Water from below
Miami sits on limestone full of holes and channels. Seawater moves through it, so during king tides in the fall, the water table rises and sea water can bubble up through storm drains and low ground even on sunny days. Seawalls alone can't keep it out. Heavy rain on top of high tide leaves water standing in streets across low neighborhoods. Check your address in the FEMA Flood Map Service Center.
Andrew's legacy
Hurricane Andrew hit South Miami-Dade in August 1992 and changed how Florida builds. Miami-Dade and Broward are now a High-Velocity Hurricane Zone under the Florida Building Code, with some of the strictest wind standards in the country. Roofs, windows and doors installed here generally need approved products. That's good for resisting wind, and it matters when repairs are made after water damage: replacement windows, doors and roofing need to meet those standards.
Surge and heavy rain
Irma's surge in 2017 flooded Brickell Avenue and bayfront neighborhoods, pushing Biscayne Bay into lobbies, garages and ground floors. Tropical downpours flood Miami far more often than hurricanes do, sometimes dropping many inches in a few hours and overwhelming drainage across the county. Both are flood losses under insurance. See flood cleanup.
High-rise living
Miami has one of the highest concentrations of condo towers in the country. In a tower, a failed supply line, water heater or AC drain in one unit reaches the units below. After the 2021 Surfside collapse, Florida added milestone structural inspection requirements for older condo buildings, and water intrusion is part of what inspectors look at. We document damage by unit and common area. See multi-unit restoration.
Most-requested services in Miami
In Miami, most of our calls fall into three groups: commercial water damage restoration in high-rise condos where leaks travel floor to floor; flood cleanup during king tides and tropical downpours; and ceiling & roof leak repair when barrel tile underlayment wears out. Not sure which fits your situation? Call and describe what you see, or compare all 12 services.
All 12 services in Miami
- 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
Miami neighborhoods and nearby communities
These pages cover local conditions in more detail:
Miami questions
Do you have an office in Miami?
No. SwiftFlow's only office is in Tallahassee, and Miami-Dade jobs are coordinated from there through our statewide response network. We'll give you an honest arrival estimate when you call.
Do replacement windows and doors have to meet special standards in Miami?
Miami-Dade is a High-Velocity Hurricane Zone, and products installed there generally need approval for that zone. We make sure reconstruction materials meet local requirements and pull the right permits.