Solares Hill, the highest ground on Key West, tops out around 18 feet, and it covers about an acre. Almost everything else on this four-mile coral island sits far lower, which is why storm surge, not rain, has done the worst damage here. Key West is actually the driest city in Florida on average, with roughly 40 inches of rain a year, but in October 2005 Hurricane Wilma's surge pushed water across about 60 percent of the island.
The Restoration Job connects callers with independent, third-party restoration companies; we do not do the work ourselves. Call (888) 317-9980, day or night, and we'll put you in touch with a provider that serves Key West and the Lower Keys, whether the problem is surge, a backed-up sewer line, or a roof that started leaking in a squall.
How the call works: when you call (888) 317-9980, The Restoration Job connects you with an independent restoration provider that serves Key West. That provider inspects the damage, explains the scope and quotes the work. The Restoration Job doesn't perform restoration itself. Read our referral disclosure.
Old Town on Piers, New Town on Filled Salt Ponds
The island's housing tells you a lot about how it floods. Many of the wood-frame homes in Old Town and Bahama Village were built between the 1880s and about 1912 on piers roughly three feet off the ground, with metal roofs and wood siding, a design that let floodwater pass underneath. New Town, on the east side, was developed from the late 1950s on land created by filling large salt ponds, and its houses, schools and shopping centers sit mostly on slabs at grade.
That difference shapes the cleanup. In a raised conch house, surge water may stay below the floor but soak the crawlspace, piers, ductwork and the underside of the floor framing. In a slab house in New Town or Casa Marina, even a foot of water reaches drywall, cabinets and flooring directly. During Wilma, the worst flooding was reported in Bahama Village, Casa Marina, the Flagler area and parts of New Town.
Surge History: Wilma, Irma and Ian
- Wilma, October 24, 2005: a storm tide of about 6.5 feet above mean sea level; low-lying parts of the island were under as much as three feet of water.
- Irma, September 10, 2017: landfall on Cudjoe Key in the Lower Keys as a Category 4. Key West saw surge of roughly 3 feet, while parts of the Lower and Middle Keys took 5 to 8 feet of inundation.
- Ian, September 2022: Ian flooded Atlantic Boulevard knee-deep in places, and the city's emergency management chief described Wilma-like damage, including manhole covers and sewer lids blown off.
Saltwater that sits in a home for even a day leaves salt in drywall, insulation and wood, and that salt keeps pulling moisture from the air. A provider doing flood cleanup after surge will usually remove affected materials, rinse and treat framing, and dry the structure before anything is closed back up.
When the Sewer Comes Back Up
On an island this flat, surge and heavy downpours load the sewer and storm systems at the same time, and the result can be wastewater coming up through floor drains, tubs and toilets. That is category 3 water. Porous materials it touches, including carpet, pad, upholstered furniture and the lower portion of drywall, generally cannot be saved, and the area needs disinfection before drying begins. Keep children and pets away, avoid running fixtures until the line is cleared, and look for a provider experienced in sewage cleanup rather than treating it like a clean-water leak.
Rain Can Still Flood Duval Street
A dry average does not rule out a soaking. On October 2, 2026, Key West recorded 3.64 inches of rain, breaking a record of 2.5 inches that had stood since 1943, and water stood on Duval Street and many other streets. September is typically the wettest month, falling inside a wet season that runs from May through October, which overlaps the peak of hurricane season. Short, intense bursts like that one test older roofs, window frames and the joints where additions meet original houses.
Salt Air, Closed-Up Homes and Mold
Second homes and vacation rentals carry extra risk here. A house that sits closed for weeks after a storm, with power out or the air conditioning off, gives mold an easy start on damp walls, furniture and closets. Wood-frame construction adds another layer: framing and subfloors can hold moisture long after surfaces look dry. If you are managing a property from off the island, arrange for someone to open it, photograph it and get the air conditioning running as soon as power returns, and ask any provider to take moisture readings in the framing before finishes go back on. Where growth has taken hold, mold remediation should follow drying, not replace it.
Up the chain, Key Largo faces a different mix of tidal and surge flooding.
Areas In and Around Key West
Calls come in from across Key West, including:
- Old Town
- Bahama Village
- New Town
- Casa Marina
- Flagler
The same line also serves nearby communities such as:
- Stock Island
- Key Haven
- Big Coppitt Key
- Cudjoe Key
Questions From Key West Property Owners
My Key West house is on piers. Can it still have water damage after surge?
Yes. Even when water stays below the floor, it can saturate the crawlspace, wet the underside of the floor framing, flood ductwork and damage plumbing and wiring running under the house. Salt residue keeps those materials damp. Have the space inspected and dried once the water recedes, and check for sagging or soft flooring over the next few weeks.
Is surge flooding covered by my homeowners policy in Key West?
Usually not. Rising water from storm surge is generally covered by a separate flood insurance policy, while wind damage, such as a torn roof that lets rain in, falls under a windstorm or homeowners policy. Many Keys claims involve both, so photograph water lines on walls and roof damage separately and tell each insurer exactly what you saw.
I own a rental in Key West and I'm not on the island. What should happen first after a storm?
Get someone you trust inside as soon as roads and power allow. They should photograph every room, note water lines, shut off the main water if there is any plumbing damage, and turn on the air conditioning if power is back. Then call your insurer and arrange for a restoration provider to assess moisture before mold has a chance to establish.
Where can I check official storm updates for Key West?
The National Weather Service office in Key West issues local forecasts, watches and warnings for the Keys, and Monroe County Emergency Management posts evacuation orders, re-entry information and shelter details. Check both before driving down after a storm.