Storm surge and tidal flooding in Miami-Dade
The National Hurricane Center reports 4 to 6 feet of water above ground along Biscayne Bay in Miami-Dade during Hurricane Irma (2017); a sensor at Matheson Hammock Park recorded 5.6 feet above the normal high-tide line, and the Virginia Key gauge 3.7 feet. Separately, the City of Miami Beach notes that streets about 2 feet or less above sea level typically flood during king tides.
- Irma: 4–6 ft above ground along Biscayne Bay
- Matheson Hammock Park sensor: 5.6 ft above high tide
- Miami Beach: low streets flood during king tides
Source: NHC Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Irma
The BarrierX® system we install in Miami-Dade
Rubicon installs BarrierX® removable aluminum plank barriers: side posts are anchored beside each opening once, and the planks drop into them when a storm is forecast. Height is chosen per opening in 8-inch steps.
- Heights from 25 in (3 planks) to 73 in (9 planks)
- 6063-T6 aluminum; independent tensile test of a plank: 31.0 ksi yield vs the 25.0 ksi ASTM B221 T6 minimum
- Closed-cell EPDM seals; stainless steel sleeve anchors into masonry
- Planks weigh 2.15 lb per linear foot (a 10-ft plank is about 21.5 lb)
Source: BarrierX® specification and test results
Miami-Dade properties: what we measure
Miami-Dade work includes single-family garages and doors, ground-floor condo and townhouse entries, and storefronts. Rubicon measures each opening and its mounting surface and confirms building or association requirements before installing.
Getting Rubicon out to Miami-Dade
Rubicon replies to inquiries within an hour and can schedule an emergency appointment within 24 hours. Every system is measured on site first, then quoted per opening. Rubicon is based at 3729 Chiquita Blvd S, Cape Coral, FL 33914 and serves Miami, Miami Beach, Homestead and Miami-Dade County. Call 239-330-8888.
- On-site measurement before any quote
- Install, labeled storage and a deployment walkthrough
- Quoted per opening, not per web price list
What Rubicon customers say
5.0 on Google from 8 reviews (as of October 2026). Excerpts from Rubicon’s Google reviews across Southwest Florida (not necessarily from this city):
- “Super easy process from start to finish. You can tell they know what they’re doing.”
- “Great service and prompt response.”
- “Great experience and a great result!”
Source: Rubicon Flood Control on Google
Official local flood information
Miami-Dade County publishes flood-preparedness information; the county states that construction requires building permits, and the City of Miami Beach has its own flood-protection page.
Source: Miami-Dade County — Flooding
What a flood barrier can and can’t do
A barrier closes a measured opening — a garage, door or slider — up to its rated height. It does not stop water coming up through floor drains, through walls or over the top, and it doesn’t replace evacuation orders or elevation requirements in Miami-Dade. Condo and HOA buildings usually need association approval before posts are anchored.
