Flooding in Pompano Beach, FL: the figures

Before the next storm in Pompano Beach

Pompano Beach averages 16 days a year with an inch of rain or more, and FEMA's National Risk Index rates its coastal flood loss above Broward County's. Before the rainy season, clear out the downspouts and extend them so roof water lands well away from the slab. Check that patios and planting beds slope away from the walls, and clear the curb drain if leaves pile up there.

If your building has a sump pump or a garage drain, test it with a bucket of water and add battery backup. Move papers, photos and electronics off the floor, especially in ground-floor units. Census figures show 46% of homes are rented and 13% are kept for seasonal use, so tenants should know who to call and seasonal owners should shut the main valve before leaving. Look up your address on the FEMA flood map, and note which rooms sit lowest. Before the season, call your insurance company to ask what your policy covers.

When water gets in, switch off power to wet rooms if you can do it safely, take photos and call. Outside water is Category 3, so soaked drywall and pad come out before drying. Water damage repair follows once readings show the walls are dry. In older ground-floor units, tile and wood sit on concrete that holds moisture for days, so the restoration crew checks the slab too. Water removal in Coral Springs and other Broward towns follows the same steps.