off power to the wet area only if the panel is dry and you can reach it safely.
- Do not use ceiling fixtures or fans under a sagging, dripping ceiling.
- Call your insurer, then call (833) 490-5225 for a crew to be dispatched as fast as one is available.
How do I document the damage for my insurer?
Photograph and video every wet room before anything is moved, including wide shots, close-ups of the water line and the source of the opening. Keep damaged items until your insurer says otherwise, write down what was wet, and ask the crew for moisture readings and photos. Your insurer decides coverage.
Good records speed up a claim and keep arguments over what was wet and when to a minimum. Take photos before anything is moved, then take more photos after the water is removed and the crew has opened any walls. Date and time stamps help.
Keep a simple log: when the storm hit, when you noticed the water, when you shut the water off, and who you called. If a roof, window or door failed, photograph that opening too, since a storm-damaged opening is usually what separates wind-driven rain from flood.
The crew can document the damage with moisture meter readings, thermal-imaging photos and a written scope you can share with your insurer. That is documentation, not a promise about the claim. Coverage is decided by your insurer under your own policy, so call early and ask what your policy requires.
| What to record | How | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| The opening where water entered | Photos from inside and outside | Shows whether water came through storm damage or rose from the ground |
| Water line and wet materials | Wide and close photos with a tape measure in frame | Shows how high the water reached and what it touched |
| Damaged belongings | Photo, then keep or list them | Supports your inventory if the insurer asks |
| Timeline | A short written log | Shows when you acted to limit damage |
| Moisture readings | Logged by the crew with a meter | Shows what was wet, and later what dried |
Is it wind-driven rain or flood, and why does it matter?
Wind-driven rain enters through the roof, windows, doors or garage door; flood is surface water rising from the ground, a canal, a river or the lagoon. Flood water is treated as black Category 3 water and generally needs a separate flood policy, so the difference affects cleanup, drying and insurance.
A homeowners policy often covers sudden and accidental water damage and may cover rain that enters through an opening the storm created. It usually does not cover flood, meaning surface water, storm surge and rising rivers and canals. Flood insurance is a separate policy through FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program or a private insurer, generally with a 30-day waiting period, so it has to be in place before the storm. The guide on flood versus homeowners insurance goes deeper.
Florida hurricane claims can also carry their own deductible structure, so check your policy for a separate hurricane deductible. This page names no percentage because it varies by policy, and the number in your policy is the one that counts.
On the cleanup side, the category changes the plan. Rain that entered through a roof leak is often drier and cleaner than water that came in across the ground. When water has crossed soil, a yard or a street before it reached your floor, porous materials such as carpet, pad and drywall are usually removed rather than dried. See flood damage cleanup and hurricane water damage cleanup for the process.
| Where the water came from | Typical water category | Usually handled under |
|---|---|---|
| Rain through a storm-damaged roof or window | Category 1 or 2, depending on what it crossed | Homeowners policy, if the opening was storm damage |
| Surface water rising from the ground or a canal | Category 3 | Separate flood policy (NFIP or private) |
| Storm surge or lagoon high water | Category 3 | Separate flood policy |
| Sewer or drain backup after heavy rain | Category 3 | Often needs a sewer-backup endorsement |
| Burst pipe during the storm | Category 1 | Homeowners policy, generally |
How have storms and heavy rain reached Port St. Lucie and Stuart?
Hurricane Frances came ashore on Hutchinson Island on 5 September 2004 and Hurricane Jeanne on 25 September 2004, about 5 miles south-east of Stuart. Heavy rain from Hurricane Ian in 2022 triggered canal discharges that pooled water in Palm City. In September 2024 an hour of storms flooded roads in Port St. Lucie.
Frances and Jeanne are the two storms local history keeps returning to, three weeks apart in the same September. Frances came ashore on Hutchinson Island on 5 September 2004 with winds of 105 mph. Jeanne came ashore on 25 September 2004 with 120 mph winds, about 5 miles south-east of Stuart near the southern tip of Hutchinson Island, tearing part of a hospital roof and sending thousands into shelters. Together they caused damage exceeding $7 billion across the region.
Water, not only wind, is the repeating problem. After Hurricane Ian in 2022, rainfall in western Martin County triggered canal discharges into the St. Lucie River, and water pooled at Mapp Road, SW Cornell Avenue and All American Boulevard in Palm City, about 15 inches at Sunset Trail and Mapp Road.
You do not need a named storm to see it. News reports describe storms on 19 September 2024 that dropped roughly 2 to 4 inches in an hour on parts of Port St. Lucie and flooded roads near Port St. Lucie Boulevard and SW Tunis, SW Columbia and Fairgreen, and California Boulevard at Beard Street. Lakewood Park and White City saw 3 to 6 inches that night, and flooding was reported again in St. Lucie County on 8 October 2024 ahead of Tropical Storm Milton.
For the canal side of the story, see the guide on canal, river and lagoon flooding in St. Lucie and Martin counties.
How do I stop more water from coming in?
Stop the water that is still coming in. A crew can tarp a damaged roof or board a broken window or door, which limits further rain damage until a roofer or glazier makes a permanent repair. Roof replacement is a roofing job, and the crew's role is the temporary cover and interior cleanup.
Many homes along this coast are single-storey block-and-stucco with tile or shingle roofs, and a lanai or pool cage can fail in high wind. A torn roof section, lifted shingles or a failed window seal is where wind-driven rain gets in. Rain keeps falling after the storm moves through, so covering the opening protects what is not yet wet.
Do not climb a wet roof, and do not stand beneath a sagging or bowing ceiling. For the roof and the interior side, see roof leak water damage and storm damage restoration. A small-roof tarp commonly costs $200 to $1,300 as a typical estimate, confirmed on site.
How fast do I need to dry the house?
EPA advises drying water-damaged materials within 24 to 48 hours to limit mold. That is a guideline, not a deadline, and mold may have grown even if materials dried inside it. On this coast, humid air slows drying, so dehumidifiers and air movers, with readings re-checked until dry, matter more than open windows.
After a hurricane, the power may be out, and with it the A/C that keeps indoor humidity down. Opening windows in damp outdoor air can work against you. A crew uses air movers and dehumidifiers on generator or restored power and checks meter readings until the materials reach a dry goal.
Do not read the 24 to 48 hours as a pass mark. Mold can grow on wet drywall or wood within that time, and materials that look and feel dry can still hold moisture inside a wall cavity. That is why drying is measured, not guessed. The guide on humidity and mold after water damage in Florida covers the timing in more detail.
Block walls and slab edges release moisture slowly. See structural drying and emergency water removal for the process.
When do water risks peak across the year?
Atlantic hurricane season runs 1 June to 30 November with a peak near 10 September. On this coast, September is also the wettest month on the climate normals, at about 7.8 inches, so storm rain and surge risk overlap with the wet season. Roughly two thirds of annual rainfall falls from May to October.
The seasons look different here than farther north. Annual rainfall is about 53.5 inches on the Fort Pierce normals, with roughly 35.8 inches of it falling from May to October. That pattern tends to bring leaks from the roof, window and A/C in some months and flooding in others.
Treat the pattern as a planning guide, not a forecast. The National Weather Service office in Melbourne covers this county for warnings.
| Period | Main water risks |
|---|---|
| Jan to Mar | Drier season; occasional fronts and heavy rain; leaks from aging plumbing and A/C still occur |
| Apr to May | Heat builds, A/C runs hard and condensate drains clog; roofs get checked before the wet season |
| Jun to Aug | Daily thunderstorms, roof and window leaks, canal and lagoon high water, A/C condensate overflow |
| Sep to Oct | Wettest month and peak tropical season; storm rain and surge; autumn king tides |
| Nov to Dec | Storm season ends 30 November; water heater and appliance leaks; humid indoor air keeps mold a year-round concern |
Frequently asked questions
Can I start cleaning up before the insurance adjuster arrives?
Yes, for safety and to stop further damage. Photograph everything first, then remove standing water and cover openings. Keep damaged items or photos of them until your insurer says otherwise. Ask your insurer what it wants before you throw anything away.
Does homeowners insurance cover storm water in the house?
It depends on how the water got in and on your policy. Rain through a storm-damaged opening is often covered; surface flood water usually is not and needs a separate flood policy. Check your policy for a separate hurricane deductible and ask your agent. Your insurer makes the decision.
Is it safe to stay in the house after storm water gets in?
It depends on the water and the power. Standing water, a wet electrical panel, a sagging ceiling or water that smells like sewage are reasons to stay out of that area. Leave the house if the structure seems unsafe, and have the area checked before you return.
How soon can a crew come after a storm?
Phones are answered 24/7, and a crew is dispatched as fast as one is available. After a widespread storm, many homes call at once, so no one can promise an arrival time. Call early, describe what is wet, and take safety steps and photos while you wait.
Do I need a permit to repair storm damage?
Larger repairs generally need a permit. The City of Port St. Lucie Building Department handles permits in the city, the county handles unincorporated St. Lucie County, and the Martin County Building Permits Office handles Martin County. Ask before you start repairs.
Sources
- National Hurricane Center – Hurricane Climatology
- U.S. EPA – A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture and Your Home
- FEMA – FloodSmart: National Flood Insurance Program
- National Weather Service – Melbourne, FL
This guide is general information for St. Lucie County homeowners, not a substitute for an on-site inspection. Prices are estimates. See our disclaimer.