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Weather and seasonal readiness

Prepare this home's hurricane plan before the local storm season

Named-storm timing, evacuation zones, shutters, openings, outdoor objects, utilities, medicines, pets, and recovery contacts need decisions before watches and warnings compress the schedule.

Homeowner guidance with clear stop points

When it usually needs attention

Timing follows the local season

Prepare in the reviewed local pre-season window and follow current watches, warnings, evacuation orders, and property rules.

When this guide applies

Applies only when hurricane or tropical-storm exposure is explicitly confirmed; ZIP code alone does not activate it.

What to do

Use current official local guidance to confirm alerts, evacuation zone and route, household contacts, records, supplies, authorized opening protection, and which ordinary outdoor items can be moved safely from ground level before a storm.

Applies when: Applies only when hurricane or tropical-storm exposure is explicitly confirmed; ZIP code alone does not activate it.

Who should handle it: Residents plan, communicate, and evacuate; owners, associations, utilities, and qualified trades control shutters or panels, roofs, structures, trees, generators, fuel, shared systems, and post-storm entry.

Tools

  • Official local alert source
  • Evacuation-zone and route information
  • Household communication and property contact list

Parts and supplies

  • Officially recommended household kit tailored to occupants and pets
  • Protected copies of insurance, identification, medical, and home records

Safety gear

  • Weather-appropriate ground-level work clothing
  • No PPE turns roof, tree, glass, electrical, flood, or high-wind work into a resident task

Before you start

  • Current local forecast and orders
  • Plan for children, pets, mobility, medication, refrigeration, and power-dependent equipment

Power, water, or fuel shutoffs

  • Map utilities but operate them only under official, utility, manual, or qualified direction
  • Do not improvise generator or transfer connections

Cleaner or chemical limits

No cleaner, fuel additive, pesticide, bleach, solvent, tape, or degreaser makes a structure storm-ready; never mix cleanup chemicals after a storm.

Stop and get help when

  • Follow evacuation orders and stop outdoor preparation when official guidance or wind, lightning, floodwater, debris, heat, or darkness makes it unsafe
  • Do not climb roofs or ladders, cut large limbs, handle downed lines, install unfamiliar panels, or enter a damaged building

Who to call: Use emergency management, emergency services, utilities, the responsible owner, and qualified tree, shutter, roofing, structural, electrical, gas, or water professionals as the hazard requires.

Reviewed sources