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Water Damage & Mold Remediation in Merritt Island, FL
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Call (000) 000-0000Updated November 6, 2026. Local figures from FEMA and NOAA data, with sources below.
Merritt Island water and flood risk by the numbers
| Flood insurance claims filed since 1978 | 795[1] |
|---|---|
| Total paid on those claims (nominal dollars) | $10.7 million[1] |
| Claims filed since 2015 | 302[1] |
| Average payout per paid claim | $28,065[1] |
| Share of claims from outside FEMA high-risk flood zones | 53.6%[1] |
| Brevard County homes in a FEMA high-risk flood zone | 6.8% (17,068 of 249,193)[2] |
| Brevard County homes with NFIP flood insurance | 11.8%[2] |
| Federal major disaster declarations covering Brevard County since 2000 | 16[3] |
| Average annual rainfall (Melbourne International Airport) | 50.8 inches[4] |
| Days per year with 0.1 inch or more of rain | 73[4] |
Want the full statewide table? See Florida flood claims by city.
What the data says for Merritt Island homeowners
The average paid flood claim in Merritt Island is $28,065, about 46% of the statewide average of $61,615[1]. 38% of Merritt Island's claims were filed in 2015 or later, versus 44.9% statewide.
Flood claims history
FEMA records show 795 National Flood Insurance Program claims filed in Merritt Island since 1978, with $10.7 million paid out[1]. The events behind the most claims were Tropical Storm Fay and Hurricane Irma.
Flood zones
Being outside a mapped flood zone is not protection in Merritt Island. 53.6% of local flood claims with a recorded zone came from properties outside FEMA's high-risk areas[1], compared with 12.1% statewide. Standard homeowners policies generally do not cover flood damage, so these owners needed a separate flood policy to be paid.
Flood insurance gap
Only 11.8% of homes in Brevard County carry NFIP flood insurance[2], and even inside the high-risk flood zone only 47.0% are insured[2]. Uninsured flood damage is paid out of pocket, which makes fast drying to limit the damage even more important.
Rain and humidity
Merritt Island averages 51 inches of rain a year, with 0.1 inch or more of rain on about 73 days and 20 inches falling in June through August alone[4]. Warm, wet conditions like these are why wet drywall, carpet pad and cabinets need to be dried quickly after any leak.
Disaster history
Brevard County has been included in 16 federal major disaster declarations since 2000[3], including Hurricane Milton (2024), Hurricane Debby (2024), Hurricane Idalia (2023), Hurricane Nicole (2022).
What to do right now
- Stay away from wet electrical equipment; if reaching the breaker means walking through water, call an electrician[7][8].
- Stop the source, then photograph everything and keep receipts[9].
- Start drying within 24 to 48 hours[10]. Full step-by-step guide.
Ready to talk to a provider? Call (000) 000-0000
Merritt Island flood claims in detail
Where in Merritt Island the claims are
ZIP code 32952 has the most flood insurance claims in Merritt Island's FEMA records: 429 claims and $3.7 million paid[1].
| ZIP code | Claims | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| 32952 | 429 | $3.7 million |
| 32953 | 366 | $7.0 million |
The storms behind Merritt Island's flood claims
| Event (FEMA label) | Claims | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| Tropical Storm Fay | 162 | $1.7 million |
| Hurricane Irma | 136 | $3.2 million |
| Hurricane Irene | 53 | $28,692 |
| Hurricane Jeanne | 43 | $377,454 |
| Hurricane Frances | 42 | $339,812 |
| Hurricane Matthew | 40 | $99,157 |
Tropical Storm Fay produced the most claims in Merritt Island[1]. 249 claims (31%) are not linked to a named storm or designated flood event in FEMA's records, a reminder that heavy rain and high tides cause flood damage too.
Worst years
The years with the most Merritt Island flood claims were 2008: 166 claims ($1.7 million); 2017: 164 claims ($3.9 million); 2004: 90 claims ($726,825); 1999: 69 claims ($83,882)[1].
Flood zone mix
Of 334 Merritt Island claims with a recorded flood zone: 54% in zone X/B/C (moderate to low risk), 46% in zone A (high risk)[1].
Merritt Island compared with nearby cities
| City | Claims (all years) | Since 2015 | Avg paid claim | Outside high-risk zone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merritt Island | 795 | 302 | $28,065 | 53.6% |
| Cocoa | 90 | 31 | $29,947 | 71.9% |
| Titusville | 120 | 79 | $39,720 | 72.5% |
| Melbourne | 635 | 137 | $21,843 | 71.8% |
| Palm Bay | 369 | 74 | $25,649 | 50.5% |
| Oviedo | 113 | 78 | $92,107 | 50.7% |
Source: FEMA NFIP claims[1].
Florida rules in brief
- Report a new claim within 1 year of the date of loss[11]. Most homeowners insurance does not cover flood[5]. Florida water damage claims explained.
- Mold remediation over 10 square feet requires a Florida license, issued to individuals; verify it with DBPR[12][13][14]. How mold remediation works.
- Costs: national guides put typical mold remediation at about $1,100 to $6,000 and water damage restoration at about $1,300 to $6,400[15][16][17][18]. Mold cost ยท Water damage cost.
Merritt Island water damage and mold questions
How many flood insurance claims have been filed in Merritt Island?
795 since 1978, 302 of them since 2015, with $10.7 million paid in nominal dollars[1]. The average paid flood claim in Merritt Island is $28,065, about 46% of the statewide average of $61,615[1]. 38% of Merritt Island's claims were filed in 2015 or later, versus 44.9% statewide.
Which Merritt Island ZIP code has the most flood claims?
32952, with 429 claims and $3.7 million paid, followed by 32953 with 366 claims[1].
Which storm caused the most flood claims in Merritt Island?
Tropical Storm Fay, with 162 claims in FEMA's records[1]. By dollars, the costliest was Hurricane Irma at $3.2 million.
Can a Merritt Island home flood outside a flood zone?
Yes. 6.8% of Brevard County homes are in a FEMA high-risk flood zone[2], but 53.6% of Merritt Island claims with a recorded zone came from outside high-risk areas[1]. Most homeowners insurance does not cover flood[5], and new NFIP policies usually have a 30-day wait[6].
How much rain does Merritt Island get?
About 51 inches a year at Melbourne International Airport, with 20 inches in June through August and about 73 days with 0.1 inch or more[4].
Sources
Every figure on this page links to its source. Statutes are from the 2026 Florida Statutes. FEMA and NOAA figures were downloaded on 6 November 2026.
- FIMA NFIP Redacted Claims dataset, Florida records (analysis by RestoreNow USA). FEMA OpenFEMA. https://www.fema.gov/openfema-data-page/fima-nfip-redacted-claims-v2 Downloaded 6 Nov 2026. Dollar amounts are nominal (not adjusted for inflation).
- NFIP Residential Penetration Rates. FEMA OpenFEMA. https://www.fema.gov/openfema-data-page/nfip-residential-penetration-rates-v1 Data as of 2026-08-03.
- Disaster Declarations Summaries. FEMA OpenFEMA. https://www.fema.gov/openfema-data-page/disaster-declarations-summaries-v2
- U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020, annual and seasonal. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/products/land-based-station/us-climate-normals
- FloodSmart.gov home page. FEMA, National Flood Insurance Program (FloodSmart.gov). https://www.floodsmart.gov/ Accessed 6 Nov 2026.
- Buy a Flood Insurance Policy. FEMA, National Flood Insurance Program (FloodSmart.gov). https://www.floodsmart.gov/get-insured/buy-a-policy Accessed 6 Nov 2026.
- Hurricanes. Ready.gov (FEMA). https://www.ready.gov/hurricanes Accessed 6 Nov 2026.
- Safety Guidelines: Reentering Your Flooded Home. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/floods/safety/reentering-your-flooded-home-safety.html Accessed 6 Nov 2026.
- Section 627.7142, 2026 Florida Statutes. The Florida Senate (Florida Statutes). https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2026/627.7142 Accessed 6 Nov 2026.
- A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture and Your Home. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. https://www.epa.gov/mold/brief-guide-mold-moisture-and-your-home Accessed 6 Nov 2026.
- Section 627.70132, 2026 Florida Statutes. The Florida Senate (Florida Statutes). https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2026/627.70132 Accessed 6 Nov 2026.
- Section 468.8411, 2026 Florida Statutes. The Florida Senate (Florida Statutes). https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2026/468.8411 Accessed 6 Nov 2026.
- Mold-Related Services: FAQs. Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation. https://www2.myfloridalicense.com/mold-related-services/faqs/ Accessed 6 Nov 2026.
- Mold-Related Services. Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation. https://www2.myfloridalicense.com/mold-related-services/ Accessed 6 Nov 2026.
- Mold removal cost. HomeGuide. https://homeguide.com/costs/mold-removal-cost Accessed 6 Nov 2026.
- Mold Remediation Cost Guide: What to Know + How Much You'll Pay. Bob Vila. https://www.bobvila.com/articles/mold-remediation-cost/ Accessed 6 Nov 2026.
- How Much Does Water Damage Restoration Cost?. HomeAdvisor. https://www.homeadvisor.com/cost/disaster-recovery/repair-water-damage/ Accessed 6 Nov 2026.
- How Much Does Water Damage Restoration Cost?. Bob Vila. https://www.bobvila.com/articles/water-damage-restoration-cost/ Accessed 6 Nov 2026.
- US postal codes. GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). https://download.geonames.org/export/zip/