Hurricane Flood Playbook: 12 Proven Strategies for Jamaica & Beyond

Jamaica is reeling from Hurricane Melissa’s historic landfall, with parishes flooded, landslides reported, and the island under a formal disaster declaration. Use this playbook to rank the most effective flood strategies for hurricanes, estimate your exposure, and turn a chaotic cleanup into a clear, stepwise plan.

Disaster order active in Jamaica Expect flash flooding and landslides Plan for multi-week power disruption

Strategy Leaderboard

Strategy	Life Safety	Dry-Out Speed	Repair Cost Impact	Claim Success
1) Evacuate flood-prone blocks early and pre-book shelters	High	High	High	Med
2) Cut power to wet circuits and isolate mains	High	Med	High	Med
3) Pump, squeegee, and channel water to drains	Med	High	High	Med
4) Dehumidifiers and exhaust fans for one-way airflow	Med	High	High	Med
5) Flood cuts and baseboard removal in wet rooms	Med	High	High	High
6) PPE and containment to keep mold spores down	High	Med	Med	High
7) Photograph everything and start a moisture log	Med	Med	Med	High
8) Elevate or relocate mechanicals where feasible	Med	Med	High	Med
9) Temporary housing plan when insurance has no ALE	High	Med	High	Med
10) Drainage paths, sandbags, and door dams	Med	Med	Med	Med
11) Sump with battery backup and check valve	Med	High	High	Med
12) Review coverage gaps and parametric options	Med	Low	Med	High

Rankings reflect typical hurricane flood conditions in Jamaica and nearby islands. Adjust for your building type and elevation.

Rapid Action Checklist

Open checklist

Follow evacuation orders for coastal and riverine communities. Confirm which shelters are open and accessible.
Turn off power at the breaker to wet rooms. If unsure, get an electrician.
Pump standing water and push flow to floor drains. Keep a single direction of airflow out of the home.
Remove baseboards and cut drywall at 2 ft or 4 ft where wicking is visible. Bag and remove unsalvageable porous items.
Set dehumidifiers to continuous and run exhaust to the outside. Target indoor RH below 60 percent.
Log moisture readings twice daily. Keep photos, receipts, and a disposal log.
Plan lodging. NFIP-style policies often exclude Additional Living Expense. Price rentals now.

Flood Shortfall & Pump Sizing Mini-Calculator

Estimate two things: out-of-pocket costs from common coverage gaps and the pumping capacity needed to clear a typical ground floor space.

Contents coverage limit ($) Expected depreciation on contents (% if ACV) Months displaced (when policy has no ALE) Monthly living expense while displaced ($) Floor area to clear (m²) Water depth to remove (cm) Target clear time (hours)

Your Numbers

Contents depreciation not reimbursed:

Living expenses not covered:

Minimum pump capacity needed:

0 L/min

Total estimated shortfall:

Pick a submersible pump with rated flow above the minimum shown and suitable head height for your building.

Policy Moves That Matter

Gap	What To Confirm	Workaround
Additional Living Expense	Many flood policies do not include ALE for hotel or rental costs.	Budget for housing or explore private policies that offer ALE.
Basement and below-grade finishes	Finishes and stored contents below grade are often limited.	Use flood-resilient materials and store valuables upstairs.
Contents paid at ACV	Depreciation can reduce payout for furnishings and electronics.	Keep receipts and consider riders that improve contents terms.
Waiting period	Coverage typically begins after a set waiting period.	Bind well before peak season to avoid coverage gaps.
Earth movement exclusions	Landslides and erosion often fall outside standard flood cover.	Improve drainage and ask about endorsements where available.
Parametric options	Trigger on wind or rainfall to inject rapid cash post-event.	Use alongside traditional cover to bridge early cash needs.

Design Upgrades That Pay Back

Drainage and flow paths

Clear gutters, cut swales to street drains, and use door dams to slow entry. Keep sandbags stacked and covered.

Raise and protect equipment

Lift electrical panels, laundry, and water heaters where feasible. Use quick-disconnects and backflow preventers.

Flood-smart interiors

Choose tile or sealed concrete for ground floors. Use removable baseboards and water-tolerant wall finishes.

Proof Kit for Claims

Open kit

Room-by-room photos before removal. Include wide shots and close-ups with timestamps.
Moisture log with date, location, and reading. Recheck twice daily during dry-out.
Disposal log for unsalvageable items with quantity and approximate value.
Invoices for pumps, fans, dehumidifiers, and professional services.
Email confirmations from your agent about ALE, basement limits, and contents terms.

Jamaica’s experience with Melissa underscores how fast flooding can escalate and how targeted steps can reduce losses. Local orders, terrain, and building design vary, so adapt this playbook to your parish and confirm details with your insurer and emergency managers before the next system approaches.