Getting Surge Water, Salt and Silt Out: Flood Cleanup in Sarasota

What the 2024 Storms Taught

Helene's surge put two to four feet of water in the streets of St. Armands and Lido Key, according to the City of Sarasota, and city crews removed 1,451 tons of sand from Ben Franklin Drive afterward. Before the storm, the city shut off water to the barrier islands, restoring it over the following days. Milton then arrived 13 days after Helene. Afterward, the city waived permit fees for storm-recovery work and asked residents to sort debris into four piles: construction, white goods, bulk and vegetative.

First Steps After Floodwater Recedes

• Wait until it's safe; don't enter if power may be live in wet areas.
• Photograph every room and the waterline on the walls before removing anything.
• Take out wet carpet, pad and soft furniture.
• Separate debris the way the city asks, which speeds up pickup.

Our Flood Cleanup

1. Pump and extract standing water and silt.
2. Remove drywall, insulation, carpet and cabinets that sat in floodwater, cutting walls above the waterline.
3. Rinse and disinfect framing, slab and other salvageable surfaces to remove salt and contamination.
4. Dry with dehumidifiers and air movers, recording moisture levels until the structure is ready.
5. Document everything for your flood adjuster.
6. Rebuild when the readings allow and permits are in place.

Rebuilding Rules

Sarasota applies a 50 percent rule in flood zones: when the cost of repairs or improvements reaches half of a building's market value, the whole structure generally has to be brought up to current floodplain standards. Get your scope priced early.

If floodwater didn't reach you but a storm left a stain overhead, see our ceiling leak repair page. Everything else we do is on the Sarasota restoration home page.