Heavy rains on Friday caused extensive flooding at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore located on Dyer Boulevard in Riviera Beach. The 20,000‑square‑foot facility was left with standing water inside the building and a soaked parking lot, prompting immediate cleanup efforts.
Damage to inventory and revenue
According to Jennifer Thomason, CEO of Habitat for Humanity of Greater Palm Beach County, the flood ruined most of the merchandise that sits on the floor – furniture, mattresses, appliances and other donated goods intended for resale. “This is all going to the dump. And that’s what we wanted to avoid. We want to put this in somebody else’s home. But everything here that is touching the floor has been ruined,” Thomason said.
The ReStore’s sales are a vital source of funding for Habitat’s affordable‑housing construction projects. “It’s really sad because yes, we have great deals here. People can get furniture and big items for their homes, but most importantly, the revenue generated from the sales of this merchandise goes into supporting our new construction,” Thomason added.
No flood insurance, but community support is expected
The building does not carry flood insurance because it is not located in a designated flood zone, leaving the nonprofit to absorb the loss. In addition to inventory damage, the flooding impacted the parking lot, damaging several employees’ vehicles.
Habitat for Humanity expects the ReStore to remain closed until mid‑next week while repairs and cleanup continue. In the meantime, the organization is calling on local residents to help restock the store. “Now more than ever, if you have something that is a nice product in your home that maybe gently used, we need — we’re going to need donations. We take furniture, we take clothing, we can actually come in to a home and remove a whole kitchen and a whole bathroom,” Thomason said.
How to help
Community members who wish to contribute can contact the ReStore directly or follow the donation link provided by Habitat for Humanity of Greater Palm Beach County. Every gently used item helps restore the store’s inventory, allowing the nonprofit to continue generating revenue for affordable‑housing builds that benefit families throughout the Riviera Beach area.
The incident underscores the importance of local resilience and charitable cooperation. As the cleanup proceeds, Habitat remains grateful for the outpouring of support from neighbors, churches, and civic groups who share a commitment to building strong families and thriving neighborhoods.
Original reporting: WPBF West Palm Beach — read the source article.
