Water damage restoration in Fruitland Park

In Central Florida, the seven counties of the statutory East Central Florida region had a combined 3,963,283 residents in the 2020 Census. The Census Bureau's July 1, 2025 population estimates for the same counties add up to 4,385,999, and it estimates they held 1,923,516 housing units on July 1, 2025.

Orlando, in Orange County, is the largest city in the region. The Census Bureau counted 307,573 people there in the 2020 Census and estimates 333,888 for July 1, 2025. The state's April 1, 2025 estimate for Palm Bay, the next largest city, is 146,929.

Common problems

• Burst or leaking pipes, including supply lines to sinks, toilets and washing machines
• Roof leaks after heavy rain or wind, often showing up first as a ceiling stain
• Water heater leaks and failures
• Flooding from storms, overwhelmed drainage or rising water
• Appliance leaks from dishwashers, refrigerators and ice makers
• Sewer and drain backups

Help with a specific problem

• Burst pipe
• Water leaking through the ceiling
• Flooded room
• Leaking water heater
• Mold after a leak
• What water damage restoration costs

What homes in Central Florida are up against

Flooding after Hurricane Ian was widespread. NWS Melbourne reported nearly $161 million in property damage throughout Orange County. Osceola County preliminarily reported 3,200 residential and 900 business structures affected or damaged, with a residential loss estimate of $148 million. A survey confirmed major flooding on the Little Wekiva River, with water entering several homes in Altamonte Springs. The St. Johns River had near-record or record flooding at Sanford and Lake Harney.

In October 2024, Hurricane Milton brought the St. Johns River to major flood stage at Lake Harney, DeLand and Astor, with a new preliminary record crest of 4.81 feet at Astor on October 12. The Orlando West observing site recorded 14.83 inches of rain, among the ten highest totals in east central Florida.

Under section 627.7152(13), Florida Statutes, a policyholder may not assign post-loss benefits under a residential or commercial property insurance policy issued on or after January 1, 2023. Any attempted assignment is void, invalid and unenforceable.

Storms that hit close to home

Recent hurricanes brought wind, rain and flooding to Central Florida.

• Hurricane Ian, landfall near Punta Gorda on 28 September 2022: the National Hurricane Center reports 10 to 20 inches of rain in central and eastern Florida, with 21.49 inches at Daytona Beach, and major flooding in Seminole, Orange, Lake, Putnam and Osceola Counties. Ian damaged an estimated 1,656 structures in Seminole County. In Volusia County, 40 buildings were destroyed and 1,378 were damaged.
• Hurricane Nicole, landfall at Vero Beach on 10 November 2022: gusts reached 63 knots at Melbourne Airport and 59 knots at Cocoa Beach. Beach erosion damaged beachfront structures at Wilbur-by-the-Sea.
• Hurricane Milton, landfall on Siesta Key in October 2024: rain reached 17.20 inches near Ormond Beach, and gusts reached 86 knots at Ponce Inlet. NWS Melbourne counts 3,158 structures affected in Volusia County and 554 in Seminole County. A confirmed EF-1 tornado at Cocoa Beach on 9 October damaged roofs and garages.

In the news

• Hurricane scam: Florida sues company over millions in stolen insurance funds (opens in a new tab)FOX 13 Tampa Bay, Sep 25, 2026

  Florida's attorney general sued Evolve Construction in September 2026, alleging it took insurance money from Hurricane Ian and Milton victims, mostly seniors, for roof, mold and restoration work it never started. Verify licenses and avoid big upfront payments.

• Flood insurance will be mandatory for most Citizens policyholders by 2027 (opens in a new tab)News4JAX, Sep 16, 2025

  Citizens Property Insurance is phasing in a flood insurance requirement for its homeowners that reaches all remaining policies Jan. 1, 2027, even outside FEMA flood zones. Homeowners policies exclude rising water, and noncompliance can cost you your Citizens coverage.

• Hurricane Milton Impacts to East Central Florida (opens in a new tab)National Weather Service Melbourne, Dec 12, 2024

  NWS Melbourne's survey of Milton (Oct 9, 2024) confirmed an EF-1 tornado in Cocoa Beach and a 21-mile EF-1 track through rural Osceola County, plus 10-15+ inches of rain and St. Johns River flooding. Wind and flood damage both hit homes here.

• Hurricane Milton damage: Photos, videos around Central Florida (opens in a new tab)FOX 35 Orlando, Oct 10, 2024

  Milton's Oct 2024 passage brought neighborhood flooding in Altamonte Springs and DeLand, chest-deep water at an Orange County mobile home park, road washouts in Lake County, and a partly torn roof on the Cocoa Beach Pier.

• POST TROPICAL CYCLONE REPORT...HURRICANE NICOLE (opens in a new tab)National Weather Service Melbourne, Nov 12, 2022

  Nicole (Nov 2022) produced gusts of roughly 45-75 mph across the region, about 76,000 Orange County power outages, major St. Johns River flooding at Astor in Lake County, and coastal erosion and structural damage in Volusia County.

Permits and rules

• Mold work over 10 square feet is regulated. Florida's Department of Business and Professional Regulation licenses mold remediators and assessors, with exemptions for some other licensed trades. An assessor generally can't also do the remediation on the same home within 12 months.
• Insurance claim deadlines. Notice of a new property insurance claim must be given within 1 year of the date of loss, or 18 months for a supplemental claim. For a hurricane, the date of loss is the landfall date.
• No assignment of benefits. For residential property policies issued on or after January 1, 2023, you can't sign your insurance benefits over to a contractor. Be wary of anyone who asks you to.

What affects the cost

Prices vary by provider and by how much was affected, so ask for an estimate. What usually affects the cost:

• How large an area got wet, and for how long
• Whether the water was clean, like a supply line, or contaminated, like sewage or floodwater
• How much material has to come out, such as drywall, flooring or insulation
• Whether mold has started to grow
• Drying equipment and how many days it runs
• Rebuilding after the drying is done

What happens when you call

1. You call the number on this page. A short automated assistant asks two or three questions, such as what's wrong and your ZIP code, so we can find the right provider.
2. We connect your call to an independent water damage provider who serves Fruitland Park.
3. You talk with the provider directly about the problem, timing and price before any work starts.

Main Street Water Damage doesn't charge you for the referral. The provider sets their own prices and does the work. Calls are recorded for quality and billing.

Around Central Florida

State law and the regional council define the area a little differently. Florida Statutes section 186.512 (2026) sets the East Central Florida Regional Planning Council region as Brevard, Lake, Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Sumter and Volusia Counties. The council says its own service area is eight counties (Brevard, Lake, Marion, Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Sumter and Volusia) with 78 member towns and cities.

The state's Office of Economic and Demographic Research lists municipalities in each of the seven statutory counties:

• Orange (13): Apopka, Maitland, Ocoee, Orlando, Windermere, Winter Garden, Winter Park and others
• Seminole (7): Altamonte Springs, Casselberry, Lake Mary, Longwood, Oviedo, Sanford and Winter Springs
• Osceola (2): Kissimmee and St. Cloud
• Lake (14): including Clermont, Eustis, Leesburg, Mount Dora and Tavares
• Sumter (5): Bushnell, Center Hill, Coleman, Webster and Wildwood
• Brevard (16): including Cocoa, Melbourne, Palm Bay, Rockledge and Titusville
• Volusia (17): including Daytona Beach, DeLand, Deltona, Ormond Beach and Port Orange

Questions people ask

What should I do first?

If it's safe, shut off the water at the main valve and turn off power to wet areas. Move valuables out of the water and take photos of the damage.

How long does drying take?

It depends on how much got wet and what it's made of. Your provider measures moisture and can tell you how long their equipment needs to run.

Will insurance cover it?

It depends on your policy and the cause. Sudden leaks are often treated differently from flooding or slow leaks. Check with your insurer and report the claim promptly.

Who will come to my home?

An independent water damage provider who serves Fruitland Park. Main Street Water Damage connects you; the provider does the work and sets the price.