Hurricane preparedness checklist. Built for South Florida.

The work that actually protects the house is done months out, while permits, materials, and crews are still available. Everything in this phase is worth doing even if a storm never comes.

• Confirm every window and door is impact-rated or has approved protectionA house survives a hurricane as a sealed box. One breached opening pressurizes the interior and can lift the roof. Look for the Miami-Dade NOA or Florida product-approval label on each frame.Impact windows
• Check the garage door's wind ratingIt is the largest opening on most homes and the one that fails first. A rated door carries a wind-load or NOA label on the inside; older doors often have none.Garage doors
• Have the roof inspected for loose tiles, lifted shingles, and failed sealsSalt air and UV age South Florida roofs faster than the national average. Uplift starts at one loose edge and works the rest free.Roofing
• Test that every window and door closes and latches fullyWorn weatherstripping, missing screws, and a door that needs a shove to latch are all paths for wind and water. Fix them now, not during a warning.
• Check that soffits, fascia, and vents are securedLoose soffit panels let wind-driven rain into the attic, which is how ceilings come down in homes that never lost a window.
• Clear gutters and downspouts; make sure they discharge away from the houseGutters
• Trim trees and remove dead limbsDo it early. Counties suspend bulk pickup ahead of a storm, and a pile of trimmings on the swale becomes debris.
• Choose your safe roomAn interior room on the lowest floor with no windows: a closet, bathroom, or hallway. Everyone in the house should know where it is.
• Look up your evacuation zone and plan your routeZones are set by storm-surge risk, not distance from the coast. Know yours before an order is issued.Know Your Zone (Florida DEM)
• Read your homeowners policy: windstorm deductible, limits, and floodFlood is a separate policy and usually has a 30-day waiting period. Wind-mitigation credits apply only if your insurer has the inspection form on file.
• Photograph or video every room, closet, and the exteriorStore it in the cloud. If you ever file a claim, this is the proof of what you had.
• Put copies of key documents in a waterproof containerIDs, deed or lease, insurance policies, medical and vet records, and a printed list of account numbers and phone contacts.
• If you own a generator, test it and stock fuel safelyRun it outdoors only, at least 20 feet from any window or door, and install a battery carbon-monoxide alarm indoors.
• Register anyone who needs help evacuating or depends on powered medical equipmentFlorida keeps a Special Needs Registry so counties can plan transport and shelter space.Special Needs Registry
• Make a plan for petsConfirm which shelters and hotels accept animals. Most general shelters do not.
• Name an out-of-area contact and share the plan with everyone in the house

Stores empty within hours of a watch. Build the kit before the season and you never have to join the line.

• Water: one gallon per person per day for at least 3 daysFlorida emergency management recommends planning for 7. Count pets.
• Non-perishable food for 3 to 7 days, plus a manual can opener
• A 7 to 30 day supply of prescription medicationsFlorida allows early refills once a state of emergency is declared. Ask your pharmacy.
• First-aid kit, hand sanitizer, and any medical supplies you rely on
• Flashlights and lanterns with spare batteriesNo candles. Open flame in a house with no power is how post-storm fires start.
• A battery or hand-crank NOAA weather radio
• Charged power banks and a car charger for phones
• Cash in small billsCard readers and ATMs go down with the power.
• Hygiene and sanitation supplies: trash bags, wipes, toilet paper
• Basic tools, tarps, rope, duct tape, and work gloves
• Coolers, plus ice or frozen water bottles
• Pet food, carriers, leashes, and vaccination records
• Fuel for the car and generator, in approved containers stored away from the house
• Infant and elder supplies: formula, diapers, hearing-aid batteries, mobility needs

A watch means hurricane conditions are possible. Finish everything that takes time now; the last day is for getting inside.

• Follow the National Hurricane Center and your county's emergency managementNational Hurricane Center
• Fill the car and any generator cans
• Refill prescriptions and restock anything missing from the kit
• Bring in or tie down everything the wind can liftPatio furniture, grills, planters, trash cans, toys, decor, pool equipment. Flying debris is exactly what impact glass is rated to stop; do not give it more to stop than it needs.
• Secure boats, trailers, and RVs
• Freeze water bottles and set the fridge and freezer to their coldest setting
• Charge every phone, laptop, and power bank
• Pack a go-bag in case an evacuation order comesDocuments, medications, chargers, a change of clothes, and pet supplies.
• If you rely on approved shutters or panels, stage them and check the hardwareImpact-rated windows and doors need nothing deployed. Titan installs impact openings, not shutters.Impact windows vs. shutters
• Check on neighbors who are elderly or live alone

A warning means hurricane conditions are expected. Conditions deteriorate well before landfall, so finish outside work early.

• If you are told to evacuate, go earlyOrders are issued for storm surge, not wind. Bridges and causeways close once sustained winds reach about 40 mph, so leaving late can mean not leaving.
• Place sandbags at doors and garage openings where water has come in before
• Turn off and secure propane tanks
• Unplug electronics; shut off breakers if flooding is likely
• Fill bathtubs and containers with water for washing and flushing
• Park vehicles in the garage or on high ground, away from trees and power lines
• Close and latch every window and door, including interior doorsClosed interior doors compartmentalize the house if an opening fails.
• Move the kit, mattresses, and pets into the safe room
• Tell your out-of-area contact where you will ride it out

Nothing outside is worth going out for. Stay put, stay informed, and stay away from glass.

• Stay inside and away from windows and glass doorsImpact glass is designed to stay in its frame after it cracks, not to be stood behind.
• Do not go outside during the eyeThe calm can last minutes. The back wall arrives fast, with winds from the opposite direction.
• Keep the weather radio on for updates and tornado warnings
• Use flashlights, never candles
• Run generators outdoors only, never in the garage or near an open windowCarbon monoxide is one of the leading causes of death after Florida hurricanes.
• If water enters the house, move to a higher floor, never into a closed attic
• Save phone battery: text instead of calling, and dim the screen
• Never walk or drive through floodwater

The days after a storm cause as many injuries as the storm itself. Slow down, document everything, and be careful who you let work on the house.

• Wait for the all-clear before going out
• Treat every downed line as live and stay out of standing water
• Photograph all damage before you move or repair anythingThen contact your insurer. Titan does not file or negotiate claims; your documentation is what carries the claim.
• Make temporary repairs to stop further damage, and keep every receiptTarp a roof only if it is safe to reach. For an emergency dry-in, call a licensed roofer.Roofing
• Keep generators outdoors and away from every opening
• Discard refrigerated food after 4 hours without powerA full freezer holds about 48 hours if the door stays closed; a half-full one about 24.
• Follow boil-water notices from your utility
• Report outages to your electric utilityFPL serves most of Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach.FPL Storm Center
• Verify any contractor's license before signing anythingStorm chasers follow hurricanes. Check the license number, get the scope in writing, and never pay in full up front.Verify a Florida license
• Walk the envelope: roof, windows, doors, garage door, soffits, guttersNote anything lifted, cracked, or leaking, even if it looks minor. Small breaches become big ones in the next storm.
• Check on neighbors
• Restock the kit and update the planWrite down what you needed and did not have while it is fresh.