Roughly a thousand small cottages, most built during the 1920s land boom, fill the blocks east of Dixie Highway in Lake Worth Beach. It is the largest concentration of its kind in South Florida. Many sit on 25-foot lots with two bedrooms or fewer and a crawl space underneath, and they handle water very differently from the block-and-slab houses built later. Add the Lake Worth Lagoon along the city's eastern edge and streets that can fill quickly in a downpour, and water damage here comes with its own set of considerations.
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Crawl Spaces, Pine Framing and the 1920s Cottage
Cottages in neighborhoods such as Downtown Jewel, Bryant Park, South Palm Park and Mango Groves are typically raised over a crawl space, and some were built with Dade County pine. That design lets air move under the house, but it also means water from a flooded yard, a leaking supply line or a failed water heater can collect beneath the floor where no one sees it. Joists and subfloor absorb that moisture, wood floors cup, and musty air rises into the rooms above.
When a cottage takes on water, check under the house as well as inside it. Remove standing water from the crawl space, dry the framing with air movers and dehumidifiers, and look for soft spots in the subfloor. Water damage repair in these homes often means saving original pine where possible rather than replacing it, since old-growth lumber is hard to match.
March 2024: Knee-Deep Water on 18th Avenue South
A heavy rainstorm in March 2024 left water knee-deep on 18th Avenue South. It seeped into several houses, and one resident climbing in through a window found it at thigh level. A homeowner whose garage had flooded before said it was the first time water had come inside his house. The city's utilities director said de-watering pumps had been running and the flooding could have been worse without them, and the city has worked on upgrading a pump at the end of the street.
Street water carries contamination from roads, yards and sometimes sewers, so drywall, carpet and pad it touches usually need to come out. Flood cleanup involves removing the water, cutting out affected materials, disinfecting surfaces and drying the structure before repairs.
The Lagoon, Storm Surge and a Long Hurricane Record
The Lake Worth Lagoon is really a saltwater estuary, connected to the ocean through man-made inlets. Before a hurricane makes landfall, the city warns, tides can run 3 to 4 feet above normal, pushing water into low areas near the lagoon. The 1928 Okeechobee hurricane destroyed about 600 homes, damaged 1,500 more and wrecked about three-quarters of the buildings in the business district. The 1947 hurricane damaged nearly all businesses and about half of homes, and Frances, Jeanne and Wilma in 2004 and 2005 caused about $28 million in damage combined.
- Know your flood zone and evacuation zone before storm season.
- Secure or move items stored under raised cottages.
- After a storm, check attics, ceilings and crawl spaces for water.
- Document damage before cleanup and contact your insurer promptly.
Free Flood Advice From the City's Building Division
The city's Building Division can tell you a property's flood zone, historical flooding patterns and future flood projections, and it offers free consultations and site visits about protecting a building. Options include barriers or berms at low entry points, elevating electrical equipment and installing backflow valves so sewer or storm water cannot push up through drains. Standard homeowners and renters policies do not cover flood damage, and there is usually a 30-day wait before a new flood policy takes effect.
Humidity and Mold in Older Homes
Lake Worth Beach has a tropical monsoon climate, with a hot, wet season that keeps humidity high for months. In older homes with plaster, wood and crawl spaces, moisture lingers and mold can follow. Ventilate crawl spaces, fix leaks quickly, and keep gutters and downspouts directing water away from the foundation. If mold has developed, stop the moisture source first, then remove and clean affected materials and dry the area thoroughly.
Where Callers in the Lake Worth Beach Area Are
Calls come in from across Lake Worth Beach, including:
- Downtown Jewel
- Bryant Park
- College Park
- South Palm Park
- Mango Groves
- Parrot Cove
- Royal Poinciana
- Tropical Ridge
- Lake Cove
- Eden Place
The same line also serves nearby communities such as:
- West Palm Beach
- Lake Clarke Shores
- Palm Springs
- Lantana
- Greenacres
- Palm Beach
Questions From Lake Worth Beach Property Owners
Water got under my cottage but not inside. Do I need to do anything?
Yes. Water in a crawl space can soak floor joists and subfloor, raise humidity in the house and lead to rot or mold over time. Remove standing water, then dry the area with fans or dehumidifiers. If the water came from a flood, have materials checked for contamination. A restoration provider can measure moisture in framing and set up drying under the floor.
Is my Lake Worth Beach home in a flood zone?
The city's Building Division can look up your property's zone, and Palm Beach County and FEMA have online maps. New countywide maps took effect in December 2024, so it is worth checking even if you looked before. Homes outside high-risk zones still flood during heavy rain, as the 2024 storm on 18th Avenue South showed.
Can I keep original materials in a historic home after water damage?
Often, yes. Solid wood framing and flooring can often be dried in place if water was clean and the response was quick. Plaster can sometimes be saved too. Contaminated flood water changes that, since porous materials it touches typically need removal. If your home is in a historic district such as College Park or Old Lucerne, check with the city before changing exterior features.