Water damage in mobile and manufactured homes

Manufactured homes in Okeechobee County

Census figures compiled by the Florida Department of Health show that about 38.9 percent of housing units in Okeechobee County were mobile homes in 2024, almost five times the statewide share of about 8 percent. Next door in Glades County, which includes Buckhead Ridge, the share was about 54 percent. Storms have shown how exposed these homes can be: in Hurricane Frances in September 2004, the National Weather Service counted 24 residences destroyed in Okeechobee County, most of them mobile homes, and hundreds of mobile homes with major damage.

Where water hides

• Floor decking. Many manufactured homes use particleboard or oriented strand board floors. They swell and weaken when wet, starting near toilets, tubs, water heaters and the washing machine.
• The underbelly. A barrier under the floor holds insulation in place. A dripping supply line or drain above it can fill it with water that sags out of sight.
• Ceiling panels. Roof leaks, especially along seams, vents and the joint between sections, show up as stains and sagging ceiling board.
• Wall panels. Vinyl-covered gypsum wall panels hide moisture behind them until they stain, bubble or grow mold.
• Additions and porches. Where a site-built room or porch roof meets the home, flashing failures let water run inside the wall.
• Water heater closets, often accessed from outside, where a slow leak can rot the floor for months.

How drying a manufactured home works

1. Find the source and stop it, whether a supply line, drain, roof seam or AC line.
2. Check underneath. The technician looks at the underbelly from outside, opening it where it sags or reads wet.
3. Drain and remove wet insulation from the underbelly so the floor cavity can dry.
4. Assess the decking. Moisture readings show how far water spread. Swollen particleboard is usually cut out once the area is dry.
5. Dry with air movers and dehumidifiers inside and, where needed, directed into the floor cavity.
6. Treat and close up. Surfaces are cleaned, and the underbelly is patched or replaced after drying is confirmed.

Call about manufactured home water damage

The EPA advises drying wet materials within 24 to 48 hours to prevent mold. In a closed-up mobile home in summer, mold on wall panels and in the underbelly can follow quickly.

Wind standards and tie-downs

After Hurricane Andrew in 1992, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development tightened manufactured-home construction rules, effective July 1994, creating wind zones and requiring stronger connections between roof, walls and floor. A Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles assessment after Hurricane Dennis in 2005 found that, apart from damage from falling trees, homes built after July 1994 performed well, with damage limited to vinyl siding and skirting. Homes built before then are generally more vulnerable.

Florida law requires mobile homes to be installed on a foundation that resists wind, flood, flotation, overturning and sliding, and the owner is responsible for installation meeting state rules. The Florida Division of Emergency Management recommends checking and updating tie-downs and anchoring systems, which wear out over time, and having an expert evaluate them. Installation requirements are in Florida Administrative Code 15C-1, and the local building department can answer questions.

Before and after a storm

• Leave for the storm. The Division of Emergency Management says it is never safe to remain in a mobile home during a tropical storm, hurricane, severe thunderstorm or tornado.
• Shut off utilities before leaving: water at the meter, gas at the regulator or tank, and power at the main breaker.
• Photograph the home and belongings before the season for insurance.
• After the storm, check the roof, skirting and underbelly for damage, and look for the home shifting on its piers before going in.
• Watch for carports and awnings that pulled loose; the building department can inspect attachments.

Insurance notes

Manufactured home policies, like homeowners policies, generally cover sudden water damage and wind, but not flood. Under Florida Statute 320.8325, insurers may issue windstorm coverage only for homes installed according to state rules, but if an insured home is damaged in a windstorm in a way that suggests improper installation, the insurer is not relieved of its policy obligations on that basis. Flood coverage requires a separate policy; FEMA notes NFIP policies typically take 30 days to start. See the Florida insurance guide.