Hurricane Damage Cleanup in St. Augustine, FL

What counts as a hurricane emergency?

Treat these as emergencies and call now. Anything else still needs a call, but it can follow these in the order of work.

• Water still coming in through the roof, a window or a door
• Surge or sewage inside rooms where people are living
• Standing water anywhere near outlets or the panel
• A ceiling that sags or has started to drop
• A home closed up for days with wet floors, since the CDC says to assume mold in that case

Hurricanes do not need a direct hit to do this. The St. Augustine Historical Society records that Matthew passed about 30 miles offshore in October 2016, yet surge and nearly ten inches of rain flooded all seven of the city's historic districts.

Inland homes are not off the list. During Milton in 2024, News4Jax reported the Matanzas River over the seawall and into downtown, with water at least half a mile inland, and more than five feet of water south of SR 206 near Flagler Estates and Hastings.

Before you go back in

Wait until officials say your area is safe. Then go through the house slowly, and keep this order.

1. Look at the outside first for structural damage, downed lines and gas smell.
2. Treat every downed line as live and report it.
3. If you smell gas, leave and notify the gas company or fire department.
4. Shut off main power only from a dry place. The CDC says never touch power while standing in water.
5. Photograph every room before cleanup, as the City of St. Augustine advises.
6. Stay out of standing water. It may hold sewage, chemicals and sharp debris.
7. Keep generators outdoors, at least 20 feet from doors, windows and vents.

Do not turn utilities back on until connections are inspected. If you are unsure, wait for a professional. The city's after a storm page lists current utility and helpline contacts.

How we prioritize hurricane damage cleanup

We work a damaged home from the worst hazard down. When you call, we ask about water, power and people before anything else.

1. Stop the water. Tarps and boards go first where they are needed. See emergency board up and tarping.
2. Record the loss. We take photos before demolition, start the moisture map and set the category, with surge and floodwater getting Category 3 handling.
3. Extract. Pumps and extractors take out standing water and soaked carpet.
4. Remove and clean. Wet carpet, pad, insulation and drywall come out, with flood cuts where walls took water. Mud and silt follow, and antimicrobial goes on where needed.
5. Dry. Air movers and LGR dehumidifiers start once power is steady.
6. Prove it. Daily readings continue until materials match the dry standard.

What the cleanup includes

Our part is the inside of the house, from the first emergency cover to the day the readings pass. A hurricane home rarely has one kind of water. One job can mix Category 3 surge at floor level with cleaner rain in the ceilings, so we scope each room for what actually reached it.

Days closed up count as much as water depth. A house shut for a week without power starts from a different place than one opened right after landfall, so we note how long it sat and look for growth before drying begins. If growth passes 10 square feet, Florida treats that work as licensed mold remediation.

Repairs follow drying. Roofs go to a roofer, structural work goes to a suitable licensed contractor, and we scope and sequence the drywall, paint and flooring around them.

• Temporary tarps and boards over openings
• Extraction of surge and rain water
• Tear-out of wet carpet, pad, insulation and drywall
• Removal of mud, silt and sand
• Air movers, LGR dehumidifiers and HEPA air scrubbers
• A moisture map, a photo record and daily readings

How do surge, rain and wind damage differ?

Most storm-hit homes have more than one kind, and each needs its own scope. Sort them early, because each one calls for a different trade and a different order of work.

Here, surge is the one to fear on the river as well as the coast. In Davis Shores, News4Jax reported a 7-foot surge in Matthew. During Irma in 2017, the Historical Society notes a 3.3-foot surge at Vilano Beach and 15.39 inches of rain. Rain alone can flood a home that surge never touches.

Where we respond after a major storm

Our area is six counties: Duval, St. Johns, Clay, Putnam, Flagler and Volusia. Vilano Beach, St. Augustine Beach, Crescent Beach and Ponte Vedra Beach sit where wind and surge arrive together.

Roads decide what is possible. During Milton in 2024, News4Jax reported more than 20 impassable roads around high tide, and the Bridge of Lions closed twice. So we tell you honestly what access looks like when you call, and we do not give an arrival number we cannot keep.

How are estimates handled after a hurricane?

The estimate comes first. You see the scope and the price before we start the work. The assessment costs you nothing on a water damage project, and there is no sales pressure.

The main factors are the water category, wet square footage, days the home sat closed, equipment days, access and disposal. Ask any company to show you the same detail.

Each factor has a local reason. Surge usually means more tear-out than rain, because porous materials touched by Category 3 water come out. Days closed up add cleaning if growth has started. A home without power may have to wait for drying, and access changes when A1A or a bridge closes. Disposal grows with the curb pile, and the City says to follow County and City debris instructions and not to mix types.

Before you sign a storm repair contract with anyone, the City points residents to the state Department of Financial Services helpline. Report extreme price increases to the Attorney General. Both numbers are on the city page linked above.

Claim dates and permits to keep in view

Write down the date of loss. Under F.S. 627.70132, notice of a claim or reopened claim is due within 1 year of the date of loss, and a supplemental claim within 18 months. For a hurricane, the statute sets the date of loss at landfall. Flood policies are separate and have their own terms. In every case, your policy wording and your adjuster decide.

We provide the record: a photo set, moisture logs, equipment logs and the itemized estimate. Our claim documentation page shows what that looks like. We explain our own estimate, but we do not interpret policies or negotiate. Under F.S. 627.7152(13), a policy issued since January 1, 2023 does not allow post-loss benefits to be assigned, so we never ask for that. An attorney, a licensed public adjuster or your insurer can answer coverage questions.

Inside St. Augustine city limits, the storm guide says tear-out and temporary tarps need no permit, but drywall and structural repairs do, and storm permits are to be expedited. Homes in a flood zone have one more rule to check, so read our notes on the substantial damage rule before you plan repairs. Ask any company for its license number and check it on the DBPR site, ours included.

Why 1 Call when everyone is calling

After a storm, you will see a lot of unfamiliar companies. Here is what you get with us:

• A local, family-owned company founded in 2020, not a storm crew passing through
• Calls that go straight to the owner, Dal Beggs
• A plain answer on when we can get to you
• Written scope before heavy work starts
• Daily moisture readings you can see for yourself
• Free assessments and estimates, with no high-pressure sales
• Open 24 hours for emergencies, with other calls best between 7am and 7pm

We are based in St. Johns County, so our roads and bridges are part of the same storm as yours. That is why you hear about access on the first call.