Orlando has been hit by three major storms in 20 years. We were here for every one. Our IICRC-certified crews understand Central Florida's specific hurricane damage patterns — roof-to-floor water paths, karst limestone drainage issues, and the insurance documentation battles that follow named storms.
Orlando sits in the path of Atlantic hurricanes that weaken after crossing the coastline but still carry significant rainfall — 10–20 inches in 24–48 hours is common. That volume exceeds the absorption capacity of any structure, finding its way through roof penetrations, window seals, wall gaps, and overwhelmed drainage systems.
Three major storms have shaped our institutional knowledge of Central Florida hurricane water damage:
After every Central Florida hurricane, insurance adjusters misclassify wind-driven rain damage as "flood damage" — and this single misclassification can deny your entire claim. Here's the distinction that matters:
Rain enters through an opening created by wind or hail damage — damaged roof section, broken window, failed flashing. Standard homeowners insurance covers this. Documentation of the entry point is critical.
Water that rises from the ground — storm surge, overflowing drainage, runoff — is flood damage. Requires separate NFIP flood insurance. NOT covered by standard HO-3 policy.
DryGuard's hurricane documentation specifically identifies and photographs the water entry point, the wind damage that created it, and the water migration path from that entry point. This cause-and-origin documentation is the difference between a full claim payout and a denied claim.
Orlando hurricane restoration typically takes 1–3 weeks for mitigation (drying) and 2–8 weeks for full reconstruction, depending on damage severity. After major storms, equipment and crew availability tighten across Central Florida, which can add timeline. DryGuard maintains an emergency equipment reserve specifically for post-storm events — we don't run out of air movers the week after Milton because we plan ahead for it.
Standard Florida HO-3 policies cover wind-driven rain entering through storm-created openings. They do not cover rising floodwater (NFIP policy required), storm surge, or groundwater infiltration. A wind/hurricane deductible applies — typically 2–5% of insured value, often $8,000–$20,000+ on an Orange County home. For homes in FEMA flood zones, the FEMA 50% Substantial Damage Rule may also apply if repairs exceed 50% of market value.
DryGuard has responded to water damage in Orlando through three hurricane seasons. Local knowledge, IICRC certification, insurance-ready documentation from hour one.
