Florida Hurricane Season Checklist: Home Prep by Region (2026)

Short answer: Hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30 in Florida, but your prep needs vary dramatically by region. Coastal Gulf and South Florida homes need full shuttering, roof bracing, and evacuation plans. Central Florida homes need flood prep, tree trimming, and generator-ready electrical. The Panhandle needs Gulf-storm-surge plans. This is the checklist by region, prioritized by impact.

Statewide must-do by May 15

Regardless of where you live in Florida, finish these by mid-May:

• Document your home. Walk every room with video, open every drawer, save to cloud. Insurance claims without documentation get slow-walked for months.
• Check your roof. Missing shingles, soft spots, visible nails, cracked flashings — any of these becomes a $40,000 interior-flooding claim in a Cat 2 storm. Roof is your single most important pre-season check.
• Trim trees 10 feet from the house. Coconut palms, oaks, pines, and Queen palms are the most common storm-damage trees in Florida. Branches that touch the roof in a normal breeze will punch through it in 90 mph gusts.
• Clean the gutters. Clogged gutters back water up under the fascia. In a hurricane this means 10x the water damage.
• Confirm your insurance. Florida insurance binding stops 24 to 72 hours before a named storm reaches Florida waters — if you did not bind by late May, you may be locked out by July.
• Set the "go" kit. 3 days of water (1 gallon/person/day), non-perishable food, medications, cash, flashlights, battery-powered radio, spare phone chargers, copies of insurance documents, pet food.

Panhandle (Pensacola, Panama City, Tallahassee)

The Panhandle faces the strongest hurricanes more often than any other Florida region — Michael (Cat 5, 2018), Sally (Cat 2, 2020), Ivan (Cat 3, 2004) all hit here. Storm surge is the top killer. Specific prep:

• Elevation matters. Know your elevation vs. the nearest body of water. If you are under 10 feet above sea level and within 3 miles of the coast, you are in a surge zone.
• Hurricane shutters or impact windows. Mandatory on the coast, strongly recommended inland. A plywood shutter system costs $400–$1,200 for an average home if you cut panels ahead of time.
• Know your evacuation zone. Escambia, Santa Rosa, and Okaloosa Counties issue zone-by-zone evacuation orders. Learn yours now.
• Gas up at 72 hours. Gas stations on 4-lane highways run out within 24 hours of an evacuation order. Fill at 72.

Gulf Coast (Tampa Bay, Fort Myers, Naples, Sarasota)

The Gulf Coast is vulnerable to slow-moving storms that push 10+ feet of surge up shallow bay systems. Ian (2022) showed how catastrophic surge can be even without a direct hit. Specific prep:

• Surge is the threat, not wind. Even a Cat 1 can push 6 feet of water into Fort Myers Beach, Matlacha, or Anna Maria Island.
• Impact windows or shutters are standard. New construction south of Bradenton requires impact-rated glazing. Older homes should retrofit — this is the #1 insurance-savings item in Lee, Collier, and Charlotte counties.
• Flood insurance separately. Homeowner insurance does not cover flood. National Flood Insurance Program policies need 30-day waiting period — buy by April, not July.
• If you are on a barrier island, evacuate for Cat 2 or higher. Bridges close, services shut down, first responders cannot reach you.

South Florida (Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm)

South Florida gets more hurricane threats per season than any other US region but also has the strongest building code. Homes built to 2002+ Miami-Dade HVHZ code are remarkably hurricane-resistant. Specific prep:

• Know your building age. Pre-1994 homes need impact protection retrofits or accordion shutters. Post-2002 homes with HVHZ windows need only standard prep.
• Watch the roof age. Insurance companies in Broward and Miami-Dade are non-renewing homes with roofs 15+ years old. A pre-season roof inspection is not optional.
• Secure your boat, car, and balcony items. Loose projectiles cause secondary damage. High-rise balconies are especially vulnerable — bring everything inside.
• Have a contraflow plan. I-75 and Florida's Turnpike go one-way during mandatory evacuations. Know the route north.

East Coast (Space Coast, Daytona, Jacksonville)

East Coast Florida sees storms that strengthen over the Gulf Stream just offshore. Matthew (2016), Ian (2022 — east coast backflow), and Nicole (2022) all caused major east-coast damage. Specific prep:

• Beach erosion accelerates storm damage. If you are oceanfront south of Daytona, your dune may have lost 4–8 feet since 2020 — homes closer to the ocean now than before.
• Intracoastal surge. Properties along the ICW from Titusville south are vulnerable to back-bay flooding even from storms that stay offshore.
• Know the "dirty side." Storms tracking offshore pull northeast winds onshore. Bind anything on the east side of the house first.

Central Florida (Orlando, Ocala, Gainesville, Lakeland)

Central Florida sees downgraded hurricanes — by the time they reach Orlando, winds are typically 40–85 mph with tropical-storm-force gusts over a wide area. The threat is rain, flooding, tornadoes, and extended power outages. Specific prep:

• Flood insurance for any home in a "sinkhole-prone" or low-lying area. Central Florida has no coast but lots of low retention-pond geography. $750 policies have paid out $40,000+ claims.
• Tree maintenance is the big one. Oaks and pines falling on houses cause 70% of Central Florida hurricane damage. Trim 10 feet off the house, remove anything dead within 2 tree-heights of the structure.
• Generator sizing. Power can go out for 5–10 days after a storm. A 7,500W portable ($800) runs a refrigerator, a window AC, and a few lights. A whole-home standby ($6,000–$12,000 installed) is worth it if anyone in the home is medically dependent on power.

The 72-hour countdown

Once a storm is 72 hours from landfall:

• Install shutters or plywood.
• Fill gas tanks.
• Withdraw cash ($300–$500).
• Fill bathtubs with water (for flushing toilets if municipal water fails).
• Freeze bottles of water, then move to refrigerator once frozen (keeps fridge cold longer if power is lost).
• Charge every device, every battery pack, every solar lantern.
• Move valuables to upper floors.
• Bring in outdoor furniture, grills, pool toys, garbage cans, potted plants.

Need hurricane shutters installed, a new roof, a generator, or a tree crew before June 1? See our directory of hurricane prep pros, roofers, and tree services — filtered by city and license-verified.

Last updated: April 2026. Sources: NOAA Hurricane Center, Florida Division of Emergency Management, National Flood Insurance Program.

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