Florida Homeowner's Guide to Hurricane Season Prep
Florida hurricane season home prep: roof, shutters, insurance, deductibles, documents and a supply kit, plus tips if you live in another storm state.
In this article
- When to start preparing
- Roof and exterior
- Generator, water and air conditioning
- Check your insurance before the season
- Document your home before the storm
- The supply kit
- When a storm is forecast: the 72-hour checklist
- After the storm
- Not in Florida? Other hurricane and severe-storm states
- Frequently asked questions
Quick answer: Finish your roof, shutter, insurance and documentation work before June 1, stock a supply kit for several days (a week is safer), and know your evacuation zone. Big projects such as impact windows are off-season work, best done between December and May. If you live outside Florida, the same steps apply, but your deductible rules, wind pools and claim deadlines are set by your state.
When to start preparing
The Atlantic hurricane season runs June 1 through November 30. The National Weather Service says activity peaks around September 10, with most of it between mid-August and mid-October. Prepare before any storm is named, because once a watch is issued, stores sell out and contractors are booked.
Split the work in two. Big projects (roof repairs, shutters, impact windows) are off-season work: December through May is when installers have openings. Everything else belongs on a yearly checklist you finish by June 1. If it is already mid-season, do the basics now.
Roof and exterior
Roof: Have it inspected every year before the season. Make sure shingles are secure and the flashing around vents, chimneys and skylights is intact, because loose shingles become projectiles in high winds. If your roof is older, ask a roofer to assess its wind resistance, including how it is attached to the walls. Our guide to roof lifespan and when to replace helps you decide.
Garage door and trees: The garage door is often the weakest point in a home's envelope, so check that yours is rated for your wind zone and ask a door contractor about bracing if it is not. Remove dead branches before the season, and have an arborist assess large trees near the house.
Shutters and impact windows
Test shutters now, not 48 hours before a storm: check the hardware and tracks. HomeGuide, citing FEMA, says all windows need protection, and notes that plywood is not hurricane-rated and earns no insurance discount.
HomeGuide's 2026 national figures put standard panels or accordion shutters at about $35 to $350 per window (about 24 by 42 inches) and electric roll-down shutters at about $350 to $1,225, or $2,000 to $8,000 for an average house. Impact windows need no action before a storm, so get at least three written quotes for both options.
Get a wind mitigation inspection
A wind mitigation inspection documents the features that make your home harder for wind to damage. In Florida, the Uniform Mitigation Verification Inspection Form records the building code, roof covering, roof deck attachment, roof-to-wall attachment, secondary water resistance and opening protection. A revised version took effect April 1, 2026, and the form stays valid for up to five years if nothing material changes.
The report earns premium credits, which vary by insurer and home, so ask your agent to price your policy with and without it.
Check for help paying for upgrades
Florida's My Safe Florida Home program offers free wind mitigation inspections and grants of up to $10,000 toward approved upgrades such as opening protection and roof improvements. As of October 2026 the program's site shows applications open. State law requires a homestead exemption, a home built before 2008, an insured value of $700,000 or less, and a match of $1 from you for every $2 from the state (low-income applicants are exempt). Funding is limited, so check eligibility first.
Nationwide, the voluntary FORTIFIED standard has Roof, Silver and Gold levels, and North Carolina and Alabama lead on incentives.
Generator, water and air conditioning
Generator: Run it under load for 30 minutes before the season, and check the fuel and oil. The Consumer Product Safety Commission says never to run a portable generator inside a home or garage, even with doors and windows open, and to keep it at least 20 feet away with the exhaust facing away. Over half of the 200-plus annual U.S. carbon monoxide deaths tied to consumer products involve portable generators, so keep battery-operated or battery-backup CO alarms on every level.
Sales tax: Since August 1, 2025, Florida has exempted certain disaster supplies from sales tax all year: batteries, carbon monoxide and smoke alarms, fire extinguishers, portable gas cans, portable generators and waterproof tarps. There is no tax-free window to wait for. The Florida Department of Revenue lists the current items.
Water, power, gas and AC: Know where your main water shutoff, electrical panel and gas shutoff are, and follow your utility's guidance if flooding is possible. Clear debris from the outdoor AC unit, and after a storm have it checked before you run it if it was submerged or hit by debris.
Check your insurance before the season
This decides how a storm hits your finances. See also how to lower your homeowners insurance premium.
- Know your hurricane deductible. Under Fla. Stat. 627.701, Florida insurers must offer hurricane deductible options of $500, 2%, 5% and 10%, and the deductible applies annually to all hurricane losses in a calendar year. On a home insured for $400,000, that is $8,000 at 2%, $20,000 at 5% and $40,000 at 10%.
- Flood is not covered by a standard homeowners policy. FloodSmart notes nearly one-third of National Flood Insurance Program claims come from outside high-risk areas. NFIP policies typically take effect after a 30-day wait (no wait when bought in connection with a mortgage), so buy before a storm is on the map. Coverage tops out at $250,000 for a single-family home and $100,000 for contents.
- Read the declarations page. Check what is excluded or limited for wind, water intrusion and roof damage, not just the premium.
Document your home before the storm
The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) advises building a home inventory before disaster strikes, which makes claims smoother.
- Photograph and video every room, closet and major appliance, with close-ups of model and serial labels.
- Photograph the exterior, roof, garage and fences from every side, and keep receipts for major improvements.
- Save copies of your policy, mortgage papers, deed and inventory in the cloud, not only on your phone.
Steadwell's document vault keeps these files in the cloud, AI scan reads serial numbers and receipts from a photo on the Plus and Pro plans, and the home insurance tracker keeps your policies and claims in one place.
The supply kit
Ready.gov recommends one gallon of water per person per day for several days, a several-day supply of non-perishable food, prescription medications, cash, and a battery-powered or hand-crank radio with NOAA Weather Radio. After a major storm, outages and closed roads can last longer, so consider planning for a week.
Add a first aid kit, flashlights, batteries and phone chargers, hygiene items, baby and pet supplies, small-bill cash, copies of key documents in a waterproof bag, and safely stored generator fuel.
When a storm is forecast: the 72-hour checklist
- Know your evacuation zone and route. In Florida, enter your address in the state's Know Your Zone map. Zone A is the most vulnerable and evacuates first. If you are ordered to leave, go early.
- Fill your gas tanks and get cash. Lines form fast once a watch is issued.
- Install shutters or panels, and bring in or tie down outdoor furniture, grills and trash cans.
- Charge phones and power banks, and set your fridge and freezer to their coldest settings.
- Confirm your cloud backups are current, and follow officials' guidance on shutting off utilities if you evacuate.
- During the storm, stay in an interior room away from windows. Do not go outside during the eye.
After the storm
- Wait for the all-clear. Treat downed lines as live, stay out of floodwater, and leave if you smell gas.
- Photograph and video the damage before you clean up or move anything.
- Protect the home from further damage, such as tarping the roof, and keep receipts. Many policies require reasonable steps.
- Contact your insurer promptly. Under Fla. Stat. 627.70132, notice of an initial or reopened claim is due within one year after the date of loss (for a hurricane, landfall), and a supplemental claim within 18 months. Your policy may require sooner, so do not wait.
- Be careful with contractors. Get written estimates, avoid paying the full amount up front, and verify any Florida license at MyFloridaLicense.com. The NAIC suggests having your contractor meet your adjuster to clear up expectations.
Not in Florida? Other hurricane and severe-storm states
Most of the advice above applies on any Gulf or Atlantic coast. What changes is state insurance law, wind pools and where you look up your zone.
| What to check | How it varies | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Hurricane or named-storm deductible | Usually a percentage of policy limits, and what triggers it varies by state and insurer (Insurance Information Institute) | In North Carolina, a 2% named-storm deductible on a $300,000 home is $6,000 |
| Wind coverage | Some coastal markets have a pool for owners who cannot get wind cover in the regular market | Texas Windstorm Insurance Association; North Carolina's Coastal Property Insurance Pool |
| Flood | NFIP coverage is sold through participating communities, with the same $250,000 and $100,000 limits and 30-day wait | Ask your agent or visit FloodSmart.gov |
| Evacuation zone | Set by state and county emergency management | North Carolina's Know Your Zone map; the National Hurricane Center says to ask local emergency managers |
| Claim deadline | Varies by state | Florida's is one year; the NAIC says to check yours promptly |
Inland, the Insurance Information Institute says wind and hail deductibles are most commonly 1% to 5% and are common in Ohio and Tornado Alley states such as Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. Your state department of insurance can explain your state's rules.
Frequently asked questions
When should I start preparing for hurricane season?
Before June 1 each year. Schedule big projects such as roof repairs, shutters and impact windows between December and May, and do the rest in May.
Do I need flood insurance if I'm not in a flood zone?
It is worth pricing, because nearly one-third of NFIP claims come from outside high-risk areas. Flood policies typically take effect 30 days after purchase, so you cannot buy one when a storm is already approaching.
How much is a typical hurricane deductible in Florida?
Florida insurers must offer $500, 2%, 5% and 10% options. On a $400,000 dwelling limit, a 2% deductible is $8,000 and a 5% deductible is $20,000. Check your declarations page for the exact figure.
How long do I have to report a hurricane claim in Florida?
One year from the date of loss to give notice of an initial or reopened claim, and 18 months for a supplemental claim, under Florida law. Report as soon as you safely can, and check your policy for any shorter requirement.