How to Prepare Your Home for a Hurricane
A practical 7-day countdown framework: from T-7 days through after the storm. What to do at each phase, when to evacuate vs shelter in place, and how to match prep tier to storm category.
Quick answer
Stockpile and document work happens at T-7 days. Outdoor securing and water storage at T-72 hours. Boarding windows and final supplies at T-24 hours. The mistake every first-year coastal homeowner makes is treating prep as a one-day rush at the hardware store on landfall morning. By then, the plywood is gone, gas stations are dry, and roads are jammed.
Why hurricane prep is different from generic disaster prep
Five differences that drive the entire preparation framework. Generic 3-day FEMA prep falls short on every one.
- Extended grid outage. Hurricane outages typically run 5 to 14 days in the impact zone. Crews cannot work during the storm; post-storm access roads are blocked by trees and debris. Most other disasters resolve power in 1 to 3 days.
- Storm surge contamination. Coastal flooding contaminates municipal water supplies with bacteria, sewage, and chemicals. Boil-water orders run 3 to 21 days after major storms. Stored water needs to cover the full duration, not just the outage.
- Cash-only economy post-storm. Credit-card and ATM networks fail for 3 to 14 days in heavily impacted areas. Generator-powered businesses go cash-only.
- Evacuation possibility. Hurricanes give 72 hours of warning that may force a mandatory evacuation. Supplies must be portable enough to fit in a vehicle, or a parallel shelter-in-place stockpile must coexist with an evacuation kit.
- Heat without AC. Atlantic hurricane season runs June through November, peaking in September. Power outages without AC during 90+ degree days create medical emergencies for elderly and infants within 24 hours.
The 7-day countdown
Six phases from T-7 days through after the storm.
- T-7: stockpile
- T-72hr: water + outdoor
- T-24hr: shutters + fuel
- After: damage + safety
Size your stockpile first Hurricane Prep Supply Calculator
T-7 days: stockpile and documents
Trigger: National Hurricane Center brings the storm into your forecast cone at 70 percent confidence or higher. Goal: top up supplies before stores empty out, finish all paperwork before email and cloud access become unreliable.
- Top up the stockpile. 7 days of water (1 gallon per person per day, more for kids and elderly), shelf-stable food, batteries, propane for grill or camp stove. Run the supply calculator for exact numbers.
- Refill all prescriptions. Most insurance plans allow a vacation override that adds 30 days to a 30-day fill. Call your pharmacy at T-7 days and ask for the early refill citing the storm.
- Photograph or scan all insurance and identification documents. Email the photos to yourself and an out-of-state contact. Take walk-through video of every room and the home exterior with narration.
- Fill all vehicle gas tanks plus 5 to 15 gallons in approved cans. Gas stations within 100 miles of landfall start running dry 48 to 72 hours pre-storm.
- Test the generator. Start it, run for 15 minutes under load, change the oil if due, top up fuel. Confirm the transfer switch is functional.
- Withdraw cash. $200 to $400 per household member in small bills. Sealed in a zip bag in a waterproof container.
- Trim trees and remove dead branches. Anything over 6 feet from the house and within tree-fall range is a roof or window risk.
- Confirm pet readiness. 14 days of food, 7 days of water, current rabies certificate (required by most pet-friendly shelters), carrier or crate for each pet.
T-72 hours: water and outdoor securing
Trigger: National Hurricane Center forecast track narrows; landfall window confirmed. Goal: pre-position water before potential contamination, secure or store anything that can become a projectile.
- Fill bathtubs and clean food-grade containers with water. Bathtub holds 50 to 100 gallons of non-drinking water (toilet flushing, washing). Use the WaterBOB tub bladder for drinking-grade storage if available.
- Pre-freeze water bottles and ice packs. Fills the freezer (better thermal mass), turns into drinking water as it melts, and keeps the fridge cold longer post-outage.
- Move outdoor furniture, grills, and decor into the garage or shed. Patio chairs become projectiles at 80 mph wind speeds.
- Secure or remove anchored items: trampolines, basketball hoops, swing sets. Even anchored, these can fail in Cat 3+ winds. Disassemble or wrap in cargo netting tied to ground anchors.
- Charge all devices and external batteries. Phone, laptop, power banks, hand-crank radio batteries, headlamp batteries.
- Review the family communication plan. Who is the out-of-state contact? Where do you meet if separated? Who picks up the kids from school if the storm comes mid-day?
- Confirm the evacuation route. Check state DOT pages for contraflow plans on major highways. Know the destination address and back-up.
Print the timeline so it survives a power outage: Hurricane Prep Timeline Checklist mirrors this guide as a one-page fillable checklist for the fridge.
T-24 hours: shutters and final fuel
Trigger: National Weather Service issues a Hurricane Warning (storm conditions expected within 36 hours). Goal: harden the home, top up final supplies, decide shelter or evacuate.
- Install shutters or board up windows. 5/8 inch plywood with anchors every 12 inches; pre-cut and labeled panels install in 30 minutes per window. Permanent shutters install in 5 minutes per window.
- Garage door bracing. Garage doors are the weakest large opening on most homes; failure leads to roof loss. Install vertical bracing kit or store the family vehicle inside if no bracing available.
- Top up fuel cans. Last chance before stations run dry. Confirm vehicles still have full tanks.
- Final grocery run. Bread, fresh produce that lasts a week, comfort foods for kids. Skip frozen items unless you have generator capacity for the freezer.
- Make the shelter-vs-evacuate decision. Evacuate now if you are in a mandatory zone or are unsure of structural integrity.
- Identify the safe room. Interior, windowless, ground floor (not basement in surge zone). Stock with water, snacks, flashlights, weather radio, phone chargers.
- Communicate plans. Out-of-state contact knows your decision and physical location.
T-12 hours: final lockdown
Trigger: bands of rain and wind arrive; Tropical Storm conditions reach the coast. Goal: complete remaining hardening tasks while it is still safe to be outside, then move indoors and stay there.
- Final outdoor walk-through. Anything still loose? Last chance to secure it.
- Park vehicles strategically. Inside the garage if possible, otherwise in the driveway facing outward (away from trees), keys in ignition. Avoid parking under trees.
- Fill water containers in the safe room. 5 to 10 gallons of drinking water within reach.
- Charge devices one last time. Phone, power bank, laptop. Set phone notifications to maximum priority.
- Move important documents and small valuables to the safe room. Photos, flash drives, jewelry, prescription bottles, pet records.
- Final family check-in. Everyone home? Pets accounted for? Communication plan confirmed?
When the storm hits
Goal: stay alive. Everything below is non-negotiable during peak winds.
- Stay in the safe room. Interior, windowless, ground floor (or basement if not in a flood zone). Do not look out windows; impact-glass shatters and sends shards inward.
- Do not run a generator during peak winds. Generators kill via carbon monoxide. Run only after winds drop below 40 mph and only outdoors at least 20 feet from windows.
- Do not open the front door to "feel the wind." Pressure differential pulls roof structures up; an opened door becomes a wind tunnel.
- Track the storm via NOAA weather radio. Cell networks may go down; radio stays.
- Stay put during the eye. The eye looks calm but the back-side winds arrive within 30 to 60 minutes from the opposite direction. Do not go outside.
- If water rises in the home: move to higher ground inside. If the home is being structurally compromised: shelter under a heavy table or in a bathtub with a mattress over you.
After the storm
Trigger: official all-clear from local emergency management. Goal: assess damage safely, restore essential services, document for insurance.
- Wait for the all-clear before going outside. Downed power lines remain energized; broken glass and twisted metal cover surfaces.
- Check structural integrity before re-entering. Any visible roof damage, foundation cracks, or leaning walls means professional inspection before occupancy.
- Document everything for insurance. Walk through and photograph or video every damaged area before any cleanup. Date-stamped video is the gold standard.
- Boil water for at least 1 minute before drinking. Storm surge and broken mains contaminate municipal supplies for days to weeks. The water-purification-tablet calculator dosed by tablet brand and water volume.
- Check on neighbors, especially elderly and those with medical needs. Neighborhood mutual aid in the first 72 hours saves more lives than first responders.
- Generator startup: outdoors, far from windows. Carbon monoxide deaths peak in the 72 hours after the storm. Run only outdoors and only with a transfer switch or directly powered devices via extension cord.
- Avoid floodwaters. Floodwater contains sewage, chemicals, electrical hazards, and downed power lines. 6 inches of moving water can knock you down; 12 inches can sweep a vehicle away.
Storm category vs preparation tier
| Category | Wind speed | Surge | Recommended action |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tropical Storm | 39 to 73 mph | 1 to 4 ft | Shelter, secure outdoor items, 3 to 5 day supplies |
| Cat 1 to 2 | 74 to 110 mph | 4 to 8 ft | Shelter outside surge zones, board up if Cat 2, 7 days supplies |
| Cat 3 | 111 to 129 mph | 9 to 12 ft | Evacuate surge zones; shelter inland with full hardening; 10 days supplies |
| Cat 4 | 130 to 156 mph | 13 to 18 ft | Evacuate path; do not shelter in surge zones; 14 days at destination |
| Cat 5 | 157+ mph | 20+ ft | Evacuate inland 50+ miles; do not shelter in path |
Common mistakes
- Treating prep as a one-day shopping trip. By landfall morning, plywood, water, batteries, and gas are gone. Stockpile starts June 1, intensifies at T-7 days.
- Ignoring storm surge. Surge causes half of US hurricane fatalities. Look up your address on the National Hurricane Center surge map; if you are in Zone A or B, evacuate when ordered, no exceptions.
- Trusting "I rode out worse storms here before." Each storm is different; building stock has changed; sea level has risen. The decision criteria are storm category and your zone, not personal history.
- Running a generator indoors or near windows. Carbon monoxide kills more people post-hurricane than the storms do.
- Driving through floodwater. 12 inches of water sweeps a passenger vehicle; 18 inches takes an SUV. Turn around, do not drown.
- Going out during the eye. Looks calm, lasts 20 to 60 minutes, then back-side winds arrive from the opposite direction. Stay inside.
- Skipping pet planning. Many shelters do not accept pets. Pre-identify a pet-friendly shelter or hotel chain (LaQuinta, Motel 6, Best Western) along your evacuation route.
FAQ
How long before a hurricane should I start preparing?
Hurricane prep is a year-round baseline plus a 7-day intensification cycle. The baseline (insurance review, document scans, inventory, supply rotation) runs at the start of hurricane season (June 1). The 7-day intensification starts when the National Hurricane Center brings a storm into your forecast cone with 70 percent or higher confidence at 72 hours out. T-7 days handles supply gaps and fuel; T-72 hours handles water storage and outdoor securing; T-24 hours handles final shutters and last-minute charging.
Should I board up my windows for a hurricane?
Yes for Cat 2 and stronger storms, or any storm with a confidence of direct hit. 5/8-inch plywood with proper anchoring (every 12 inches around the window perimeter) is the minimum. Pre-cut and labeled panels stored in the garage take 30 minutes per window to install; cutting on the day of the storm takes hours plus competing for hardware-store sheets. Permanent shutters (accordion, roll-down, Bahama) cost more upfront but install in 5 minutes per window.
When should I evacuate vs shelter in place?
Evacuate when ordered. Mandatory evacuations apply to storm surge zones (Zones A and B), mobile homes, manufactured housing, and flood-prone areas regardless of storm category. For Cat 1 to 2 storms in solid construction outside surge zones, sheltering in place is often safer than congested evacuation routes. For Cat 3 to 5 anywhere on the projected path, evacuate inland 50+ miles ahead of the storm. Leave 72 hours pre-landfall if possible; the last 24 hours of evacuation traffic moves at walking speed.
What is storm surge and why does it matter?
Storm surge is the rise in ocean water level pushed onshore by hurricane-force winds. It is the deadliest hurricane hazard, accounting for roughly half of US hurricane fatalities. A Cat 3 storm typically generates 9 to 12 feet of surge; Cat 4 storms can produce 13 to 18 feet; Cat 5 storms can exceed 20 feet. Surge inundates coastal areas miles inland and is unpredictable in exact extent. Look up your address on the National Hurricane Center's surge map to know your zone.
Can I run my generator during the storm?
Only outdoors, at least 20 feet from any window, door, or vent, and only after the worst winds have passed. Generators kill via carbon monoxide poisoning and they kill more people post-storm than the storms themselves do. Run only generators with proper grounding and an approved transfer switch (never backfeed via an extension cord into a wall outlet). For Cat 3+ storms, do not run during peak winds when the generator could overturn or take debris damage. The transfer-switch guide covers safe connection.
What should I do with my insurance documents before a hurricane?
Photograph or scan every page of your homeowners and flood insurance policies, then email the photos to yourself and a trusted out-of-state contact. Take walk-through video of every room and the home exterior with your phone, narrating major items. Store originals in a waterproof container in an interior closet or take them with you if evacuating. Post-storm claims move 2 to 4 weeks faster when you can produce documentation immediately.
Bottom line
Hurricane prep is a 7-day countdown built on a year-round baseline. Stockpile and documents at T-7 days, water and outdoor securing at T-72 hours, shutters and final fuel at T-24 hours, lockdown at T-12 hours, shelter through the storm, then assess and document after. Match prep tier to storm category: shelter Cat 1-2 outside surge zones, evacuate Cat 3-5 anywhere on the path. The mistakes that kill people are running generators indoors, driving through floodwater, and going outside during the eye. Print the timeline checklist, walk through it with your household, and act on the trigger dates rather than waiting for landfall morning.