The question everyone asks first
After floodwater is in the house, the first question is usually not “how do I fix it” – it is “who pays for it?” This page explains the main routes honestly. One thing to know about us up front: Florida GC Group LLC is a licensed general contractor. We document flood damage and provide itemized estimates you can share with your insurer or the City. We do not handle claims, negotiate with insurers, or promise that any cost will be covered – coverage decisions belong to your insurer and the programs below.
1. Flood insurance (NFIP or private flood policy)
- Standard homeowners insurance policies generally exclude flood damage. If you carry a flood policy – through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) or a private flood insurer – that is the policy that responds to rising-water damage.
- The flood insurer pays you, the homeowner. You choose your contractor.
- NFIP requires a Proof of Loss – a sworn statement of the amount you are claiming – within 60 days of the loss. Do not let that deadline pass while you wait.
- Practical tip: document everything now (photos of water lines and damaged materials before disposal). Our free assessment adds a contractor’s photos and an itemized estimate to your file: Flood Damage Repair & Reconstruction
2. Homeowners insurance – the limited exception
- Water that came from inside the home – a burst pipe or a failed water heater – is a different category from flooding and is often covered under homeowners policies (minus your deductible). Repairs after that kind of water damage are covered on our Water Damage Repair page.
- Some policies include a small water-backup or sump-overflow endorsement (often $5,000-$25,000). Check your declarations page or ask your agent.
3. The City of Port St. Lucie’s SHIP program – act fast
- The City of Port St. Lucie has allocated $1 million in SHIP Disaster Relief funding for this flood event: up to $25,000 per eligible homeowner, as a 0% interest deferred loan, forgiven over 5 years.
- Eligibility basics: low-to-moderate income, home inside Port St. Lucie city limits, owner-occupied for at least 1 year, assessed value no more than $560,154.
- What it can cover includes: removal of water-damaged materials, water extraction, roof and weatherproofing repairs, emergency plumbing and electrical work, stabilization, debris removal, and payment of certain deductibles.
- Two critical rules: the work must be approved by the City BEFORE it begins (unapproved or unpermitted work does not qualify), and mold is excluded – mold must be handled separately, first, by a licensed mold professional.
- Pre-applications opened at 8 AM on Thursday, November 5, 2026, and funding is first-come. Contact the City directly: Neighborhood Services Department, 772-344-4084, Housing@cityofpsl.com.
- We are not affiliated with the City and cannot approve or influence applications. What we can do: provide the photos, scope and itemized estimate your application or your insurer may ask for.
4. FEMA and SBA
- As of this writing, no FEMA individual-assistance declaration has been issued for this flood event. If that changes, this page will be updated. FEMA help (when declared) is applied for at DisasterAssistance.gov, and it never requires hiring any particular contractor.
- Low-interest SBA disaster loans are sometimes an option for homeowners after a declaration. Check sba.gov for current availability.
5. The FEMA 50% rule – know it before you rebuild
- If your home is in a flood zone and the cost of repairs reaches 50% or more of the structure’s market value, local rules can require the whole building to be brought up to current flood standards. Determinations run through the building department. This is one reason a written, itemized scope matters before major work begins.
What we do – and do not do – about payment
- We do: free flood-damage assessment, photo documentation, written scope, itemized estimate; we answer your adjuster’s questions about our scope; we pull our own permits.
- We do not: file or negotiate claims, promise coverage, waive or cover deductibles, or ask you to sign over your insurance benefits. Any contractor who offers to “handle everything with your insurance and waive your deductible” is offering something Florida law restricts – be careful.
Next step
Call (561) 255-4908 for your free assessment and itemized estimate – the document every payer route above asks for.