- Prepare for a hurricane by securing outdoor items, trimming trees, cleaning gutters, inspecting your roof, installing storm shutters or pre-cut plywood, reinforcing garage doors, and building a 72-hour emergency kit.
- During a hurricane, stay indoors in a basement or interior room away from windows, leash pets, monitor alerts and evacuate immediately if told to do so.
- After a hurricane, wait for authorities to say it's safe, avoid floodwater and downed wires, document damage with photos, and dry/disinfect materials to prevent mold.
- Standard homeowners/renters insurance typically covers wind-related hurricane damage but not flood damage; separate flood insurance is needed for flood protection.
Hurricane Preparation
Be prepared for hurricane season with practical hurricane prep before, during and after the storm.
Key Takeaways
If you’re wondering how to prepare for a hurricane, start before a storm is close. A clear hurricane preparedness checklist can help you protect your home, gather supplies and make quicker decisions if an evacuation is ordered. This guide covers what to do before, during and after a hurricane, along with common insurance questions.
Quick takeaway: The best hurricane prep happens early. Secure loose outdoor items, review your evacuation plan, photograph your property and know where your insurance information is before severe weather arrives.
Know the difference between a hurricane watch and warning
A hurricane watch means a hurricane is possible. Watches are announced 48 hours before expected tropical-storm-force winds are expected to start, so keep a close eye on the news for updates. A hurricane warning means hurricane-force winds are expected and are announced 36 hours in advance. If a warning is issued, hurricane prep should move from planning to action right away.
Here's a quick overview of what to do at each hurricane stage:
| Hurricane stage | What to do | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Before the storm | Review your hurricane preparedness checklist, secure outdoor items and gather supplies | Helps reduce last-minute risk and property damage |
| When the storm is imminent | Charge devices, fuel your car, protect windows and prepare to evacuate if needed | Supports faster action if conditions worsen |
| During a hurricane | Stay inside, monitor alerts and keep away from windows | Helps reduce injury risk |
| After a hurricane | Wait for official guidance, document damage and begin safe cleanup | Can help with safety and insurance claims |
How to prepare for a hurricane
A good hurricane preparedness checklist should cover your home, your supplies and your evacuation plan. The following tips have been compiled from the National Weather Service, the Red Cross and FEMA to help you prepare.
Before the storm
- Find out if you live in a hurricane evacuation area by contacting your local government/emergency management office or by checking the maps of evacuation zones courtesy of Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH).
- Prepare a 72-hour emergency kit with extra clothes, nonperishable food, water, first aid and essential medicines, blankets, flashlights, batteries, a fire extinguisher, important documents and supplies for any pets.
- Consider purchasing life vests to use in emergency flooding situations.
- Replace gravel/rock landscaping material with shredded bark to reduce risk of damage from wind-borne debris.
- Trim shrubbery and cut weak branches and trees that could fall on your house.
- Check that your gutters are free from any buildup so they don’t overflow from the heavy rains, and adjust or add extensions to downspouts so that rainwater flows away from your home.
- Clean debris from around the perimeter of your house as well, as it can collect water.
- Inspect your roof, siding, foundation and basement to identify areas that need to be repaired or replaced.
- Be sure your windows are protected. Permanent storm shutters are the best option. Otherwise, have proper materials – 5/8-inch plywood – cut and ready to cover your windows.
- Reinforce garage doors — if wind blows through the garage, it can cause serious structural damage to other parts of your home.
- Develop and practice a family evacuation plan.
- Prepare a home inventory with photos of your home and personal property.
For related planning, read more about flood preparation, how to prepare for a power outage and home insurance coverages.
When a storm is imminent
- Bring lawn furniture, bikes, trash cans, toys and other small, lightweight items inside or store them in a shed.
- Turn off utilities, especially natural gas or propane, to avoid fire.
- Check your carbon monoxide detector’s battery to prevent CO poisoning.
- Fill clean containers with water for drinking and consider filling sinks and tubs with water for washing in case you lose your water supply during the storm.
- Charge your cellphone and have your emergency supply kit ready.
- Cover windows with 5/8-inch plywood that’s cut to fit and ready to install.
- Fill your gas tank, refill prescriptions and grab extra cash from ATMs if still safe to do so.
- Park your car in a garage or next to a building to protect it from wind and flying debris.
- If you live in a tall building, find shelter on the 10th floor or below before the storm strikes. Consider going to your local emergency shelter if it’s safer to do so.
- If you’re told to evacuate, do so immediately. Unplug appliances and turn off utilities, if you have time and haven’t already done so.
What to do during a hurricane
- Listen to the radio or TV for information on the storm and evacuation. Try to save the battery on your phone in case you need it later for emergencies.
- Stay inside — ideally in a basement, cellar or an interior room on the lowest floor, away from doors and windows — even if it looks calm out, as the eye of the storm could be passing over.
- Leash your pets or place them in a carrier and keep them with you.
What to do during a hurricane? The safest answer is to stay indoors, avoid windows and follow official evacuation instructions if they apply to your area.
What to do after a hurricane
- Monitor local news and weather before you head outside, and if you’re not at home, return home only when authorities say it’s safe.
- Be on alert for extended rainfall and subsequent flooding.
- Stay clear of floodwater, downed wires and evacuate the area immediately if you smell gas.
- Phone systems are often down or busy after a disaster. Text or use social media to communicate if it’s not an emergency.
- Wear thick-soled shoes, long pants, work gloves and use a flashlight — not candles, in case of gas leak — during cleanup.
- Take pictures of any damage for insurance claims.
- Dry and disinfect all materials in the house to prevent mold and mildew.
- Review the homeowner's checklist for water and flood damage cleanup.
If you need claim support after the storm, review how to file a home insurance claim and what to expect from a home insurance adjuster.
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Does homeowners insurance cover hurricane damage?
NOAA’s Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory reports that the U.S. has at least a one-in-six chance of experiencing a hurricane that will cause $10 billion in losses. And, according to the III, hurricanes and tropical storms are a leading cause of catastrophic insurance losses.
Hurricane damage for homeowners
The damages that result from a hurricane, mostly as a result of the intensely strong winds and rains, are typically covered under your home insurance policy. However, any flood damage wouldn’t be covered by your standard homeowners policy. For total peace of mind, consider purchasing a separate flood insurance policy to keep you better protected.
Hurricane damage for condos and renters
Like homeowners policies, condo and renters insurance policies provide coverage for damage caused by the high winds related to a hurricane. The difference is in the property covered by these policies.
The property covered by a condo policy depends on the condo association bylaws. The bylaws will describe which property is your responsibility and which property is covered by the condo’s master insurance policy. Your condo insurance applies to portions of the structure that you’re responsible for in addition to your personal property. For more information on what’s covered, you can reach out to your association or contact our representatives to discuss your individual unit’s policy.
Renters policies, on the other hand, provide coverage for your personal property. A renter’s policy doesn’t cover the structure, as you’re not an owner of the property itself. Does renters insurance cover hurricane damage? Wind-related damage to covered belongings may be covered, but flood damage is typically excluded unless you have separate flood coverage.
Hurricane damage for cars
Most damage to your car due to a hurricane would be covered under your auto insurance policy if you opted to purchase comprehensive (other than collision) coverage. Comprehensive coverage provides protection for damage from natural events, such as wind, hail, lightning, falling objects or debris and flooding.
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FAQs about hurricane prep
Hurricane prep may include gathering emergency supplies, protecting windows, trimming trees, securing outdoor items, reviewing evacuation routes and documenting your home and belongings.
A hurricane preparedness checklist should include water, non-perishable food, medications, flashlights, batteries, pet supplies, important documents, phone chargers and a family evacuation plan.
Stay indoors, away from windows and exterior doors, monitor official alerts and evacuate if local authorities instruct you to leave.
Wait for authorities to say it’s safe, avoid floodwater and downed wires, document damage with photos and begin cleanup carefully.
Renters insurance may help cover wind-related damage to personal belongings, depending on the policy. Flood damage is typically not covered under a standard renters policy.
Sources referenced in the original article include the Red Cross, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Insurance Information Institute, National Hurricane Center, National Weather Service and FEMA.
Your Policy, Policy Declarations or Amended Declarations in effect on the date of loss is the primary source of reference for your coverage, coverage limits and deductible amounts.
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