How to prepare the house for hurricane season
Prepare your house for hurricane season before it starts, June 1 in the Atlantic. Buy flood insurance at least 30 days ahead, look up your evacuation zone, and arrange shutters or 5/8-inch exterior plywood cut to fit each window. Clear gutters and drains, and know your hurricane deductible before a storm forms.
When to prepare your house for hurricane season
This is a once-a-year job with a hard date. Work back from the start of your season, which depends on your coast.
| Region | Season, per Ready.gov |
|---|---|
| Atlantic and Gulf | June 1 to November 30 |
| Eastern Pacific | May 15 to November 30 |
| Central Pacific, including Hawaii | June 1 to November 30 |
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| Well before the season | Get prices for shutters and any roof or garage door work. These take time |
| At least 30 days before the season | Buy or review flood coverage. Most policies start 30 days after purchase |
| Before the season begins | Review policies, zones and supplies, and test your panels |
| When a storm forms | Bring in furniture, charge phones and follow local officials |
New owners sometimes get a break. FEMA says there's no waiting period when flood insurance is bought while making, increasing, extending or renewing a mortgage, and a one-day wait can apply after certain flood map changes. Check the current rules with your agent or FloodSmart.gov.
Hurricane season checklist for your house
- Your evacuation zone and route, from local emergency management
- Storm surge and flood maps. Ready.gov links to both
- Permanent storm shutters, which the National Weather Service calls the best window protection
- Otherwise, 5/8-inch exterior-grade or marine plywood, built to fit and ready to install
- Labels for each panel, and the hardware and tools to fit it
- A go bag with medicine, documents, pet supplies and phone chargers
- Copies of insurance papers and IDs in a secure, password-protected online location
- The FEMA app, plus local alert sign-ups
Read your deductible before you need it. Hurricane deductibles are often a percentage of the home's insured value, not a flat dollar amount. The Insurance Information Institute says they typically run 1% to 5%, and 19 states plus Washington, DC have them. Triggers vary by state and insurer.
| Home insured for | Hurricane deductible | You pay first |
|---|---|---|
| $300,000 | 5% | $15,000 |
| $300,000 | 1% | $3,000 |
| $300,000 | Standard $500 | $500 |
Set that money aside or ask your agent about options. Standard homeowners policies generally don't cover flood damage. As of FEMA's 2018 notice, federal flood policies on a single-family home top out at $250,000 for the building and $100,000 for contents.
How to prepare your house for hurricane season
- Map your risk
Find your evacuation zone, surge risk and flood zone, and agree on where you'd go and how.
- Call your agent
Ask about flood coverage, your wind or hurricane deductible and what triggers it, at least 30 days before the season.
- Protect the openings
Get quotes for permanent shutters. If you'll use plywood, measure each window and cut and label the panels now.
- Look at the garage door
Find the label or the manual, and ask a pro about its wind rating and bracing options.
- Clear the outside
Clean gutters and drains, and decide where each outdoor item will go when a storm is coming.
- Pack and document
Build the go bag, and photograph each room for your insurance records.
- Practice
Walk your evacuation route with the household and pets, and do a trial fit of your panels.
Weak spots to fix to protect your home from a hurricane
Some things mean the house needs attention before the season, not during it:
- You're in a mapped surge or evacuation zone with no plan. Surge has historically been the leading cause of US hurricane deaths.
- You think you're outside the risk. FEMA's 2018 notice said about 25 to 30% of paid flood claims came from outside high-risk zones.
- Your garage door has no wind rating or looks thin. Ask a garage door pro about reinforcement.
- Roof shingles, flashing or soffits are loose. Have a licensed roofer fix them early.
- Dead branches overhang the house. Have a tree service remove them.
- Windows have no cut panels or shutters.
- Loose patio furniture, grills or planters have nowhere to go.
Hurricane preparedness: what to do yourself and what to hire out
Handy owners can cut and label plywood, clear gutters and move furniture. Hire licensed pros for shutters, impact windows, roof work and any garage door reinforcement. Springs on a garage door can seriously injure you. Your county may require permits or tested products, so ask your building department first.
Take insurance questions to your agent or your state insurance department, since rules differ by state and policy. If officials order you to evacuate, Ready.gov says to do it right away. After a storm, stay out of floodwater. About six inches of fast water can knock an adult down, and about a foot can carry off a vehicle. Don't touch wet electrical equipment. If rising water traps you, go to the highest level, but don't climb into a closed attic.
Hurricane deductible and flood insurance questions
When should I buy flood insurance before hurricane season?
Most flood policies take effect 30 days after purchase, so buy at least a month before the season starts. Exceptions exist, such as buying while closing on a mortgage, so ask your agent.
How does a hurricane deductible work?
It's often a percentage of your home's insured value, typically 1% to 5%, and it applies only to hurricane damage. On a $300,000 home, a 5% deductible means you pay the first $15,000 of a covered claim.
What thickness of plywood should I use for hurricane windows?
Use 5/8-inch exterior-grade or marine plywood, built to fit and ready to install, says the National Weather Service. It rates permanent storm shutters as the best protection.
Sources: Ready.gov, National Weather Service, FEMA, Insurance Information Institute
General guidance for U.S. homes, not professional advice. For gas, electrical and structural work, call a licensed pro.