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Flood risk and storm water in Sarasota

Census, FEMA and NOAA figures for the Sarasota area, and what to do with them.

60% of homes in Sarasota were built before 1980.

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  • Calls answered 24/7
  • Written estimate before work starts
  • Water removal, drying and repair

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Technical drawing of flood damage restoration: flooded basement cleanup, storm water cleanup and crawl space water removal.
What flood damage restoration includes: flooded basement cleanup, storm water cleanup and crawl space water removal.

What happens when you call

  1. Call (833) 728-2327

    Say what is wet, where the water came from and whether it is still running. The call is answered any hour.

  2. Stop the source

    If water is still coming in, you are walked through the shutoff valve or the breaker first.

  3. Inspection and written estimate

    The crew checks the water category, measures moisture in walls and floors, photographs the damage and writes the estimate before work starts.

Call (833) 728-2327

Written for homeowners in the Sarasota area.

Paid flood insurance claims in Sarasota's ZIP codes averaged $77,626 for the building from 2016 to 2025.

What the flood figures say for Sarasota

Sarasota's flood record sits between the county's and the state's. FEMA flood insurance records show 24.1 claims per 1,000 homes from 2016 to 2025, against 37.3 for Sarasota County and 19.8 for Florida. The average building payment was $77,626, below the county's $105,874.

Hurricanes drive the figures. FEMA's National Risk Index puts yearly hurricane loss at $187 per $100,000 of building value. That is close to the county's 186 and well above the state's 107. Coastal flood loss is $16, against 7 for the county, and inland flood loss is $72. NOAA's climate normals count 15 days a year with an inch of rain or more. Sarasota County has had 18 major disaster declarations for floods and storms since 2000, with flood reports on 8 days from 2016 to 2025.

Water that enters from outside is Category 3. It carries salt, silt and sewage, so the restoration crew removes the drywall, insulation and flooring it reached. FEMA's records show 17.9% of Sarasota County homes with federal flood insurance. Your insurance company is the place to ask what your policy covers. With 44% of homes rented, tenants should photograph their own belongings after a storm.

Flood and weather figures for Sarasota

Sarasota figures: about 56,218 residents in the city, by the Census.

About 44% of households in Sarasota rent. The building is usually the owner's to repair, so a tenant should tell the landlord about a leak right away.

In Sarasota, 41% of homes are apartments or condos in buildings of five units or more.

Federal flood insurance claims in Sarasota's ZIP codes came to 24.1 per 1,000 homes from 2016 to 2025, against 37.3 across Sarasota County.

  • 60% Homes built before 1980Sarasota County: 37% Sarasota60%Sarasota37%FL35%
  • 44% Homes that are rentedSarasota County: 24% Sarasota44%Sarasota24%FL33%
  • 41% Homes in buildings with 5 or more unitsSarasota County: 20% Sarasota41%Sarasota20%FL25%
  • 32,123 Housing units
  • 56,218 Residents
  • 24.1 Flood insurance claims per 1,000 homes, 2016 to 2025Sarasota County: 37.3 Sarasota24.1Sarasota37.3FL19.8
  • 16 Yearly coastal flood loss per $100,000 of building valueSarasota County: 7 Sarasota16Sarasota7FL5
  • 9% Homes built before 1950Sarasota County: 2% Sarasota9%Sarasota2%FL4%
  • 4% Mobile and manufactured homesSarasota County: 8% Sarasota4%Sarasota8%FL8%

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019-2023 5-year estimates; FEMA OpenFEMA, FIMA NFIP Redacted Claims v3, claims from 2016 to 2025 (not endorsed by FEMA); FEMA OpenFEMA, NFIP Residential Penetration Rates v1 (not endorsed by FEMA); FEMA National Risk Index v1.20, December 2025 (not endorsed by FEMA); NOAA NCEI, U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020, nearest weather station; FEMA OpenFEMA, Disaster Declarations Summaries v2 (not endorsed by FEMA); NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, 2016 to 2025.

Lowering the risk in Sarasota

Census figures show 60% of Sarasota homes were built before 1980, and many still drain through original downspouts and yard grading that has settled over time. Before hurricane season, clear out the downspouts and extend them so they empty well away from the foundation, and fill low spots where water pools against the walls.

If your home or building has a sump or drainage pump, test it with a bucket of water and add a battery backup, since storms that bring surge also cut power. Clear sand and leaves from window wells, light wells and low vents. Move papers, photos and electronics off the floor, and in a ground-floor condo, raise what you can onto shelves.

With 44% of homes rented and 41% in buildings with 5 or more units, tenants should ask the manager about the building's storm plan. Owners of the 14% of homes kept for seasonal use should shut off the main water valve before leaving. Check your address on FEMA's flood map, and before the season call your insurance company to ask what your policy covers.

If water gets in, stay out of standing water near outlets, cut power at the panel when it is safe and photograph each room. Storm water is Category 3, so flood damage restoration usually means removing soaked carpet, pad and lower drywall. Family members nearby can use the same line for water removal in Bradenton. Drying should start within 24 to 48 hours.

Getting your paperwork ready in Sarasota

Get ready in Sarasota before the water does. Check your address on FEMA's flood maps, record a short video of every room, and keep policy numbers and the location of the main shutoff and breaker panel on paper. Store important papers above the basement floor. When water comes in, take photos of the water line before anything is moved; those pictures matter for the cleanup plan and for any claim. Laminate and hardwood under floodwater often need subfloor water damage repair once drying ends.

What Sarasota callers ask about floods

What does a FEMA flood risk rating mean for my Sarasota home?

The rating compares the expected flood losses of Sarasota County with the rest of the country. It is a guide to the area's exposure, not a promise for your address, so look at your flood zone, your lot and your basement as well.

How do I keep storm water out of a Sarasota basement?

Keep downspouts discharging several feet from the foundation, grade soil away from the house, test the sump pump before storm season and add a battery backup, and check window wells and basement door seals. Flood insurance covers what still gets in from outside.

Is flood cleanup different from other water damage?

Floodwater carries soil, chemicals and bacteria, so the job adds tear-out and disinfection before drying. Carpet pad and drywall below the water line are removed, not dried in place.

What should I do after floodwater gets into my Sarasota home?

Stay out of standing water until the power to that area is off, and keep children and pets away, because floodwater can carry sewage and chemicals. Photograph the water line on the walls, move what you can to a dry room and call for flood cleanup. Carpet, pad and drywall below the water line usually have to come out.

Where can I check the flood zone for a Sarasota address?

FEMA's Flood Map Service Center shows the mapped flood zone for any address. Check it for your Sarasota home, keep a copy, and remember that basements outside high-risk zones still take in water during heavy rain.

Keep reading about Sarasota

Sarasota guides on costs, first steps and floods

Water damage in Sarasota? Call (833) 728-2327

Calls answered 24/7. The estimate is in writing before work begins.

Call (833) 728-2327Calls answered 24/7
Call (833) 728-2327, answered 24/7