A step-by-step guide to preparing your home and family for hurricane season, covering emergency supplies, evacuation planning, and property protection.
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Emergency Supply Kit
Stock at least 1 gallon of water per person per day for 72 hours
A family of 4 needs a minimum of 12 gallons. Store in food-grade containers and replace every 6 months. Include extra for pets.
Calculate total water needs for all household members
Purchase or fill food-grade water storage containers
Assemble a 72-hour food supply of non-perishable items
Focus on high-calorie, ready-to-eat foods like canned goods, protein bars, and dried fruit. Plan for 2,000 calories per person per day. Include a manual can opener.
Stock canned proteins, fruits, and vegetables
Include manual can opener and disposable utensils
Prepare a first aid kit with a 7-day supply of medications
Request an emergency supply from your pharmacy before hurricane season starts. Most insurance plans allow a 30-day early refill for emergency preparedness.
Stock bandages, antiseptic, pain relievers, and gauze
Secure prescription medications and copies of prescriptions
Gather flashlights, batteries, and a battery-powered radio
Get a NOAA weather radio with tone alert. Keep at least 2 flashlights with extra batteries stored separately to prevent corrosion. LED flashlights last 10x longer than incandescent.
Pack a portable phone charger and backup power bank
A 20,000 mAh power bank can charge most phones 4-5 times. Charge all devices to 100% when a hurricane watch is issued, typically 48 hours before landfall.
Window and Structural Protection
Install hurricane shutters or cut plywood for all windows
Use 5/8-inch exterior-grade plywood cut to overlap each window by 4 inches on all sides. Pre-drill holes and label each panel for quick installation. Shutters rated for 150 mph are ideal for Category 4 storms.
Measure all windows and sliding glass doors
Pre-cut and label plywood panels or test shutter mechanisms
Inspect and reinforce garage doors
Garage doors are the most common failure point during hurricanes. A double-wide garage door can fail at wind speeds as low as 80 mph without bracing. Retrofit kits cost $200-$500 and install in under 2 hours.
Secure all outdoor furniture and loose objects
Bring inside or anchor anything that can become a projectile: grills, planters, patio sets, and yard decorations. A 10-pound object in 100 mph wind hits with the same force as being dropped from 50 feet.
Bring patio furniture and decorations inside
Trim tree branches within 10 feet of the house
Check roof for loose shingles or tiles
Missing or lifted shingles allow wind-driven rain to penetrate the roof deck. A single loose shingle can lead to thousands of dollars in water damage. Roof sealant costs under $10 per tube for quick repairs.
Important Documents and Insurance
Photograph or scan all insurance policies and IDs
Store digital copies in cloud storage and on a USB drive in your go-bag. Include homeowner's insurance, flood insurance, auto insurance, and health insurance cards.
Scan insurance policies, deeds, and titles
Upload copies to cloud storage
Create a home inventory with photos and estimated values
Walk through each room and record contents on video. Open drawers and closets. This documentation speeds up insurance claims by an average of 2-3 weeks compared to claims without documentation.
Verify flood insurance coverage and deductibles
Standard homeowner's insurance does not cover flood damage. Flood insurance through the NFIP has a 30-day waiting period, so purchase well before hurricane season. Average flood claims pay around $52,000.
Store originals of birth certificates and passports in a waterproof container
Use a fireproof and waterproof document safe rated for at least 1 hour of fire protection. These run $30-$80 and fit in a closet shelf. Include Social Security cards, marriage certificates, and property deeds.
Evacuation Planning
Identify 2-3 evacuation routes from your area
Map primary and alternate routes that move inland and to higher ground. During major evacuations, highways can see 10x normal traffic volume. Leave early: a trip that normally takes 2 hours can take 8-12 during mandatory evacuations.
Print physical maps in case GPS and cell service fail
Identify shelter locations along each route
Prepare a go-bag for each family member
Each bag should weigh no more than 25 pounds and include 3 days of clothes, toiletries, medications, phone charger, cash ($200-$300 in small bills), and copies of important documents.
Arrange lodging with family, friends, or book hotels inland
Hotels within 100 miles of the coast fill up fast once evacuation orders are issued. Book accommodations 200+ miles inland as soon as a hurricane watch is announced. Keep a list of pet-friendly options if needed.
Fill vehicle gas tank and check tire pressure
Gas stations lose power and run out of fuel quickly during evacuations. Keep your tank above half during hurricane season. Check tire pressure against the door sticker rating, not the tire sidewall number.
Fill gas tank to full when a watch is issued
Check spare tire, jack, and roadside emergency kit
Communication Plan
Designate an out-of-state emergency contact
Local phone networks often overload during disasters. An out-of-state contact can relay messages between separated family members. Text messages go through more reliably than voice calls during network congestion.
Write down emergency phone numbers on paper
Include local emergency management, utility companies, insurance agents, and family contacts. Cell phones die and contacts are inaccessible without them. Laminate the list and keep copies in each go-bag.
Establish a family meeting point if separated
Choose 2 locations: one near your home and one outside your neighborhood. Practice the plan with all family members at least once per year. Include a plan for picking up children from school or daycare.
Download local emergency apps and sign up for alerts
Register for your county's emergency alert system, which sends warnings directly to your phone. The FEMA app provides real-time alerts for up to 5 locations. Enable Wireless Emergency Alerts in your phone settings.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I start preparing my home for hurricane season?
Hurricane season runs June 1 through November 30, with peak activity from mid-August through mid-October. Complete structural preparations (impact windows, storm shutters, roof reinforcement) by May 31 before the season begins, since contractors are booked solid once storms start forming. Restock your emergency supplies in late May and verify your insurance coverage is current — most insurers impose a 30-day waiting period on new hurricane or flood policies, meaning you cannot buy coverage once a storm is approaching.
Should I evacuate or shelter in place during a hurricane?
Evacuate if you live in a designated evacuation zone (check your county's zone map), in a mobile/manufactured home regardless of zone, or in a flood-prone area without elevation above the predicted storm surge. Category 3 and above hurricanes (sustained winds over 111 mph) create life-threatening conditions that overwhelm even well-built homes through storm surge, flying debris, and prolonged wind exposure. If sheltering in place, move to an interior room on the lowest floor away from windows and have at least 72 hours of supplies staged and accessible.
Does homeowners insurance cover hurricane damage?
Wind damage from hurricanes is covered under standard homeowners insurance, but most policies in hurricane-prone states have a separate hurricane deductible of 2-5% of the home's insured value — on a $400,000 home, that's $8,000-$20,000 out of pocket before coverage kicks in. Flood damage from storm surge and rain is never covered by homeowners insurance and requires a separate National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) policy or private flood insurance. NFIP policies have a 30-day waiting period from purchase to activation, so buying one the week before a hurricane provides zero coverage.
How do I protect my windows during a hurricane without permanent shutters?
Pre-cut 5/8-inch marine-grade plywood panels for each window, label them, and store them in the garage for quick installation — this costs $100-$300 for a typical home and takes 2-4 hours to install. Standard plywood from home improvement stores works adequately but should be at least 5/8-inch thick; thinner plywood will not withstand debris impact from Category 2+ winds. Taping windows with masking or duct tape is completely ineffective — it does not prevent shattering and actually creates larger, more dangerous shards when the glass breaks.