Florida hurricane preparation checklist: before, during, and after.
Summary
Florida's Atlantic hurricane season runs June 1 through November 30, with peak activity from mid-August through mid-October. Property owners should complete structural hardening and insurance review before the season begins. Once a named storm is within 72 hours of landfall, most hardening options are no longer practical — and insurance policy changes are suspended. The checklist below is organized by decision horizon: 3 weeks before a threat, 1 week before, 48 hours before, and immediately after the storm passes.
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Phase 1 — Before the season
3 weeks before a named storm: insurance, documents, and infrastructure.
These steps require lead time — insurance policies have waiting periods, tree work requires contractor scheduling, and document prep is easiest when there is no urgency.
Review your homeowner's, flood, and wind insurance policies. Confirm coverage limits, deductibles, and claim-filing procedures before a storm is named.
Photograph every room and every major appliance — video walkthrough is acceptable. Store copies in cloud storage and with a family member outside Florida.
Compile an emergency document kit: insurance declarations pages, property deed, mortgage documents, vehicle titles, passports, and medication lists. Store in a waterproof container or upload to a secure cloud drive.
Confirm your flood insurance is current if your property is in a FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area. NFIP policies have a 30-day waiting period before coverage activates — purchase or renew well before the threat.
Identify your county's evacuation zones and your assigned shelter. Hillsborough County and Miami-Dade publish zone maps online — bookmark them now, not when a storm is 48 hours out.
Service your generator: test it under load, change the oil, and store enough fuel for 72 hours. Florida law requires gas stations to have backup power in hurricane-prone areas, but shortages after a major storm are common.
Phase 2 — Named storm threat
1 week out: physical hardening and supply staging.
At 5–7 days before projected landfall, the National Hurricane Center's forecast cone will have narrowed enough to make property decisions. Hardware stores sell out of plywood and generators within 48 hours of a storm announcement.
Install hurricane shutters or plywood on windows and sliding glass doors if your home does not have impact-rated glazing. Miami-Dade NOA or Florida Product Approval is required for any permanent installation.
Clear the yard of all loose items: patio furniture, potted plants, decorative rocks, and toys. In 130+ mph winds, these become projectiles.
Trim trees and large shrubs back from the house and roof. Dead branches in direct contact with the structure are a roof-damage multiplier.
Fill your vehicle's gas tank and withdraw cash from the ATM. ATMs and gas pumps do not work in a multi-day power outage.
Stock 1 gallon of water per person per day for at least 7 days. Include pets in that calculation. Identify backup water sources if your home uses a well with an electric pump.
Charge all backup power banks and communication devices. Purchase a battery-powered or hand-crank weather radio — it is the most reliable alert source when cell networks are congested.
Phase 3 — Final 48 hours
48 hours before landfall: the go/stay decision and final lockdown.
At 48 hours, evacuation routes are still clear. Most Florida counties issue evacuation orders 24–36 hours before projected landfall — do not wait for the order if you are in a Zone A or Zone B area. Properties can be replaced. Evacuation becomes dangerous if delayed.
Execute the evacuation decision based on your county's evacuation order and your home's storm surge zone classification. If your zone is ordered to evacuate: go. Storm surge, not wind, causes most hurricane fatalities in Florida.
Turn off the main breaker before evacuating if flooding is expected. Submerged electrical panels create electrocution and fire hazards that complicate post-storm entry.
Shut the main water supply valve if a pipe break is possible. For homes on city water, the main shutoff is typically near the water meter.
Move valuables and documents to the highest floor if sheltering in place. Surge water rises from the ground — vertical distance is your best protection.
Notify a trusted contact outside the storm path of your location and evacuation destination.
Do not shelter in a mobile home or manufactured housing unit regardless of tie-down system. County emergency management requires evacuation from mobile homes for any tropical storm warning or higher.
Florida evacuation zone reference
Florida's evacuation zones run A through E (or A through F in some counties), with Zone A representing the highest surge risk. Zone A includes mobile homes, low-lying coastal areas, and waterfront properties. Zone A residents should evacuate for any tropical storm warning or higher. Zone B and C residents should evacuate for Category 2 hurricanes and above. Always follow your county emergency management agency's specific orders — zone boundaries vary by county.
Phase 4 — After the storm
Post-storm: six steps from re-entry to full restoration.
The 72 hours after a hurricane passes are the most consequential for your insurance claim and your property's long-term condition. Every step below is ordered by priority.
Confirm safety before entry
Do not re-enter your property until local authorities have lifted the return order. Inside the storm zone, downed power lines may be live, gas lines may be ruptured, and floodwater may be contaminated with sewage, chemicals, or wildlife. Wear rubber-soled boots and heavy gloves on first entry.
Document before touching anything
Photograph and video the entire property — exterior, interior, and every damaged item — before moving, discarding, or cleaning anything. Insurance adjusters require contemporaneous documentation. Courts have dismissed claims where damage was disturbed before inspection.
Open a claim immediately
Call your insurance carrier as soon as you safely can. Florida's insurance claim deadline for windstorm and hurricane damage is 5 years from the date of loss (FL Stat. §627.70132), but early notification protects your right to coverage and triggers faster adjuster assignment.
Begin emergency mitigation
Your insurance policy requires you to take reasonable steps to prevent further damage — this is called the mitigation duty. Tarp an exposed roof opening, extract standing water with wet-vac if safe, and place dehumidifiers if you have them. Keep all receipts: emergency mitigation costs are typically reimbursable under your policy.
Call a certified restoration contractor
IICRC-certified water damage restoration crews have the equipment — truck-mounted extractors, industrial dehumidifiers, thermal imaging — that household equipment cannot replicate. In Florida's humidity, every 24-hour delay after a flood event increases mold colonization risk. Professional extraction and structural drying in the first 24–48 hours can prevent a remediation job that costs 3–5× more.
Track all expenses
Keep a log of every out-of-pocket expense from the moment the storm passes: hotel costs, restaurant meals if your property is uninhabitable, fuel for generator, temporary repairs. 'Additional Living Expenses' (ALE) coverage in your homeowner's policy reimburses many of these — but only if you document them.
Florida insurance quick reference
5 years
Windstorm/hurricane claim deadline (FL Stat. §627.70132)
1 year
Sinkhole claim deadline under FL law
30 days
NFIP flood policy waiting period before coverage activates (new purchases)
FAQ
Florida hurricane prep — common questions.
When does Florida's hurricane season officially start?
The Atlantic hurricane season officially runs June 1 through November 30. Peak activity is mid-August through mid-October, when sea-surface temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic are warmest. The National Hurricane Center issues its seasonal outlook each spring — but seasonal outlooks do not predict when or where specific storms will make landfall.
Do I need impact windows to be ready for a hurricane?
Impact-rated glazing (windows and doors that meet the Florida Building Code's wind-borne debris requirements) is the most effective permanent protection for openings. If your home does not have impact windows, hurricane shutters or plywood are required before a storm. In Miami-Dade County and Broward County, the High Velocity Hurricane Zone (HVHZ) requires Miami-Dade NOA or Florida Product Approval for any replacement window or shutter — standard impact windows sold in other states do not meet this requirement.
What does my homeowner's insurance cover after a hurricane?
A standard Florida homeowner's policy (HO-3) covers wind damage and resulting rain intrusion through wind-created openings. It does NOT cover flooding, including storm surge — that requires a separate flood insurance policy. Hurricane deductibles in Florida are typically 2–5% of the insured value of the structure (not the loss amount), applied separately from the standard deductible. Read your declarations page before hurricane season, not after a loss.
How do I find out my Florida evacuation zone?
Evacuation zones are assigned by county emergency management. Miami-Dade County uses zones A–F, with Zone A representing the highest surge risk. Hillsborough County uses zones A–E. Most Florida counties publish interactive zone lookup tools on their emergency management websites. Your zone is based on your property's location relative to coastal flooding hazards — it is not based on your distance from water. Low-lying inland neighborhoods may be in Zone A while elevated properties a block from the beach are in Zone B.
What if my property floods and I don't have flood insurance?
Without flood insurance, your primary recovery options are: (1) FEMA Individual Assistance grants if the president issues a disaster declaration for your county — these average $5,000–$8,000 nationally, far below typical flood restoration costs; (2) SBA disaster loans, which are low-interest loans (not grants); and (3) your own resources. There is no equivalent substitute for flood insurance. If your property is in a FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area and you do not have coverage, purchase a policy before the next season — the 30-day waiting period means you cannot buy coverage once a storm is named.
City-specific flood restoration guides
Property damaged? Find your city's restoration guide.
Storm damage already happened? Start your claim now.
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Start flood intakeLast updated: 2026-06. Insurance deadlines and evacuation zone classifications change — always verify with your county emergency management agency and Florida-licensed counsel before relying on specific windows for action.