A system and method for maintaining a connection between a floating dock and a fixed piling during a flood event. The system includes a piling sleeve that is adapted to telescopically and slidably fit over and around a fixed piling, wherein the piling is fixed into the ground below the surface of the water, and extends upwardly through an opening in a floating dock. The piling sleeve includes a catch mechanism attached to an upper portion of the piling sleeve. The catch mechanism is designed to “catch” or engage the floating dock when the dock rises with the water to a pre-determined level. The piling sleeve may freely slide upwardly and downwardly with respect to both the piling and floating dock, and when flood waters rise, the catch mechanism causes the sleeve to rise with the dock while maintaining an extended connection to the piling.