Preparing a home for a hurricane means reducing loose objects and water entry, using protection designed for the building, documenting the property, and finishing early enough to protect people. It does not mean climbing onto a roof as wind rises or inventing a fastening system after a warning is issued.
The household’s evacuation and shelter decision controls every property task. Follow local orders first. Use the complete hurricane preparedness guide to identify wind, surge, inland flooding, and route risks before working through this checklist. The same home-hardening steps apply to any damaging-wind event; for storms outside hurricane season, the severe storm preparedness hub frames the wider before, during, and after sequence.
Set the stop-work time first
National Hurricane Center guidance says preparations become difficult once tropical-storm-force winds begin. Set a deadline based on the earliest reasonable arrival of those winds at the address, not on forecast landfall. End ladder use, shutter work, outdoor lifting, vehicle moves, and debris handling well before that deadline.
Assign one person to call the stop. Property protection is never a reason to delay an evacuation order.
Use the hurricane preparation timeline to place each task before the watch and warning periods.
Document the home before moving anything
Photograph and video every room, major appliance, valuable item, exterior elevation, roof from safe ground level, landscaping, outbuildings, and vehicles. Capture existing cracks, stains, leaks, and damage so pre-storm conditions are clear.
Store copies somewhere other than the phone used to take them. Record model and serial numbers when practical. Keep insurance policy, agent and claims contacts, lease or ownership records, contractor information, and receipts with the household documents.
Review what the policies actually cover. Wind, flood, vehicles, contents, temporary housing, deductibles, and waiting periods can be handled differently. Insurance questions belong with the licensed insurer or qualified local adviser before the storm, not with assumptions after damage.
Remove outdoor projectiles
Bring inside or secure items that wind can move:
- patio furniture, umbrellas, grills, tools, toys, planters, and decorations;
- trash and recycling containers;
- hoses, watering equipment, ladders, and loose building materials;
- sports equipment, bicycles, and removable signs;
- balcony furniture and privacy screens permitted to be moved;
- small antennas or accessories designed for seasonal removal.
Do not move propane cylinders, gasoline, pool chemicals, pesticides, lithium batteries, or other hazardous products into living space. Follow their labels, local fire rules, building policy, and official storm instructions. Never place fuel where it can leak into a drain, floodwater, ignition source, or occupied vehicle space.
Large, heavy, permanently attached, or awkward items need a pre-season plan. Do not attempt a dangerous lift in deteriorating weather.
Protect windows and glazed doors with an approved system
Permanent storm shutters, tested panels, impact-rated assemblies, and their attachment systems must match the building and local requirements. Inspect labeled components before the season, identify which panel fits each opening, and keep the correct fasteners together.
Do not assume ordinary tape prevents glass breakage. Do not improvise holes, anchors, or panel dimensions into an unfamiliar wall system during a warning. Incorrect attachment can damage cladding, wiring, plumbing, waterproofing, or the structural opening and can create windborne debris.
Homeowners needing new protection should use qualified contractors, product approvals, permits, and local code requirements. Renters and condominium residents need written management instructions before attaching anything to windows, balconies, or the facade.
Keep required exits usable until the household has completed evacuation or entered the shelter plan. Everyone inside must know how to leave if fire or structural damage occurs.
For a calm-season view of existing openings and drainage, use the pre-storm exterior sealing and drainage inspection. If a window or door already shows water entry, staining, swelling, or failed material, use the water-intrusion warning guide instead of hiding the symptom beneath a last-minute seal.
Inspect doors and the garage before the season
Check exterior doors for normal closing, latching, loose hardware, damaged weather seals, and visible deterioration. Repair ordinary defects under the product instructions while weather is calm. A door that is warped, structurally damaged, or part of a rated assembly needs qualified evaluation.
Garage doors are large openings and can require wind-rated reinforcement designed for the exact door and structure. Do not create a last-minute brace from loose lumber or park a vehicle against the door as a substitute for an approved system. Ask a qualified garage-door or building professional about the local wind requirement, labeled reinforcement, tracks, fasteners, and installation.
Know how to operate the garage door during a power outage according to its manual. Never stand under or disconnect a door with a damaged spring, cable, track, or support.
Manage rain and drainage from safe ground level
Before the season, clear accessible ground drains, gutters, downspout outlets, and drainage paths while conditions are dry and stable. Direct water only where permitted and where it will not harm a neighbor, foundation, slope, septic system, or public way.
Do not climb onto a wet roof, work from an unsecured ladder, enter a storm drain, or clear a blocked culvert in moving water. Roof leaks, damaged flashing, unstable trees, retaining walls, and major grading require qualified help.
Move stored items off a known flood-prone floor when safe and consistent with the evacuation plan. Elevating contents does not make a building safe to occupy in a surge or flood evacuation zone.
Sandbags and temporary barriers have limited applications and can redirect water. Use them only under local guidance, with safe lifting and disposal arrangements. They cannot stop all flooding or replace evacuation.
The gutter and drainage warning guide helps identify an existing runoff concern from stable ground. It does not authorize a storm-time drainage repair or a change that sends water toward another home or public route.
Check roof, siding, and trees without last-minute repair
From the ground, note missing or displaced roofing, loose siding, damaged soffits, unsecured vents, leaning trees, dead limbs, and attachments that have changed. Photograph concerns and arrange inspection early.
Do not walk on the roof, cut overhead limbs, operate a chainsaw, or work near power lines as a storm approaches. Tree and line clearance belongs with the utility and qualified tree professionals. Treat every downed line as energized.
Satellite dishes, solar panels, antennas, awnings, and rooftop equipment should be inspected and serviced under their manufacturer and installer requirements. Disconnecting or removing fixed equipment can create electrical, fall, water-entry, and warranty hazards.
Use the roof warning-sign guide for a ground-level record and qualified-inspection stop conditions. It is not a temporary roof-repair method, and neither guide authorizes roof access as the weather worsens.
Prepare power and appliances
Charge phones, power banks, radios, lights, and portable power stations. Test devices before the storm and place batteries in a dry, temperature-appropriate location with clear ventilation according to the manufacturer.
Turn refrigerator and freezer controls to the recommended cold setting before an expected outage if the appliance instructions support it. Freeze safe water containers with expansion room and use appliance thermometers. Avoid opening doors unnecessarily.
Unplugging or switching equipment depends on utility guidance, flood risk, the appliance, and the home’s electrical plan. Do not work in a panel with water, damage, arcing, burning odor, or unfamiliar conditions. Fixed wiring, transfer equipment, and service damage require a qualified electrician.
Never backfeed a home through a receptacle. Never run a generator indoors, in a garage, on a porch, in a carport, or near doors, windows, and vents. Read generator carbon monoxide safety before the storm.
The planned hurricane power outage guide will connect cooling, food, water, communication, sump or well needs, and the departure trigger.
Protect water and sanitation
Fill food-grade drinking-water containers before service is disrupted. Do not use a bathtub as the only drinking-water supply; tubs and liners vary and may be more appropriate for flushing or washing under local guidance.
Know whether the home relies on a well, septic system, lift pump, cistern, or electric water pump. Flooding and power loss can change safe use. Obtain system-specific instructions before the storm and follow boil-water or do-not-use advisories afterward.
Keep cleaning chemicals separate from food, water, medication, and flood-prone areas. Never mix bleach with ammonia, acids, or other cleaners.
Secure records without advertising an empty home
Place essential originals and protected copies in the evacuation bag. Use a water-resistant inner pouch, but do not assume a consumer bag is fireproof or floodproof. Maintain an encrypted digital backup with tested account recovery.
Pause scheduled deliveries and arrange mail only when useful and safe. Share travel and vacancy details with trusted contacts, not publicly. Keep alarm, gate, and camera plans functional through power and network loss without implying that monitoring replaces evacuation or physical safety.
Apartment and condominium checklist
Ask management:
- What window and balcony preparation is permitted?
- When must balconies be cleared?
- How do elevators, garage gates, entry systems, water pumps, and fire systems behave without power?
- Are residents required to evacuate earlier from certain floors or zones?
- Where are notices posted if internet and intercom service fail?
- Which common areas, if any, are approved shelter areas?
- Who handles broken glazing, water intrusion, or after-hours damage?
Do not shelter in a hallway, garage, lobby, or stairwell unless building and emergency authorities designate it. Do not prop open fire doors. Upper floors can face wind and glass hazards, while lower floors can face flooding; follow the building-specific plan.
Final home departure check
Only perform these steps if time, conditions, and official instructions allow:
- People, pets, medication, devices, documents, and bags are loaded.
- Outdoor objects are already secured; no one starts a new task.
- Approved shutters or panels are complete.
- Doors and windows are closed and locked normally.
- Utility actions follow specific authority or professional instruction.
- Alarm and access arrangements are set.
- The destination and route are reconfirmed.
- The out-of-area contact receives departure time and next check-in.
Leave using the hurricane evacuation plan. Do not return for a forgotten nonessential item.
After the storm
Wait for official re-entry clearance. Approach during daylight when possible. Obvious structural damage, active flooding, fire, gas odor, downed lines, leaning trees, or an official restriction means stay out.
Do not energize wet equipment or begin roof, electrical, gas, tree, structural, sewage, or extensive mold work without the appropriate clearance and professional scope. Start with the returning home after a hurricane guide, use damage documentation before cleanup to preserve the safe record, photograph damage before temporary work, and contact the insurer.
The most valuable home-preparation task is the one completed calmly before the storm. Once the safe work window closes, the property plan is finished and the people plan takes over.
Sources reviewed
- Ready.gov: Hurricane Hazard Information Sheet
- FEMA: How to Prepare for a Hurricane
- CDC: Preparing for Hurricanes or Other Tropical Storms
- NOAA National Hurricane Center: Hurricane Hazards
Sources reviewed July 14, 2026.