Water damage and mold help in Lorida

About Lorida

Lorida is an unincorporated community in eastern Highlands County, along U.S. 98 between Sebring and Okeechobee. Light industry lines the highway, and the area around it includes numerous fish camps and lodges on the north and east shores of Lake Istokpoga. The community was first named Istokpoga, a Seminole name, when its post office opened in 1924. Postal authorities objected because another Florida post office had a similar name, and in 1937 it was renamed Lorida, a shortened form of Florida.

Highlands County as a whole had 101,235 residents at the 2020 census and an estimated 111,122 in 2025. It is an older county: about 36.4 percent of residents are 65 or older, and about 78.6 percent of homes are owner-occupied, with a median value of about $187,900. Mobile homes made up about 24.2 percent of housing units in 2024.

Coverage in ZIP 33857

Heavy rain and flooding

On November 2, 2026, FOX 13 reported that persistent downpours had dropped more than 12 inches of rain on parts of Highlands County, causing widespread street flooding under a flood watch, with officials still assessing structural damage. Rain like that overwhelms ditches and low yards, pushes water under doors and into garages, and saturates septic drain fields. The EPA notes that extra water slows or stops septic treatment, so toilets and tubs can back up even when the house itself stays dry.

Call from Lorida

Common water and mold calls

• Floodwater entering homes, garages and outbuildings after heavy rain. See flood water damage.
• Roof leaks on older roofs during storms.
• Manufactured home leaks under floors and in ceilings. See manufactured home water damage.
• Plumbing and water heater failures in homes left empty for weeks at a time, where leaks run unnoticed.
• Mold after flooding or in closed-up homes. See mold remediation.

Wells and septic

If floodwater may have reached a private well, drink bottled water until it is tested. The Florida Department of Health recommends testing private wells for bacteria and nitrate, typically about $20 to $30 per sample, and lists Highlands County among the health departments that enforce local testing rules for new or repaired wells. For septic backups, limit water use until the ground drains and have the system inspected.

Before you call

• Note where the water came from: rain from outside, the roof, plumbing or the septic system.
• Photograph each affected room, the water line and any damaged belongings.
• Shut off the water main if a pipe or water heater is leaking.
• Have your insurer's name and policy number ready.

Insurance notes

Floodwater rising from outside is not covered by most homeowners policies, according to FEMA, and National Flood Insurance Program policies typically take 30 days to start. Sudden plumbing leaks are usually covered. Report claims promptly and photograph damage before cleanup. See the Florida insurance guide.