Danto Builders launches flood resources for South Florida businesses as king tides hit

Danto Builders is rolling out a video series and free consultations to help South Florida business owners deal with flooding during king tide season. The push comes as high tides threaten parts of the coast again in the coming weeks and September flooding exposed damage risks for shops and commercial properties.

Why it matters: - King tides can shut down businesses, damage property and cut into revenue in a region already dealing with recurring flooding. - South Florida owners now have new guidance from a commercial contractor focused on flood-prone buildings, plus no-charge help for planning repairs or future buildouts. - The timing matters because more king tide windows are still ahead this season.

What happened: - Danto Builders released a new Meet the Expert video series focused on South Florida flooding. - The series features oceanographer and meteorologist Alec Bogdanoff, Ph.D., who is CEO and co-founder of Brizaga, a Fort Lauderdale civil and coastal engineering firm. - The videos are available on YouTube and on DantoBuilders.com. - Danto Builders also began offering no-charge consultations for local business owners affected by flooding and out-of-state owners considering a South Florida expansion.

The details: - The South Florida Water Management District's latest outlook says east coast tide levels may stay above the National Weather Service's moderate flooding threshold in the coming days. - Some locations are nearing the major flooding threshold. - The Sept. 27 king tide became the highest ever measured at NOAA's Port Everglades tide gauge, according to Fort Lauderdale Chief Resilience Officer Dr. Nancy Gassman. - That gauge has operated since February 2018. - The Sept. 27 reading topped the level seen during Hurricane Nicole in 2022. - Two miles of beachfront A1A were closed in Fort Lauderdale during the event. - More king tide windows are forecast for Nov. 6–9, Nov. 23–26 and Dec. 22–27. - September flooding affected a wide stretch of South Florida, from Pompano Beach to Miami Beach. - Businesses sandbagged doors as streets flooded. - In Hollywood, water covered much of the Broadwalk and seeped into some shops along it. - In South Lake, the city's new seawall held where flood panels were in place, but water still came up through storm drains and rose from the ground. - Danto Builders said owners should start by documenting exactly where water entered, such as a door, floor drain or slab. - The company posted a full checklist and other resources for restaurant and retail owners on DantoBuilders.com. - Debbie Danto, owner and chief operating officer of Danto Builders, said NOAA projects roughly one foot to 14 inches of sea-level rise along Florida's Atlantic coast by 2050 compared with 2020 levels. - Danto Builders has more than 40 years of experience as a South Florida commercial general contractor and design-build firm. - The firm serves Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties.

Between the lines: - The company is positioning flood planning as a business continuity issue, not just a coastal infrastructure issue. - The emphasis on floor drains, slab cracks and conduits suggests many commercial losses begin below eye level, where damage can be harder to spot and prevent. - The video series and checklist are also a lead-generation tool for renovation, buildout and new-location work.

What's next: - South Florida business owners will face additional king tide periods over the next two months. - Danto Builders is steering owners toward early planning, whether they need a structural renovation, a new buildout or a flood-mitigation strategy for a future location. - Debbie Danto said owners can bring photos and questions to map out what it would take to keep flooding from happening again.

The bottom line: - South Florida flooding is moving from a seasonal nuisance to a recurring business risk, and Danto Builders is trying to turn that risk into planning before the next high-water event.