L. C. Swain platted the first section of this central Palm Beach County city in 1923, just west of Military Trail, and it incorporated as Greenacres City three years later. The real building boom arrived in the 1970s, and by 2020 the city counted nearly 18,000 housing units between Palm Springs on the east and Wellington on the west.
Fire & Water Energy does not repair property; it is a referral service. When you call (866) 937-3230, we try to put you in touch with an independent restoration contractor working in Greenacres. Each contractor decides its own rates and availability. Our how it works page and referral disclosure cover the arrangement in plain terms.
A hurricane history that goes back almost a century
Storms have shaped this town from the start. According to Wikipedia, a September 1926 hurricane destroyed the civic building and community hall, and the 1928 Okeechobee hurricane did substantial damage to practically every building, as The Lake Worth Herald reported at the time. The climate is classified as tropical monsoon, comparable to much of the Caribbean, with a wet season that keeps ground and attics damp.
Since 2000, FEMA has issued twelve major disaster declarations that included Palm Beach County: Frances, Ivan and Jeanne in 2004, Wilma in 2005, Tropical Storm Fay in 2008, Isaac in 2012, Matthew in 2016, Irma in 2017, Dorian in 2019, Ian and Nicole in 2022 and Milton in 2024. Those are county-level records, not proof that any specific street flooded.
Plumbing and roof problems in a 1970s-and-later housing stock
Many homes and condos here date from the growth that began in the 1970s, which means original copper or galvanized lines, water heaters and roof underlayment may be near the end of their service life. Slab leaks, split washing machine hoses and overflowing AC drain pans are frequent culprits, and wind-driven rain can find gaps around windows and soffits.
For water damage repair in Greenacres, a contractor generally locates the source, extracts water, sets up dehumidifiers and air movers, and tracks moisture until materials reach a dry standard. If a pipe burst behind a wall, the burst pipe water damage guide walks through what to expect.
Federal disaster declarations that included Palm Beach County
FEMA records show Palm Beach County was included in 13 major disaster declarations for weather or fire events from 2000 through 2026 (12 hurricane, 1 severe storm, by FEMA incident type). Declarations are made at the county level, so they do not mean every neighborhood in Greenacres was affected. The most recent:
- 2024 – Hurricane Milton (DR-4834)
- 2022 – Hurricane Nicole (DR-4680)
- 2022 – Hurricane Ian (DR-4673)
- 2019 – Hurricane Dorian (DR-4468)
- 2017 – Hurricane Irma (DR-4337)
- 2016 – Hurricane Matthew (DR-4283)
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.
Water, fire or storm damage in Greenacres?
Call (866) 937-3230 and tell us what happened at your Greenacres property.
Smoke, soot and lingering odor
A small stovetop or dryer fire can coat an entire condo unit with residue, and in attached buildings smoke may also travel into neighboring units through shared spaces. Soot is acidic and can etch fixtures and stain grout if it is left for long.
Fire restoration companies usually board up and stabilize first, then clean surfaces with dry sponges or specialized detergents and treat odor at its source. See fire damage cleanup and smoke odor removal for more.
Tropical downpours and post-storm cleanup
At roughly 16 feet above sea level, the city sits higher than the barrier islands to the east, but heavy tropical rain can still pool in yards, garages and low rooms faster than drainage can handle it. Downed trees and torn shingles after a hurricane often turn a wind problem into a water problem inside the house.
Palm Beach County publishes a flood zone map and a Know Your Zone tool, so you can check your address before the season. If water does get in, storm damage cleanup contractors commonly tarp roofs, remove debris and begin drying the same structure in stages.
Why mold moves quickly in a monsoon climate
Warm, humid air feeds mold on any surface that stays damp. Pay attention to the base of drywall, the backs of kitchen cabinets and the underside of carpet after any leak, particularly if a power outage shut down your air conditioning.
The EPA's guidance is that patches larger than about 10 square feet call for a professional. Our mold removal page explains how containment and air filtration are typically set up.
Steps to take in Greenacres before calling anyone else
- Call 911 if there is fire, injury, a gas odor or a power line down.
- Shut off water at the main if you can do it safely, and keep away from wet outlets and appliances.
- Register for AlertPBC through Palm Beach County Emergency Management, which also offers a Hurricane Planning Guide in English, Spanish and Creole.
- Record the damage on video and save every receipt.
- Check with your insurer or agent about what is covered; flood damage typically requires a separate flood policy.
Neighborhoods and nearby communities
Nearby communities with their own pages (straight-line distance from Greenacres):
- Lake Worth · 3 mi
- Wellington · 8 mi
- Boynton Beach · 8 mi
- West Palm Beach · 8 mi
- Royal Palm Beach · 9 mi
- Riviera Beach · 11 mi
Greenacres restoration FAQs
Has Greenacres really been hit hard by hurricanes before?
Yes. Wikipedia notes that a 1926 hurricane destroyed the town's civic building and community hall, and the 1928 Okeechobee hurricane substantially damaged almost every building. Palm Beach County has also been part of twelve FEMA major disaster declarations since 2000.
How do I get emergency alerts in Greenacres?
Palm Beach County runs AlertPBC, which lets you choose to receive notices by text, phone or email for addresses you care about. The city website also has an Alert Center for local notices.
My home was built in the 1970s or 1980s. Should I worry about hidden leaks?
Older plumbing, water heaters and roofs are more prone to slow leaks that go unnoticed. Watch for warped flooring, stains on ceilings or unexplained jumps in your water bill, and have a plumber or restoration contractor check moisture levels if something seems off.
Who actually performs the restoration work?
An independent contractor you select. Fire & Water Energy only makes the referral, so ask the contractor directly about licensing, insurance, pricing and timelines before signing anything.
Restoration guides
- Water Damage Repair
- Burst Pipe Water Damage
- Storm Damage Cleanup
- Hurricane Damage Cleanup
- Mold Removal
- Fire Damage Cleanup