April 2023: rain with no hurricane
On April 12, 2023, a stalled storm system dropped more than two feet of rain on parts of Fort Lauderdale in about a day, a record for the area. Streets turned into rivers, the airport closed, and water filled homes and cars in neighborhoods across the city, many far from the ocean and outside high-risk flood zones. There was no hurricane. It was a reminder that in South Florida, rain alone can cause flooding on the scale of a major storm. Rain flooding is excluded from homeowners policies.
Canals, tides and seawalls
Fort Lauderdale's canals rise and fall with the tide, and during fall king tides, water can top low seawalls and bubble up through storm drains. Broward County and the city have adopted rules requiring higher seawalls over time. Canal-front homes should know their seawall's condition and height. Check your address in the FEMA Flood Map Service Center.
Wilma and wind
Hurricane Wilma in 2005 crossed South Florida from the Gulf and brought widespread wind damage to Broward County, shattering windows in high-rises and damaging roofs across the area. Wind-driven rain through broken windows and roofs soaked interiors. See storm damage restoration.
Hurricane-zone building rules
Broward and Miami-Dade counties are a High-Velocity Hurricane Zone under the Florida Building Code, adopted after Hurricane Andrew. Replacement roofing, windows and exterior doors generally need products approved for that zone, and permits are required for most of that work. We build those requirements into repair plans from the start. See reconstruction.
Most-requested services in Fort Lauderdale
In Fort Lauderdale, most of our calls fall into three groups: flood cleanup after rain like the April 2023 record storm; commercial water damage restoration in condo buildings along the canals and beach; and storm & hurricane damage restoration when Wilma-style winds damage roofs and windows. Not sure which fits your situation? Call and describe what you see, or compare all 12 services.
All 12 services in Fort Lauderdale
- Water Damage Restoration
- Flood Cleanup
- Burst Pipe Repair
- Ceiling & Roof Leak Repair
- Storm & Hurricane Damage Restoration
- Mold Remediation
- Structural Drying & Dehumidification
- Sewage Cleanup
- AC & HVAC Condensation Leak Damage
- Insurance Claims Assistance
- Hurricane & Flood Damage Reconstruction
- Commercial Water Damage Restoration
Fort Lauderdale neighborhoods and nearby communities
These pages cover local conditions in more detail:
Fort Lauderdale questions
Do you have an office in Fort Lauderdale?
No. SwiftFlow's only office is in Tallahassee, and Broward County jobs are coordinated from there through our statewide response network. We'll give you an honest arrival estimate when you call.
My house flooded in April 2023 but isn't in a flood zone. Should I get flood insurance now?
Many homes that flooded in 2023 were outside high-risk zones. Flood coverage for those properties is often more affordable, and it's the only coverage for rising water. New NFIP policies generally have a waiting period, so don't wait for a forecast.
Can you work around boats, docks and seawall repairs?
We handle water damage inside the home. Seawall and dock repairs are for a marine contractor. We document the interior damage so both can be addressed.