What's on a hurricane prep checklist?
Updated August 2026
Hurricane prep splits in two. Before June 1, trim trees, clear gutters and drains, inspect the roof and shutters or impact windows, and service the generator. Then per storm, stage water and supplies, charge devices, and secure or bring in anything loose. The Atlantic season runs June 1 to November 30, peaking from mid-August into October. Do the structural work in spring and a named storm only needs the 72-hour list.
| Task | Interval | Effort |
|---|---|---|
| Trim trees and remove dead limbs near the house | Yearly, pre-season | $300–800 pro |
| Clear gutters, roof, and yard drains | Pre-season | 2 hrs · DIY |
| Inspect the roof, shutters, and impact windows | Pre-season | 1 hr · DIY |
| Service and test the standby generator | Yearly | $300–500 pro |
| Task | Interval | Effort |
|---|---|---|
| Store water: 1 gallon per person per day, 3+ days | 72 hrs out | 30 min · DIY |
| Fuel up, get cash, and charge every device | 48–72 hrs out | 1 hr · errand |
| Task | Interval | Effort |
|---|---|---|
| Close shutters or install plywood over windows | Before landfall | 2–4 hrs · DIY |
| Bring in or tie down furniture, grills, and debris | Before landfall | 1 hr · DIY |
What neglect costs
The gap between a hardened house and an unprepared one shows up in the claim. An overhanging limb that could have been a $300–800 trim becomes a hole in the roof and $10,000-plus in interior water damage. Clogged gutters and drains back water under the roofline and into the walls. A generator that will not start after sitting all year leaves a full freezer and a rising sump with no power for days. Manufactured and older homes take the wind worst; if that is you, pair this with the mobile-home checklist.
Leave these to a pro
Two hurricane jobs belong to pros. Tree work near the house and power lines is an arborist's call ($300–800 for a serious canopy, and dangerous DIY), and an annual generator service ($300–500) changes the oil, tests the transfer switch, and confirms it will carry the load. A roofer's pre-season inspection ($150–400) catches lifted shingles and failed flashing while they are cheap to fix. If you are upgrading protection, impact windows run $500–1,500 each installed and rated shutters somewhat less.
This whole checklist ships as reminders in OnOtto: every task above, on the right schedule for your home, snooze-proof.
Load this checklist as remindersFrequently asked questions
When does hurricane season start and peak?
The Atlantic hurricane season officially runs June 1 through November 30, and the Eastern Pacific season starts about two weeks earlier, on May 15. Activity is not evenly spread: the vast majority of major storms form between mid-August and late October, with a peak around September 10. That timing is why the structural prep, tree trimming, roof and shutter checks, generator service, should be finished by late May, leaving the summer for per-storm readiness rather than scrambling.
How much water and food should I store?
Store at least 1 gallon of water per person per day for a minimum of three days, and stretch to a week if you can, since post-storm outages and boil notices can last that long. Add a hand-crank or battery radio, a first-aid kit, medications, and non-perishable food that needs no cooking. A manual can opener, cash in small bills, and full fuel tanks round it out. In a serious storm, tap water and gas stations both disappear before landfall.
Plywood or hurricane shutters for the windows?
Rated shutters or impact-resistant windows are better protection and far faster to deploy, which matters when a storm strengthens overnight. Impact windows run $500–1,500 each installed but never leave the house, while accordion or roll-down shutters cost less and store on the frame. Plywood is the budget stopgap: use 5/8-inch exterior grade, cut and labeled in advance, anchored into the frame rather than the siding. Plywood taped over glass does nothing; it is there to stop flying debris.
Can I run a generator during a hurricane?
Only outdoors, never in a garage, carport, or breezeway, even with the door open. A portable generator produces carbon monoxide that kills within minutes in an enclosed space, and it is a leading cause of post-storm deaths. Place it at least 20 feet from windows, doors, and vents, on dry ground under a rain canopy, and back-feed circuits only through a proper transfer switch or interlock installed by an electrician. A standby generator wired to the panel handles all of this automatically.