How to Prepare Your Home for Hurricane Season
Hurricane season runs June 1 through November 30, with peak activity in August and September. The time to prepare is now — not when a storm is 48 hours offshore and every hardware store is sold out of plywood and generator fuel.
This guide covers everything from structural hardening to emergency contacts, organized by what you can do yourself and what requires a licensed contractor before storm season starts.
The Case for Early Preparation
After a tropical storm watch is issued, you have 48–72 hours. In that window:
- Hardware stores sell out of plywood, sandbags, generators, and tarps
- Contractors are booked for emergency installs — shutters, generators, tree work
- Prices surge for last-minute everything
- Your stress level makes good decisions harder
Pre-season preparation — done in April, May, or early June — avoids all of this.
Structural Hardening: The High-Impact Investments
Roof
Your roof is your home’s primary line of defense against a hurricane. Wind damage typically starts when uplift forces defeat your roof’s fasteners or siding connectors.
What to assess and address:
- Roof age and condition: If your roof is within 5 years of its lifespan (15–20 years for asphalt shingles), hurricane season is a compelling reason to replace rather than repair. An old roof that fails mid-storm creates catastrophic water damage.
- Hurricane straps (tie-downs): Metal connectors that secure roof framing to the wall structure. In homes built before the mid-1990s, these are often absent. A licensed contractor can add them — a significant investment but meaningful for wind resistance.
- Flashing and seals: Have a roofer inspect and reseal all flashing, ridge caps, vent boots, and penetrations before season. These are the most common points of water infiltration.
- Ridge vents and gable vents: In high winds, these can become wind entry points. A contractor can add vent covers rated for hurricane-force winds.
Windows and Doors
Wind and debris damage to windows or entry doors is how hurricane pressure and water gets inside — and once that happens, damage compounds rapidly.
Options (in order of cost and protection level):
- Hurricane shutters (permanent): Roll-down or accordion shutters rated for ASTM-certified wind speeds. Highest cost ($300–$1,500 per opening installed) but fastest deployment — minutes, not hours.
- Hurricane fabric: Flexible, engineered mesh panels that absorb impact. Lower profile than plywood, FEMA-certified for many applications.
- Impact-resistant glass: A replacement window investment ($600–$2,000+ per window) that provides permanent protection without deployment. Strong ROI if you’re already replacing older windows.
- Plywood: The most affordable option ($50–$150 per opening in materials) but labor-intensive, storage-heavy, and difficult to install safely when storm warnings are already up.
Doors: Sliding glass doors are particularly vulnerable. If you have older sliders, add a patio door brace kit ($50–$100) at minimum. Double doors need cane bolts at top and bottom. All exterior doors should have at least three hinges and a deadbolt with a 1-inch throw.
Garage Door
Garage doors are the largest single opening in most homes and a common failure point in hurricanes. A failed garage door during a storm can blow the roof off.
- Inspect the bracing on your current door — single-layer doors with no horizontal bracing are high-risk
- Hurricane-rated garage doors are a significant investment ($1,500–$4,000 installed) but are required in some coastal markets for this reason
- A less expensive option: a bracing kit that reinforces your existing door ($200–$400 + installation)
Landscaping and Exterior
- Trees: Have an arborist assess large trees near the home before season. Dead or diseased branches are projectiles; trees with compromised root systems can fall on structures. Crown thinning reduces wind load.
- Loose outdoor items: Before any storm, bring inside or secure all outdoor furniture, décor, planters, grills, and toys. These become high-velocity projectiles in hurricane-force winds.
- Gutters and downspouts: Clean and secure. Loose gutters become hazards. Clear gutters handle the intense rainfall that accompanies storms.
- Sandbags: If you’re in a flood-prone area, stock sandbags before season. Many counties provide free sand and bags at specific locations — check your local emergency management website now.
Emergency Systems
Backup Power
Extended power outages are among the most common hurricane aftermath scenarios, lasting days to weeks in severe events.
Generator options:
- Portable generator ($800–$2,500): Runs on gas; can power essentials (refrigerator, window AC, phone charging, sump pump). Requires manual fuel management; must run outdoors only.
- Standby generator ($5,000–$15,000 installed): Propane or natural gas; starts automatically when power fails; powers the whole house or critical circuits. Requires licensed electrical installation and gas line work — schedule this before season.
If you have a generator: Stock 3–5 days of fuel now. Run the generator monthly for 30 minutes to verify operation.
Water and Food Supplies
FEMA recommends 1 gallon of water per person per day for 3 days minimum; 2 weeks is a more resilient target in coastal hurricane zones.
- Store water in food-grade containers or sealed commercial bottles away from sunlight
- Stock non-perishable food for 2 weeks (canned goods, dried food, energy bars)
- Include a manual can opener, paper plates, and utensils
- Don’t forget pet food, medications, baby supplies, and infant formula
Go-Bag: If You Need to Evacuate
Prepare this before June 1 — not when evacuation orders are issued.
Essentials:
- Copies of ID, insurance policies, medications, and important documents (in a waterproof bag or uploaded to cloud storage)
- 3 days of water, food, and medications
- Phone chargers and a portable battery bank
- Cash (ATMs fail when power is out)
- Change of clothes for each family member
- First aid kit
Evacuation Planning
- Know your zone: Your county’s emergency management website has evacuation zone maps. Know your zone before hurricane season.
- Have a destination: Identify two potential evacuation destinations (with addresses and phone numbers) and two routes to each. Storm paths affect which routes are safe.
- Plan for your pets: Not all emergency shelters accept pets. Know pet-friendly shelter options or hotels in advance.
- Don’t wait for the last order: Voluntary evacuation recommendations should be taken seriously. Mandatory orders often come too late for safe travel.
Key Contacts to Save Before Storm Season
- Your homeowner’s insurance agent and claims line
- Your local emergency management office
- A licensed roofing contractor (ProCraft →)
- A licensed electrician
- Your utility company’s outage reporting line
- FEMA disaster assistance: 1-800-621-3362 / disasterassistance.gov
Hurricane Prep Checklist: At-a-Glance
Before season (now):
- Roof inspection and any needed repairs
- Window/door shutter or protection plan in place
- Garage door bracing assessed
- Tree trimming completed
- Generator purchased, tested, and fueled
- Water and food supply stocked
- Go-bag assembled
- Evacuation zone and routes confirmed
- Key contacts saved
When a storm watch is issued:
- Bring in all outdoor furniture and loose items
- Deploy shutters or board windows
- Fill vehicles with gas
- Fill bathtubs with water (backup water source)
- Charge all devices and battery banks
- Confirm evacuation plan with family
The time to find a licensed contractor is before storm season — not when warnings are up. ProCraft connects you with vetted roofing, electrical, and home improvement contractors in your area.
Find a Hurricane Prep Contractor on ProCraft →
Emergency Contacts:
- FEMA: 1-800-621-3362
- National Hurricane Center (track storms): nhc.noaa.gov
- American Red Cross: redcross.org
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