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A Hurricane Season Checklist for South Florida Homes

Hurricane season runs June 1 through November 30, and the quiet weeks are the time to prepare. Here is the home checklist in one place, from the windows to the paperwork.

By Nanci Gilbert, PA September 9, 2026
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Hurricane season in the Atlantic runs from June 1 through November 30, with activity peaking in August, September, and October. The homes that come through a storm well are rarely the luckiest ones; they are the ones whose owners worked the season before the first warning. This checklist follows the guidance of ready.gov, NOAA, and FEMA, and it applies from a Homestead starter home to a waterfront estate.

Windows, glass doors, and the garage door

Storm shutters, including accordion, roll-down, metal, and polycarbonate panel systems, or impact-resistant windows and doors are the accepted protections against wind pressure and flying debris. Taping windows does nothing; debris will still pass through glass. Treat glass doors exactly like windows, and brace the garage door, which is one of the most common failure points in a home during a storm. Make sure exterior doors have hardware that will not blow open under pressure.

The roof and its ties

The Florida Building Code requires a roof to be tied to the walls at wind-resistant standards. A wind mitigation inspection documents how the roof covering, the deck, and the hardware join, and the same report serves two purposes: it shows where a roof needs strengthening before the season, and it can lower the wind portion of your homeowner insurance premium. It is one of the best budget items of the year.

Insurance and the paperwork

A standard homeowners policy does not cover flood, and flood insurance is a separate policy with a waiting period, so it must be purchased before the storm season begins, not during it. Do a policy review in the calm weeks, take photos and video of every room, and keep the deeds, the policy, and important documents in a fire-resistant box and in cloud backup. When the forecast turns, the last thing you want is a search for the paper version of the deed.

The household kit and the plan

The build-a-kit checklist: one gallon of water per person per day, enough for three days if you evacuate and about two weeks if you stay home, nonperishable food, a week of medications, a NOAA weather radio with batteries, a flashlight, first aid supplies, extra batteries, phone chargers, and cash, because ATMs can be offline. Put the kit in place at the start of the season. When the first storm forms, the kit turns a rush into a routine you already follow.

Nanci Gilbert, PA is a South Florida realtor who guides growing families, sellers, and buyers across Miami-Dade and Broward. Questions about this topic? She answers every message within one business day.

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