Guide
Hurricane season water damage
June 1 to November 30. Water gets into houses through roofs, windows, doors and the ground.
What happened here before
In 2004 Hurricane Jeanne crossed the coast on September 26 at the south end of Hutchinson Island, just east of Stuart, based on the NHC report.
Hurricane Nicole made landfall at Vero Beach on November 10, 2022, according to the NHC. The report says hurricane-force winds stayed offshore, so the date shows how late in the year a storm can arrive.
How the water gets in
- Wind-driven rain through lifted roof covering, gable vents and soffits.
- Pressure forcing rain around window and door frames.
- Storm drains and canals that back up onto yards and into garages.
- Power loss that stops sump or condensate pumps and, in a closed house, lets humidity rise.
After the storm
Walk the house for new stains before anything else. Photograph them. A temporary cover on the roof is a roofer's job; interior drying is a restoration job. Insurers set the date of loss for a hurricane as the landfall date, so note when it hit your area.
Ask the county permit office what repairs need a permit after a storm. St. Lucie County's permitting page is linked below.
Sources
- National Hurricane Center: climatology
- NHC report on Hurricane Jeanne, 2004
- NHC report on Hurricane Nicole, 2022
- Florida Statutes 627.70132, notice of a property insurance claim
- St. Lucie County: storm and disaster permitting page
Sources were consulted on November 5, 2026. Agency pages change, so check the source before relying on a detail.
Water is still moving. Make the call.
Dial the number and describe what happened. You are connected with an independent restoration contractor who serves your ZIP code.