Florida Hurricane Season Prep Checklist for Homeowners (2026)

Hurricane season runs June 1 through November 30, and in Florida, the difference between a manageable storm and a financial disaster usually comes down to what you did in May. Insurance reviews take time. Flood policies have a waiting period. Wind mitigation inspections need to be scheduled. Hurricane shutters and impact products have to be installed before a storm is named, not after.

This is a practical hurricane prep checklist for Florida homeowners — built around the steps that actually affect what your insurance pays, what you can recover, and how fast you get back into your home after a storm.

Why Florida Hurricane Prep Has to Start in May, Not June

The Atlantic hurricane season officially runs from June 1 through November 30, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Hurricane Center. Florida has been hit by more hurricanes than any other state in U.S. history, per the NOAA hurricane climatology data, which is why insurance carriers, lenders, and emergency managers all build their calendars around that June 1 start.

There are three time-sensitive items that quietly punish Florida homeowners who wait until storm season to act:

1. The 30-day flood policy waiting period. Most new NFIP policies do not cover losses for the first 30 days after purchase, with narrow exceptions for loan closings and certain map changes.
2. Insurance market timing. Many Florida carriers slow or pause new business during active storm threats, so buying or switching coverage in late August is harder than buying or switching in May.
3. Inspection and contractor availability. Wind mitigation inspectors, roofers, and shutter installers all get booked solid as soon as the first named storm forms in the Atlantic.

If hurricane season starts on a Sunday and your flood policy starts the next day, you are not actually covered for almost the entire month of June. That is the problem this checklist is designed to fix.

Step 1: Review Your Homeowners Insurance (8–12 Weeks Before Storm Season)

The single highest-leverage thing a Florida homeowner can do before June 1 is read the current homeowners insurance policy in detail. Most surprises after a storm are not really surprises — they are policy terms the homeowner did not look at until after the loss.

When you review the policy, confirm five things in writing:

• Dwelling coverage vs. replacement cost. If construction costs in your area have risen and your dwelling limit has not, you may be underinsured. The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation publishes market data on rate filings and trends each year that show how quickly replacement cost figures have moved.
• The hurricane deductible — in dollars. Florida policies use a percentage-based hurricane deductible, typically 2 to 10 percent of dwelling coverage. On a $400,000 dwelling limit at 2 percent, the deductible is $8,000. Know the exact dollar number now.
• Roof coverage type. Some Florida policies pay actual cash value for roofs over a certain age, not full replacement cost. The wording is in the policy. Read it.
• Ordinance or law coverage. Older homes may need code upgrades after a covered loss. Without ordinance or law coverage, that gap comes out of pocket.
• Whether windstorm is included or excluded. In some coastal areas, wind is excluded from the homeowners policy and written separately.

Step 2: Confirm or Buy Flood Insurance — Before the 30-Day Clock Starts

Florida is the highest flood-risk state in the country. The Federal Emergency Management Agency's National Risk Index ranks counties across multiple natural hazards and consistently shows Florida coastal counties at the top for flood and hurricane exposure.

A standard Florida homeowners policy does not cover flood damage. That includes storm surge, rising water from rivers and ponds, and ground-level water entry from heavy rain runoff. Flood coverage requires either an NFIP policy or a private flood policy.

Two facts about flood insurance every Florida homeowner should know before June 1:

• You do not have to be in a high-risk flood zone to flood. FEMA has reported that more than 25 percent of NFIP claims come from properties outside high-risk Special Flood Hazard Areas.
• Coverage is not instant. New NFIP policies usually have a 30-day waiting period. Private flood policies sometimes offer faster effective dates, but homeowners should not assume that.

If you have flood insurance already, verify the dwelling and contents limits, the deductible, and whether the policy is NFIP or private. If you do not have flood insurance, get a quote now — a May purchase covers most of hurricane season; a July purchase usually does not protect you from anything that hits before mid-August.

Read more in our guide: Do I Need Flood Insurance in Florida?

Step 3: Get a Wind Mitigation Inspection

Florida law requires insurers to apply premium discounts based on hurricane-resistant features documented on a wind mitigation inspection form (the OIR-B1-1802). The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation publishes the official form used by inspectors and carriers.

A wind mitigation inspection looks at things like:

• Roof shape (hip vs. gable)
• Roof covering and installation date
• Roof deck attachment
• Roof-to-wall connections (clips, single wraps, double wraps)
• Secondary water resistance
• Opening protection on windows, doors, and garage doors

Costs typically run $75–$150 in Florida. Many homeowners save several hundred to a few thousand dollars per year on premiums after submitting the form to their carrier. If your last inspection is more than a few years old, a fresh inspection can sometimes unlock new discounts.

Step 4: Document Your Home Before the Storm

The simplest claim evidence is a phone walk-through video of every room, every closet, and every exterior side of your house. Do it now while your home is intact.

• Walk through every room slowly, narrating high-value items.
• Open closets, drawers, garages, and storage areas.
• Photograph the roof from the ground on all four sides.
• Photograph fences, sheds, screen enclosures, pool equipment, and landscaping.
• Save serial numbers and receipts for major electronics, appliances, and tools.

Store the video and photos in cloud storage, not just on the phone. After a storm, having a clear "before" record makes it much easier to settle disputes with an adjuster on what was actually there before the loss.

Step 5: Harden the House

Most hurricane wind damage starts when the building envelope is breached. Once a window, garage door, or roof opening fails, wind pressure inside the house can lift the roof off. The Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety publishes peer-reviewed research on what actually protects a home in a hurricane and which retrofits matter most.

Practical hardening steps for Florida homeowners:

• Install hurricane shutters or impact-rated windows on all openings.
• Brace the garage door (often the weakest point on a typical Florida home).
• Replace or strengthen the front door and any French doors with rated products.
• Trim trees away from the house and the power drop.
• Secure or remove loose roof tiles, soffits, and fascia.
• Anchor sheds, propane tanks, and outdoor air conditioning units where possible.

Many of these upgrades also unlock additional wind mitigation discounts on your homeowners policy.

Step 6: Build the Evacuation Kit and Document Pack

The Florida Division of Emergency Management and Ready.gov both publish detailed evacuation kit guidance. The short version for a Florida homeowner:

• Three to seven days of water (one gallon per person per day) and non-perishable food.
• Prescription medications and a basic first-aid kit.
• Flashlights, battery-powered radio, extra batteries.
• Cash in small bills (ATMs and card readers may be down post-storm).
• Phone chargers, including a battery bank.
• Pet food, medications, and carriers for any animals in the household.
• A printed list of emergency contacts.

For the document pack, keep a waterproof bag or fireproof box with:

• A copy of your homeowners insurance declarations page.
• A copy of your flood policy declarations page.
• Your wind mitigation report.
• Driver's licenses, passports, and Social Security cards (or copies).
• Vehicle titles, mortgage documents, and proof of homeownership.
• A printed list of policy numbers and 24/7 claim phone numbers.

If you evacuate, this pack goes with you. If you shelter in place, it goes to a high, interior, dry location.

Step 7: Outdoor Prep Plan When a Storm Is Named

Once the National Hurricane Center starts tracking a system that could affect Florida, your outdoor checklist tightens up:

• Check the official NHC tropical weather outlook at least twice a day.
• Bring in or secure all outdoor furniture, grills, planters, and yard décor.
• Top off vehicle fuel tanks while gas stations still have power.
• Top off propane and any prescription refills.
• Charge phones, laptops, battery banks, and any backup medical equipment.
• Fill bathtubs and large containers with water for sanitation if water service is interrupted.
• Move vehicles to the highest, safest location available — not under trees, not in flood-prone driveways.
• Unplug major electronics before landfall to reduce surge damage.
• Review the local evacuation zone map at Florida Disaster's evacuation lookup and know your zone, not just your neighbors'.

Step 8: After the Storm — Claims, Documentation, and Repairs

When it is safe to return to the property, the goal is to document, mitigate, and report — in that order.

• Document first. Photograph and video all damage from multiple angles before moving anything.
• Mitigate to prevent further damage. Tarp damaged roofs, board broken windows, and stop active water intrusion when safe to do so. Save all receipts — these expenses are usually reimbursable under the policy.
• Report the claim promptly. Most Florida policies require prompt notice of loss. Calling the carrier or starting the claim online usually starts the clock for adjuster assignment.
• Do not start permanent repairs before the adjuster inspects. Emergency mitigation is fine. Full reconstruction is not.
• Track all extra living expenses. Hotels, meals, and laundry while displaced may be reimbursable under additional living expense (Coverage D), but only if you have receipts.
• Keep a claim diary. Date, time, person spoken to, and what was discussed. This helps when claims drag on or get reassigned.

Florida law also gives policyholders specific rights and timelines on residential property claims. The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation consumer resources and the Florida Department of Financial Services consumer help line can be useful if a claim is not progressing.

Florida Hurricane Prep — Common Mistakes Homeowners Make

A few patterns repeat every year on residential Florida claims:

• Waiting until a storm is named to buy flood insurance. The 30-day waiting period defeats this almost every time.
• Letting wind mitigation discounts expire. Inspections can fall off or carriers update their forms, and homeowners stop receiving discounts they should still qualify for.
• Not knowing the hurricane deductible in dollars. "Two percent" sounds small until it is $10,000 on a $500,000 dwelling.
• No pre-storm photos or video. When everything in the house is wet and the adjuster asks what was there before, memory is not a great evidence source.
• Filing tiny non-storm claims year-round. Small water claims, small theft claims, and small wind claims can lead to non-renewal and make storm-time coverage harder to find.

Frequently Asked Questions About Florida Hurricane Prep

Get Florida Homeowners and Flood Insurance Help Before June 1

Greene & Associates Insurance is an independent agency in Lake City, Florida, serving homeowners across Jacksonville, Gainesville, Tampa, Orlando, and the rest of the state. We work with multiple home insurance carriers, including private flood markets and Citizens Property Insurance.

If you have not reviewed your homeowners policy this year, have not bought flood insurance, or do not know your hurricane deductible in dollars, this is the month to fix that. Once a storm is named, the market slows down, inspectors disappear, and the 30-day flood waiting period takes most options off the table.

We also help Florida business owners prepare for hurricane season — see our companion post on hurricane season business insurance for commercial property and business interruption coverage details.