DeLand restoration for water, storm and fire damage

Settled in 1876 near the springs that gave the area its earlier name, Persimmon Hollow, and incorporated in 1882, this inland city is drained by the St. Johns River and sits about 72 feet above sea level. Its downtown historic district along Woodland Boulevard keeps many 19th-century buildings, and the Garden District, built between 1900 and 1920, was restored house by house beginning in 2001. Stucco Mediterranean Revival buildings from the 1920s land boom remain across town.

Fire & Water Energy is not a contractor; we pass along referrals. Call (866) 937-3230 and we will try to reach an independent restoration contractor serving DeLand. That company sets its rates and schedule, and we can't guarantee anyone is free. Anyone curious how the hand-off works can read how it works, along with our referral disclosure.

Tornadoes, freezes and a wet June-to-September

Wikipedia describes the climate as humid subtropical, with about 55 inches of precipitation a year, most of it from June through September. Cold snaps are part of local history: the 1885 freeze wiped out the orange crop, and the record low stands at 15°F. Tornadoes have struck too. An EF-3 in the February 2, 2007 Groundhog Day outbreak tracked 26 miles and killed 13 people, and an EF-2 cut a 4.6-mile path on August 18, 2020.

FEMA has included Volusia County in sixteen major disaster declarations since 2000, among them two 2007 severe storm and tornado declarations, Tropical Storm Fay in 2008, Matthew in 2016, Irma in 2017, Dorian in 2019, Ian and Nicole in 2022, Idalia in 2023 and Debby and Milton in 2024.

Old plumbing, hard freezes and everyday leaks

Century-old houses in the historic districts may still have galvanized supply pipe, cast-iron drains or plaster walls that hide slow leaks. Newer subdivisions bring their own trouble spots, such as attic air handlers whose condensate lines clog and washing machine hoses that burst. On the rare night when temperatures drop well below freezing, exposed pipes in crawl spaces or exterior walls can split.

For water damage repair in DeLand, a typical contractor stops the source, removes water and wet materials, and dries the structure while checking moisture daily. Frozen or ruptured lines are covered on our burst pipe water damage page.

Federal disaster declarations that included Volusia County

FEMA records show Volusia County was included in 16 major disaster declarations for weather or fire events from 2000 through 2026 (11 hurricane, 4 severe storm, 1 tropical storm, by FEMA incident type). Declarations are made at the county level, so they do not mean every neighborhood in DeLand was affected. The most recent:

• 2024 – Hurricane Milton (DR-4834)
• 2024 – Hurricane Debby (DR-4806)
• 2023 – Hurricane Idalia (DR-4734)
• 2022 – Hurricane Nicole (DR-4680)
• 2022 – Hurricane Ian (DR-4673)
• 2019 – Hurricane Dorian (DR-4468)

Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, retrieved 2026-10-10. Counts include major disaster (DR) declarations with hurricane, flood, severe storm, tropical storm, fire, tornado, coastal storm, winter or ice storm, mudslide and dam/levee incident types.

Fire and smoke in historic and wood-framed houses

Older wood-framed homes have plenty of hollow spaces in walls and attics where smoke can travel and settle. Plaster, original trim and heart-pine floors often need gentler cleaning than modern drywall, so it helps to ask how a restoration company handles historic materials.

Fire restoration contractors typically stabilize the house, remove charred debris, clean soot with methods suited to each surface and deodorize. Our fire damage restoration and soot removal pages explain the stages.

Storm winds, tornado debris and rain intrusion

Severe thunderstorms and tropical systems can drop trees on roofs, rip off shingles and drive rain through windows, and tornadoes can scatter debris across whole blocks. Even where rising water is not the issue, a damaged roof can let in enough rain to soak ceilings, insulation and floors.

Contractors who handle storm damage cleanup usually tarp and board openings first, then remove debris and begin drying. If water did enter from outside, flood cleanup procedures apply because that water is treated as contaminated.

Humid summers and mold in older walls

Summer heat and rain create ideal conditions for mold on damp plaster, lath, wood framing and drywall. In older homes without modern vapor barriers, check under windows, in closets on outside walls and beneath bathroom fixtures.

Patches beyond roughly 10 square feet are the point at which EPA guidance favors a trained remediator over do-it-yourself scrubbing. See our mold remediation page for what containment and cleanup involve.

Right after the damage: steps for DeLand residents

• Call 911 for fire, injury, a gas leak or downed power lines.
• If you are under a tornado warning, shelter in an interior room on the lowest floor.
• Sign up for AlertVolusia and check your zone and flood map through Volusia County Emergency Management.
• Photograph damage before cleanup and keep every receipt.
• Contact your insurer or agent to learn how your policy treats wind, water or fire losses; flood normally requires a separate policy.

Neighborhoods and nearby communities

Areas in and around DeLand that callers often mention include:

• Downtown DeLand Historic District
• Garden District
• Stetson University Campus Historic District

Nearby communities with their own pages (straight-line distance from DeLand):

• Deltona · 9 mi
• Sanford · 16 mi
• Port Orange · 20 mi
• Daytona Beach · 21 mi
• Winter Springs · 23 mi
• Ormond Beach · 23 mi

Restoration guides

• Water Damage Repair
• Burst Pipe Water Damage
• Storm Damage Cleanup
• Fire Damage Restoration
• Mold Remediation
• Flood Cleanup

Local resources for DeLand residents

• Volusia County Emergency Management
• Florida Division of Emergency Management

Sources

• Wikipedia: DeLand, Florida
• Volusia County Emergency Management

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