Hurricane season runs June 1 through November 30. Most homeowners put off preparation until the cone of uncertainty is already pointing at them — by which time every generator, gas can, and plywood sheet in the county is gone. This checklist covers the 15 highest-impact things you can do now, most of them free or under $100.
Electrical & backup power
- Test every GFI outlet — press the TEST button, confirm it trips, press RESET. If any outlet doesn't trip, it's dead and needs replacement. Kitchens, bathrooms, garages, and exteriors are all required to have GFIs.
- Install a whole-home surge protector at the panel. Florida gets more lightning than anywhere else in the U.S., and power flickers after a storm fry electronics.
- Locate and test your generator inlet (if you have one) and fire up the generator under load before the season starts.
- Charge all battery backups — including smoke detector batteries, garage door opener backup, and sump pump batteries.
Water & plumbing
- Know where your main water shutoff is, and make sure the valve actually turns. Older ball valves seize up from never being exercised.
- Check your water heater anchor straps. FL code requires two straps for gas heaters in high-wind areas.
- Fill clean containers with water 48 hours before expected landfall. A bathtub liner (WaterBOB) holds 100 gallons for under $40.
- Clear all exterior drains — patio scuppers, downspouts, gutter outlets, and pool deck drains. Blocked drains cause 80% of storm water intrusion.
Exterior & building envelope
- Trim trees at least 6 feet from the roof. Small palm fronds punch through shingles; big oak branches tear them off.
- Bring in or tie down anything that becomes a missile in 100+ mph winds — patio furniture, grills, garden tools, plants.
- Photograph your home inside and out for insurance. Walk every room with your phone video rolling, and back it up to cloud storage.
- Check hurricane shutters — operate them, spray hinges with silicone, and make sure every bolt/anchor is present. Your first deployment should not be under a tornado warning.
Safety & response
- Stock a 7-day kit: water (1 gal/person/day), non-perishable food, flashlights, batteries, first aid, medications, phone chargers, cash.
- Confirm insurance coverage — specifically windstorm and flood. Flood is separate from standard homeowners. Review deductibles.
- Write down emergency numbers on paper. When cell service goes down, your phone's contacts don't help if the phone's dead.
Professional help
If any of these turn up issues you'd rather not tackle yourself — a panel that needs a surge protector, a water heater that needs strapping, a dead GFI, or a main shutoff that won't turn — that's exactly the kind of work we do same-week. Send us photos and we'll quote.