When it comes to preparing for a hurricane, the amount of things you need to do can seem overwhelming. There are supplies to be bought, houses to be secured, and pets to be cared for, all before the storm hits. You can make hurricane season a little less stressful by using this checklist filled with tips to help you prepare throughout the year for any storms that might threaten your home.

Before Hurricane Season

Well before hurricanes ever threaten, make sure to get these things done.

1. Get insurance policies squared away. Many insurers won’t issue new policies during hurricane season, so make sure to purchase any coverage you might need, including flood insurance, ahead of time.
2. Learn your risk level. Take the time to learn what risks you can expect to face in your home if a hurricane comes your way. Find out if you’re in a low lying area or if you need to make adjustments to your home.
3. Create a plan. In order to make hurricane season a little less scary, plan ahead for evacuation and securing your home. That way, you’ll have a plan when the winds are bearing down.
4. Purchase a backup generator. In the event that your home is without power for several days because of a storm, you’ll need a way to supply your home with power.
5. Make sure your roof, siding, and exterior of your home are in good repair. Get professionals out to your home to make sure your it’s in good shape and able to withstand high winds and rains.
6. Know your flood elevation. Think your home might be susceptible to flooding? Get your home inspected to find out so you can take counteractive measures.
7. Make sure main electrical system is above flood level. Rewiring your home can be a serious and time-consuming undertaking, so if you need to remodel to protect your home from flood damage, do so well ahead of the storm season.
8. Install a floor drain plug. Saturated soil around your home from flooding can cause your floor drains in your basement to back up, filling your basement with unwanted water. Stop this problem with a floating floor drain plug, which will rise with the water and block the pipe.
9. Get a back flow valve for your sewer system. If flood waters work their way into your sewer system, sewage can back up and enter your home. To avoid this messy situation, have a professional install a back flow valve on the exterior of your home.
10. Take pictures of your house and property. If you ever need to make claims on valuables and on your home after a hurricane, you’ll need to have some photographic proof of your losses. Take photos of your home and property as well as your valuable possessions and store them in a safe and waterproof place.
11. Install shutters or buy and cut plywood. Plywood will become rare when storms approach, so get yours ahead of time. If you’re installing commercial grade shutters, get them put in well before you’ll need them.

At the Start of Hurricane Season

Hurricane season runs from the beginning of June until the end of November. Make sure you’re ready for any storm by using these tips.

1. Make sure your roof is leak free and properly sheathed. While taking care of your roof should be a year round concern, it’s especially important during seasons high in rain and storms. Hurricane strength winds can rip off loose shingles and the extra water can seep into any holes you haven’t filled or sheathed.
2. Review your landscaping. There are some types of landscaping that are simply more hurricane friendly than others. Consult with a landscape architect in your area to see what you can do to help your landscaping brave the storm.
3. Trim trees and bushes. Before storms hit, it is a good idea to trim trees and bushes to get rid of dead limbs. You’ll want to do this ahead of approaching storms so you don’t have branches lying around, becoming dangerous projectiles in high winds.
4. Stock up on supplies. Once a storm warning has been issued supplies will run out very quickly. Don’t get stuck high and dry, eating canned lima beans for days. Stock up on food, water, and supplies to secure your home early on.
5. Install hurricane straps. High winds can rip the roof of your home right off if it’s not properly secured. Call in the professionals to install hurricane straps that help strengthen the bond between your roof and the walls of your home.
6. Brace end gables. End gables are the side walls of your roof, and they take a beating from hurricane winds. Help them withstand the storm by bracing them with 2×4s installed by a contractor.
7. Reinforce doors. Make sure the doors to your home will be able withstand high winds. Double up on doors, make sure each has three hinges, and deadbolts that go into the frame of your home. You should also be sure that they open out instead of in.
8. Consider raising your washer and dryer. Unlike many other appliances, your washer and dryer can be raised off the floor fairly easily. Get drawers or cabinetry to go underneath to keep flood waters away from your appliances.
9. Have a plan for securing your boat. Whether you plan to secure your boat in or out of the water, make sure you know how and what you need to do to keep it safe. Buy ropes, chains, and other equipment ahead of time as it never hurts to have on hand.
10. Organize valuables into an easly accessible location. Make sure you will have the things that mean most to you in a place where you can get to them quickly if you need to leave in an emergency. It’s better to get them together beforehand than be running around at the last minute.

When Hurricane Watch is Issued (36 Hours Before)

When you know a hurricane is on its way, make sure you get these things taken care of before it hits full force.

1. Raise valuables off the floor. Keep your furniture and other belongings up above flood level if at all possible. While you can’t raise everything, concentrate on electronics and objects that have sentimental value to you.
2. Board up windows. Now is the time to pull down your hurricane shutters or put up the plywood you purchased and cut for your windows. Make sure to bolt the boards right into your window frames to make it as safe as possible. Don’t forget about skylights and sliding doors.
3. Brace your garage door. The garage door is often a weak point in the home because of its large size. Make sure yours will stand up to strong winds. Purchase a sturdy hurricane door or brace your existing door with some 2×4s.
4. Prepare your pool. Since pools are outside and will be exposed to the elements, you’ll need to prepare yours before the hurricane. Keep your pool filled at least halfway, turn off and cover all pumps, and add extra chlorine to compensate for heavy rains.
5. Take care of appliances. If it’s possible, raise your household appliances up off the ground. This includes air conditioners, water heaters and furnaces.
6. Make arrangements for pets. Hotels and shelters will often not allow you to bring along pets if you need to evacuate, so make arrangements for your pets to stay somewhere else.
7. Make lots of ice. Because your power might be out for days following a large storm, make as much ice as possible to keep food cool.
8. Crank up the AC and settings on refrigerators. Keep your food and home cool if the power goes by making it extra cool in the days preceding the storm. While it won’t last forever, it may give you a few extra days of relief.
9. Plug roof vents. Roof turbines are very easily ripped off by the strong winds that accompany hurricanes and can leave holes in your roof that will allow rain to enter. Remove the turbines and plug holes before the storm hits to keep water out of your attic.

During the Storm

Sticking it out in your home can be a harrowing experience, so follow these tips to help you avoid injury and damage to your home.

1. Turn off the electricity. To prevent any problems with water coming in contact with electricity, turn it off during the storm.
2. Make sure appliances are off and unplugged. Save your appliances from the surge that can happen when power returns by unplugging them or turning them off.
3. Keep drapes drawn. It can be tempting to peek outside during a storm, but you should try to keep the drapes drawn as much as possible and stay away from windows, even if they’re boarded up.
4. Keep all door secured. Lock all your doors, and if necessary, reinforce them with boards.
5. Turn off the gas. Gas leaks caused by damaged pipes can be very very dangerous, so turn off your gas before hurricane damage puts you at risk.
6. Unplug all electronics. Keep computers, TVs, and stereo equipment off the floor and unplugged from the wall.

After the Storm

Picking up after the storm can be a long process. Here are some things to check to make sure your recovery is safe.

1. Contact professionals about turning gas and water back on. If you’ve turned either of these off during the storm you’ll likely need to call someone in to safely turn them back on.
2. Check for gas leaks. If you think you smell gas, leave your home immediately and call the gas company. It’s better to be safe than sorry when dealing with gas leaks, especially when power lines could be down from storms.
3. Make sure water is safe to drink before using. Flooding can make water from your faucet unsafe to drink, so boil it before using or drink only bottled water until authorities say tap water is safe.
4. Open windows and turn on your dehumidifier. If there’s been any flooding in your home, you’ll want to air it out immediately to see what is salvageable and what you’ll need to replace.
5. Pump water slowly out of basements. In order to prevent foundation damage, pump water out of basements slowly, a little bit at a time.
6. Take photos of any damage. In order to make claims you’ll need to take photos of any and all the damage done to your home.