Here Comes the Cavalry – SERVPRO

The Florida Keys have always prided themselves on their small-town charm and local businesses. From family-owned restaurants serving the catch of the day to dive shops run by third-generation locals, the islands thrive on that intimate, everybody-knows-everybody atmosphere.

But when disaster strikes—whether it’s a Category 4 hurricane barreling up from the Caribbean or a simple kitchen fire that turns a dream home into a smoke-damaged nightmare—sometimes you need more than local charm. Sometimes you need the cavalry.

That’s exactly what Bobby Lopez realized after Hurricane Irma tore through his beloved Keys in 2017, leaving behind a trail of devastation. Standing in the aftermath near Founder’s Park, where his children had spent countless summer days learning to snorkel and ride bikes, Bobby knew the Keys needed something bigger than what was currently available.

“When Irma hit home, it was personal,” Bobby reflects. “As a Large Loss Consultant, I had seen damage from dozens of storms, but this was different. This was where my kids grew up, where we’d come every summer since 2000. I realized the Keys needed resources that could match the scale of our challenges.”

Bobby’s expertise in disaster recovery wasn’t new—he’d been helping people rebuild their lives after catastrophes for over three decades as a Public Adjustor and Loss Consultant. He’d built a reputation throughout South Florida as someone who truly understood what it took to restore a home, business, or even a community after a disaster.

“I’ve always been about helping people put their lives back together after a disaster- big or small,” Bobby explains. “Over the years, I’ve developed relationships with clients, insurance companies, and recovery companies. I knew how to make it all work together so it was as if the disaster never happened.”

That’s why SERVPRO approached Bobby— their motto is even “Like It Never Happened.” The national disaster recovery company had worked alongside Bobby for years. When they recognized the gap in professional disaster services in the Keys, they knew exactly who could bridge it.

“SERVPRO approached me because they understood what the Keys needed,” Bobby says. “They have the national resources—contracts with Home Depot and Lowe’s, equipment, trained personnel—but they needed someone who truly knew this community.”

It was a perfect match. SERVPRO brought the muscle; Bobby brought the heart.

While major storms grab headlines, Bobby knows that disasters in the Keys happen year-round, often in much more personal ways. A burst pipe in a second home can create costly water damage before the owner even knows there’s a problem. Mold can silently invade a residence, threatening a family’s safety. A simple kitchen mishap can fill a restaurant with smoke damage that puts employees out of work for weeks.

“We handle everything from major storm recovery to everyday emergencies,” Bobby explains. “Kitchen fires, mold remediation, pest damage, water damage—these aren’t just property issues, they’re life disruptions. A quick response isn’t just convenient, it’s critical.”

This is where having a national company’s resources becomes invaluable, even in a community that values local businesses. SERVPRO is fully licensed and insured and can guarantee equipment and personnel within 24-48 hours, something smaller local companies simply can’t match when demand is high.

Bobby is also building a network of trusted local contacts who can conduct same-day site assessments when he’s not immediately available. Having eyes on the problem within hours—not days—can mean the difference between a minor repair and a major reconstruction.

“Many of these guys are friends—we fish together, grab dinner at the same waterfront spots,” Bobby explains. “When something happens and I’m not immediately available, they can assess a situation and get things moving.”

This local-first philosophy extends to employment during major disasters. When SERVPRO responds to large-scale damage, Bobby prioritizes hiring Keys residents who might otherwise be out of work while their own businesses recover.

“When there’s a major storm, nobody’s going fishing, nobody’s running boat tours,” he points out. “We offer work to locals until everything’s restored, including their day jobs. It’s part of getting people back on their feet.”

Anyone who knows the Keys understands they’re a state of mind, a way of life that moves to the rhythm of tides rather than business hours. Bobby recognized this from his first family vacation to Key Largo to purchasing their first Keys home in 2000 to building their dream house in 2020.

“Watching my kids grow up here was priceless,” Bobby says. “You can’t get this kind of childhood from a screen. They grew up on boats, riding bikes, taking golf carts to friends’ houses, spending entire days on the water. Down here, it’s not just where we live—it’s how we live.”

That lifestyle is what Bobby wants to protect and restore, both from major disasters and everyday emergencies.

“The beauty of the Keys is that laid-back approach to life,” Bobby observes. “But when your restaurant or rental property is damaged, you can’t afford to be laid-back about the response. That’s where we come in.”

Bobby’s commitment to the Keys is the foundation of a lifestyle he’s spent decades building. When he’s not coordinating disaster recovery, you’ll find him biking the trails, taking his boat out for waterfront dinners, or introducing his three-month-old granddaughter to the Keys lifestyle.

That personal investment translates into a level of service that goes beyond typical business relationships. Bobby understands that when disaster strikes a Keys property, it’s not just about square footage and insurance claims—it’s about preserving dreams, protecting investments, and maintaining the lifestyle that draws people here in the first place.

One of SERVPRO’s most innovative services is their pre-storm planning program, where they assess properties in advance and guarantee rapid response when disaster strikes. They even have stocked warehouses in Homestead and Miami, so they’re primed and ready to go.

“We walk properties with owners, calculate exactly what it would take to restore them, and if they sign with us, they’re guaranteed service within 24-48 hours of a storm,” Bobby explains. “When everyone else is scrambling for licensed and insured contractors and price-hiked materials, our clients go straight to the front of the line at normal costs.”

This proactive approach extends to everyday disasters as well. Property managers and business owners can establish relationships with SERVPRO before emergencies happen, ensuring rapid response.

But Bobby’s and SERVPRO’s vision extends beyond disaster response. SERVPRO will contribute to the community fabric—supporting local schools, sponsoring youth sports programs, and participating in the events that make the Keys special. Bobby has already organized to clean a local fire station’s gear with their special equipment, so they don’t have to work in smoke-ridden gear. And that’s just the beginning.

“Being a tight-knit community doesn’t mean you have to go it alone,” Bobby explains. “The Keys will always be about supporting your neighbors and local businesses—that’s never going to change. But when a hurricane hits or properties need emergency restoration, you need resources that can match the scale of the problem. That’s what SERVPRO offers.”

Sometimes, to protect your home, your livelihood, and your community, you need to call in the cavalry.

To learn more about SERVPRO Florida Keys’ disaster recovery and restoration services, or to discuss pre-storm planning for your property, contact Bobby Lopez at (305)328-9111.