Water Damage Restoration in Fort Lauderdale, FL

Fort Lauderdale: Our Home Base and South Florida's Most Flood-Tested City

Fort Lauderdale is where Dry Rely Water Damage Restoration is headquartered — we know this city's water damage challenges more intimately than any other. With approximately 191,000 residents, 165 miles of canals and waterways that earned it the title "Venice of America," and a median building age of 1972 meaning most structures are over 50 years old, Fort Lauderdale generates more water damage restoration demand than virtually any other city in Broward County. Our office at 500 N Andrews Ave puts us within minutes of neighborhoods across the city.

The 2023 Historic Flood

On April 12, 2023, Fort Lauderdale experienced its worst flooding in recorded history — 25.91 inches of rain in approximately 12 hours, classified as a 1-in-1,000-year rain event. The flooding shut down Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, stranded thousands of residents, submerged vehicles, and caused hundreds of millions of dollars in damage. Neighborhoods including Victoria Park, Colee Hammock, Rio Vista, Sailboat Bend, and areas along the New River were devastated. The event exposed vulnerabilities in the city's aging stormwater infrastructure and galvanized a $400+ million infrastructure improvement program. Dry Rely responded to hundreds of emergency calls during and after the 2023 flood, and we remain the go-to restoration company for Fort Lauderdale residents who experienced that event firsthand.

165 Miles of Canals — A Double-Edged Sword

Fort Lauderdale's famous canal system provides its distinctive waterfront lifestyle but also creates pervasive flood risk. The Intracoastal Waterway, New River, Middle River, Tarpon River, and dozens of smaller canals mean that a significant percentage of Fort Lauderdale properties sit within feet of water. King tides — which have increased in frequency and severity due to sea level rise — cause street-level flooding in low-lying areas like the Isles neighborhoods (Sunrise Key, Coral Ridge Isles, Las Olas Isles), Riviera Isles, and the Victoria Park area. Even without storms, tidal flooding now affects Fort Lauderdale 15–20 times per year.

Aging Infrastructure Compounds Risk

Fort Lauderdale's sewer system is 50–60 years old and has experienced major failures. Between 2019 and 2020, sewer main breaks released approximately 219 million gallons of raw sewage — a crisis that demonstrated the consequences of deferred infrastructure maintenance. Many homes built during the 1960s–70s Broward County building boom feature original galvanized steel plumbing, flat or low-pitch roofs with failing membrane systems, and single-pane jalousie windows that allow wind-driven rain intrusion during storms. The city's eastern neighborhoods — including Victoria Park, Wilton Manors-adjacent areas, Poinsettia Heights, and Imperial Point — feature some of the oldest housing stock.

Neighborhoods We Serve Throughout Fort Lauderdale

Dry Rely serves every Fort Lauderdale neighborhood with local expertise. The Las Olas Isles and adjacent waterfront neighborhoods require water damage specialists who understand saltwater intrusion and luxury home restoration. The Rio Vista and Tarpon River areas face New River flooding during heavy rain combined with tidal events. Flagler Village and the rapidly developing FATVillage arts district feature a mix of repurposed warehouse spaces and new construction, each with unique water damage risks. Coral Ridge, Imperial Point, and Bayview Drive present older single-family home challenges — aging roofs, corroding plumbing, and overgrown tree canopies that become debris hazards during hurricanes. The commercial corridors along Federal Highway, Broward Boulevard, and Commercial Boulevard generate commercial water damage from flat roof failures, plumbing emergencies, and storm-driven flooding.

Why Fort Lauderdale Trusts Dry Rely

As the only major restoration company headquartered in Fort Lauderdale with deep local knowledge of every neighborhood, every canal, and every flood-prone intersection, Dry Rely brings something no national franchise can — genuine community expertise. We've restored homes in Victoria Park after the 2023 flood. We've extracted water from Las Olas Isles mansions during king tide events. We've dried commercial spaces in Flagler Village and remediated mold in Coral Ridge homes. When Fort Lauderdale floods, we're already here.