Boca Raton Water Damage Restoration, Flood and Mold Help

The Night Seven Inches Fell on Boca Raton

Overnight on October 26, 2025, a storm dropped more than 7 inches of rain on southern Palm Beach County in just a few hours, and Boca Raton took the worst of it. Downtown streets flooded, and water stood in sections such as Por La Mar, Riviera and Sun and Surf. First responders fielded as many as 100 calls for help, more than 80 cars flooded, and Boca Raton Airport closed for over seven hours.

Buildings took on water too. A well-known resort's lobby flooded with about 2 feet of water, and at least one oceanfront condominium on South Ocean Boulevard reported water damage. City leaders said the stormwater system worked as designed, which says a lot about how extreme the rainfall was.

The lesson for owners is that intense, short bursts of rain can flood places that have never flooded before. Garages, ground-floor units and homes on low lots are the first to see water damage in Boca Raton when that happens.

Inlet, Lake and Intracoastal: How Water Shapes the City

Boca Raton sits about 13 feet above sea level on average and has nearly 2.5 square miles of water inside its limits. The Intracoastal Waterway runs the length of the city, Lake Boca Raton opens to the Atlantic through the Boca Raton Inlet, and the Hillsboro Canal and El Rio Canal cut through the landscape. About two miles of public beaches line the ocean side.

The City notes that a large portion of Boca Raton lies in FEMA Special Flood Hazard Areas, and it encourages every resident to consider flood insurance no matter which zone they are in. You can look up your address through the City's Know Your Flood Zone page, and Development Services will inspect a property on request to talk through flood problems and mitigation options.

Housing here ranges from 1920s Mizner-era homes in Old Floresta to waterfront estates and oceanfront condo towers, and each reacts to water differently.

If Water Is Rising Outside or Spreading Inside

1. Stay off flooded roads. The City warns that six inches of moving water can knock over an adult, and it takes far less to stall a car.
2. Cut off the source. For an indoor leak, close the fixture valve or the main. Condo residents should alert the building so units below can be checked.
3. Mind the power. Do not step into standing water near outlets, cords or appliances. Shut off breakers only from a dry location.
4. Know what kind of water it is. Clean supply-line water is Category 1. Rainwater flowing in from a street or yard, and any sewage, should be treated as Category 3 and kept away from kids and pets.
5. Record the damage. Take photos and video of the waterline, the source and damaged items before cleanup starts.
6. Get a restoration company moving. Call (888) 817-5061, and we will connect you with a local restoration professional for emergency water extraction.

What Restoration Looks Like in Mizner-Era Homes and Modern Towers

Assessment

Every job starts with finding the source and mapping moisture. Technicians use meters and thermal cameras to see how far water traveled under tile, into plaster or drywall, and through ceilings in multi-story buildings.

Older and historic homes

Homes in historic areas often include plaster walls, original wood and details owners want to keep. Careful moisture readings help decide what can be dried in place and what has to be removed.

Condos and high-rises

In a tower, a single failed supply line can affect several units. Unit-by-unit documentation helps owners, associations and insurers sort out what happened and who is responsible for which repairs.

Drying and rebuilding

Dehumidifiers and air movers run until materials meet dry standards. Read more about structural drying. Afterward, water damage repair in Boca Raton covers drywall, flooring, trim and cabinetry. Before hiring, ask the company about its licensing, insurance and training, such as IICRC certification.

Hurricane Wind, Wilma and Storm Damage Cleanup

Boca Raton's storm history includes the 1926 Miami hurricane, the 1947 Cape Sable hurricane and Hurricane Irma in 2017. Hurricane Wilma in 2005 caused nearly $12 million in damage at Boca Raton Airport, with collapsed hangars and flipped aircraft, and tore up the roof of Florida Atlantic University's gymnasium. Across Palm Beach County, more than 90 percent of FPL customers lost power.

Roof and window damage is how many homes take on water during a hurricane. Storm damage cleanup typically starts with tarping or boarding openings, then removing wet ceilings and insulation. For water that came in from outside, flood cleanup adds sanitizing and disposal of contaminated porous materials.

Sign up for Alert Boca by texting AlertBoca to 38276, and wait for the official all-clear before returning to an evacuated home.

Stopping Mold Before It Spreads

Per EPA guidance, wet drywall, carpet or wood can start to support mold in as little as a day or two (24 to 48 hours). In Boca Raton's humid climate, a slow leak under a vanity or behind a refrigerator can start growth well before anyone notices a smell.

Mold assessment and mold remediation are separately licensed professions in Florida, both overseen by the Department of Business and Professional Regulation. Chapter 468, Part XVI of the Florida Statutes defines the licensed work as assessment or remediation of more than 10 square feet of mold. Verify both licenses with the DBPR lookup on MyFloridaLicense.com before a project starts.

Professional mold removal in Boca Raton should include containment and air filtration, then confirmation that the area is dry so growth does not return.

A Bigger Flood Insurance Discount and Other Claim Notes

• 25 percent CRS discount. Through FEMA's Community Rating System, the City's flood insurance discount rose from 15 to 25 percent for qualifying NFIP policies in all flood zones, effective October 2025. Confirm with your agent that your premium reflects it.
• Flood is excluded from most homeowners policies. NFIP policies typically have a 30-day waiting period, so do not wait for a storm.
• Claim deadlines in Florida. Policyholders have 1 year from the date of loss to report an initial or reopened claim and 18 months for a supplemental claim under Statute 627.70132.
• Citizens policyholders. Flood coverage requirements are phasing in, with all Citizens personal residential policies that include wind required to have flood coverage by January 1, 2027.
• Keep the file together. Photos, invoices, moisture readings and drying logs all support a claim.

Owners of offices, medical buildings, shops and condo associations can call (888) 817-5061 too, and we will connect you with a local restoration company that handles commercial drying.

Boca Raton Neighborhoods and South County Neighbors

WaterQ's free referral line connects callers from downtown and the barrier island to west Boca and nearby south Palm Beach and north Broward communities with independent local restoration providers.

Neighborhoods

• Downtown Boca Raton
• Pearl City
• Old Floresta
• Por La Mar
• Riviera
• Sun and Surf
• Royal Palm Yacht and Country Club
• Camino Gardens
• Boca Square
• Spanish River

Nearby communities

• Deerfield Beach
• Highland Beach
• Delray Beach
• Hillsboro Beach
• Parkland
• Coconut Creek
• West Boca (unincorporated Palm Beach County)
• Pompano Beach
• Boynton Beach
• Coral Springs

Local emergency and flood resources

Official sources for alerts, flood maps and preparedness in and around Boca Raton:

• City of Boca Raton - Hurricane Information
• City of Boca Raton - Know Your Flood Zone
• City of Boca Raton - Floodplain Management
• City of Boca Raton - Emergency Management