Restoration Referral in Winter Park, FL

In 2022 the lakes, not the roof, did the damage

Winter Park received roughly 12 to 18 inches of rain from September 28 to 30, 2022. The city closed all of its lakes. Gloria Eby, the city's Natural Resources and Sustainability director, said flooding had impacted a lot of homes in the Lake Bell and Lake Killarney areas and along the Chain of Lakes, and warned that boat wakes at high water were damaging shoreline property.

The owner of the Winter Park Scenic Boat Tour said lake levels were the highest in the roughly 40 years he has run the tour. The city's own flood guide sets a closure trigger for the Chain of Lakes at 66.1 feet; in September 2024 Lake Virginia read 66.3 feet and the chain was closed again after afternoon storms.

Lakefront homes: document the waterline and the wake damage

If you live on the Chain of Lakes, Lake Bell or Lake Killarney, photograph the waterline and your seawall, dock and landscaping before cleanup. Wake damage and rising water can both show up on the same property, and the photos are what separate them later. Water that came from a lake is treated as Category 3 (grossly contaminated) in the IICRC S500 standard, so wet drywall, insulation and flooring generally need to be removed, not dried in place.

Florida's Office of Insurance Regulation has said a basic homeowners policy does not cover flooding, which is a separate policy. Ask your agent which of your coverages apply to rising lake water before you assume either way.

Winter Park's older homes and their contents

Winter Park has many older homes, some with original plumbing, tile roofs and valuable contents. When a leak reaches hardwood floors, plaster or built-ins, the decision between drying in place and replacing is worth a written estimate before work starts. Ask the matched company to explain in writing which materials it plans to dry and which it plans to remove, and why. EPA guidance is to dry wet materials within 24 to 48 hours to prevent mold.