Storm & Flood Damage Cleanup
After hurricanes, rising water, and wind-driven rain.
Short answer
Storm water reaches Florida homes two ways: rising floodwater, which the IICRC S500 standard treats as contaminated Category 3 water, and wind-driven rain forced in through windows, doors, and the roof. Sterling extracts the water, removes materials that can't be saved, cleans what floodwater touched, and dries the structure with daily moisture readings.
Also called: flood cleanup, flood damage restoration, hurricane water damage cleanup
What this service addresses
- Standing floodwater and silt
- Wet drywall, insulation, flooring, and cabinets
- Rain that entered through the walls or roof and ran inside cavities
- Humidity in a house closed up after the storm
Who needs it
- Homes with floodwater inside after a hurricane or heavy rain
- Homes where wind-driven rain came in around windows, doors, or the roof
- Ground-floor condos and units reached by rising water
- Owners who need the loss documented for a flood or homeowners claim
- FL Licensed Mold Assessor · MRSA5798
- FL Licensed Mold Remediator · MRSR5761
- IICRC Certified Water Restoration Tech
- NORMI-Certified Assessor & Remediator
- Insured · GL + E&O
- Independent Inspections · FL 12-Month Rule
Floodwater is Category 3 water
Water that rises from the ground or comes in on a storm surge has crossed soil, streets, and drains, and the IICRC S500 standard treats it as Category 3, grossly contaminated water. Drywall, insulation, and carpet it soaked are removed rather than dried, and what stays is cleaned before drying starts. Rain a storm drove through a damaged roof or window can carry contamination too, and any water gets worse the longer it sits.
Either way, the record starts before anything is removed: where the water entered, how high it rose, and what it touched.
What's included — and what isn't
Clear scope, honestly stated.
Included
- Response as soon as the property is safe to reach
- Water and silt extraction
- Removal of the porous materials floodwater touched
- Flood cuts so wall cavities can dry
- Cleaning and EPA-registered antimicrobial treatment
- Commercial dehumidifiers, air movers, and daily moisture readings
- Photos, moisture readings, and daily drying records for your insurance claim
Not included
- Roof repairs, which need a licensed roofing contractor
- Structural repairs and rebuild, which aren't part of the cleanup estimate
- Entering a property before utilities and structure are safe
A calm, methodical process.
Step 1: Respond
As soon as the property is safe to reach, we get there and confirm what the water touched.
Step 2: Extract
Floodwater and silt come out first.
Step 3: Remove
Porous materials floodwater soaked are removed, and walls are cut open where cavities need to dry.
Step 4: Clean
What stays is cleaned and treated with an EPA-registered antimicrobial.
Step 5: Dry
Dehumidifiers and air movers dry the structure, with readings taken every day.
Thermal imaging reveals hidden moisture.
Drag the slider — infrared exposes the cold signature of moisture behind a wall that looks perfectly normal. It's the difference between guessing and knowing.
Methods & equipment
- IICRC S500 procedures
- Water extraction equipment
- Commercial dehumidifiers and air movers
- Pin and pinless moisture meters
- Thermal imaging
- EPA-registered antimicrobials
What you receive
- Photos of the damage and the work
- A map of the wet areas
- Daily drying records
- A written, itemized invoice
Typical timing
After a major storm, we respond as soon as the property is safe to reach. Drying runs until the readings say dry.
Pricing
Quoted on site
Quoted on site once the property is safe to reach. Every job comes with photos, a map of the wet areas, and daily drying records.
Financing is available for mold remediation and water damage work; ask about it with your free on-site estimate.
Storm & Flood Damage Cleanup — questions
As soon as the property is safe. EPA guidance is to dry water-damaged materials within 24 to 48 hours to prevent mold growth, and Florida humidity doesn't leave much slack.
More answers
- What's the difference between water mitigation and water damage restoration?
- How long does it take to dry out a house after water damage?
- Can wet drywall be saved, or does it have to be replaced?
- What are the categories of water damage?
- Is a sewage backup dangerous?
- How soon does mold grow after water damage?
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Water in the house? Call now.
We answer water emergency calls every day from 7 AM to midnight, at (786) 690-0329. The sooner the water is out and the drying starts, the less has to come out of the walls.