Hurricane Season Prep — Coastal Homeowner's Checklist

Atlantic hurricane season runs June 1 – November 30 — work this list in order.

Scott Gentry

eXp Realty · License# 365010

📞 (910) 477-7615✉️ scott@hamiltonrealtygroupnc.com

📅 Date Completed: ___________________🏠 Property Address: ___________________

📄 PHASE 1 — GET YOUR INSURANCE & DOCUMENTS RIGHT
✓	TASK	NOTES / DATE
☐	Pull and re-read your current homeowners policy Confirm dwelling coverage equals current cost-to-rebuild — construction costs have moved sharply in the last five years. Old coverage limits silently underinsure most coastal homes.
☐	Confirm your hurricane / wind deductible amount Coastal policies often have a separate, percentage-based wind deductible (2–5% of dwelling). On a $500K home that's $10K–$25K out of pocket before insurance pays.
☐	Verify flood insurance is in force (NFIP or private) Standard homeowners insurance does NOT cover flood. New flood policies have a 30-day waiting period — you cannot buy one when a storm is in the cone.
☐	Review auto comprehensive coverage Comprehensive (not collision) is what pays for storm damage, falling trees, and flood damage to your vehicles. Confirm it's active before June 1.
☐	Video and photograph every room — open every closet and cabinet This single step saves more money in claim disputes than any other prep task. Capture serial numbers on major electronics and appliances. Save to cloud storage in two locations.
☐	Scan and cloud-back your critical documents Insurance policies, deeds, mortgage docs, vehicle titles, passports, birth certificates, medical records, prescriptions, recent tax returns. Two cloud locations, minimum.
☐	Create a one-page emergency contact list Insurance carrier, mortgage company, utilities, local emergency management, and family. Save on every household phone and print one copy for the Go Bag.

🏠 PHASE 2 — GET YOUR HOME HARDENED
✓	TASK	NOTES / DATE
☐	Inspect the roof — replace missing shingles, re-secure flashing Roof condition is the single largest predictor of how a home weathers a storm. A failing roof costs five figures in damage; a $300 repair tape-job costs $300.
☐	Confirm your garage door is wind-rated — or plan to brace it ⚠️ Garage door failure is one of the most common ways hurricanes destroy houses. Once it blows in, wind pressurizes the home and lifts the roof off.
☐	Inspect windows and doors; label storm shutters or panels by opening Each shutter or panel should be marked with the window it fits. You don't want to be sorting panels in 40 mph winds.
☐	Check attic ventilation, soffits, and gable vents for water-intrusion points Wind-driven rain finds every vulnerability. Seal or upgrade what you can.
☐	Replace degraded weatherstripping at every door Cheap, fast, and a real reduction in water intrusion during sideways rain.
☐	Service the generator — oil, filters, fuel stabilizer; run under load A generator that hasn't run in a year is not a generator you can rely on. Test before you need it.
☐	Confirm the sump pump works and has battery backup Power will go out. A sump pump without battery backup is a decorative pump.
☐	Trim trees — remove dead limbs and branches over roof or power lines Schedule this work in May. Arborists are booked weeks out by the time the first storm enters the cone.
☐	Have an arborist evaluate any structurally concerning trees A failing tree near the house is a $50,000+ liability in a hurricane. Better to remove it on your schedule than have it removed by the wind.

👀 PHASE 3 — GET YOUR STANDBY ROUTINE RIGHT
✓	TASK	NOTES / DATE
☐	Subscribe to your county's emergency alert system Most counties have free SMS or app-based alerts. Sign up before you need them — registration is harder when a storm is already approaching.
☐	Bookmark the National Hurricane Center tropical outlook nhc.noaa.gov is the authoritative source. Local TV adds drama; NHC has the actual data and the forecast cones.
☐	Refresh perishables every six weeks through the season Rotate water, batteries, and food in your supply kit. Stale supplies in a six-month-old kit are worse than no supplies at all.
☐	Test the generator briefly each cycle and confirm fuel levels A two-minute test confirms it still starts. Add fuel stabilizer to any reserves so the gasoline doesn't degrade.
☐	Walk the yard for new debris hazards Limbs that fell since last check, items the kids left out, a loose fence section — all become projectiles in a major wind.
☐	Confirm storm shutters or panels remain accessible and labeled Don't store furniture or seasonal items in front of them.

🌀 PHASE 4 — GET YOUR FIVE-DAY COUNTDOWN RIGHT
✓	TASK	NOTES / DATE
☐	Top off all vehicles with fuel Lines and shortages start within 48 hours of any serious forecast. Don't be the household waiting in a 90-minute line on Day 2.
☐	Refill every critical prescription — target a 2-week supply Pharmacies may close or run out. Get ahead of it on Day 5, not Day 2.
☐	Withdraw cash in small bills ATMs and card readers go down in widespread outages. Cash is what works when nothing else does.
☐	Confirm your evacuation route and destination — book lodging now Hotels along evacuation corridors fill within hours of a forecast. If you're going to leave, decide and book early.
☐	Charge every battery in the house — phones, laptops, power banks, flashlights, drills Power may be out for days. Every charged battery extends your communications and tools window.
☐	Bring in or secure all yard items Patio furniture, grills, planters, kids' toys, trash cans, hammocks, bird feeders. Anything not secured will move at 100 mph.
☐	Trim final tree limbs and remove debris from the property Curb pickup typically stops within 48 hours of forecast impact. Limbs you left for next month become projectiles.
☐	Fill propane tanks Grills become essential post-storm cooking when the gas line or power is out for days.
☐	Top off generator fuel and add stabilizer to reserves 72+ hours of intermittent use is the target. More if you're far from a fuel station post-storm.
☐	Move vehicles to higher ground and away from large trees Garage is best if available. If not, an open area away from anything that could fall.
☐	Run laundry, run dishwasher, take long showers Water and power may be out for days. Start the storm with a clean household and clean wardrobe.
☐	Install storm shutters or board windows Plywood goes up 24–48 hours before landfall. Impact glass is what justifies skipping this step.
☐	Brace the garage door if it's not impact-rated A bracing kit is $150 and prevents the most common catastrophic failure.
☐	Strap or shelter outdoor AC condenser units Wind-driven debris and water both kill condensers. Manufacturer guidance varies — check yours.
☐	Photograph and video every room and exterior wall ONE MORE TIME ⚠️ This is the single most valuable evidence in any post-storm claim. Capture every closet, cabinet, and corner. Two days before landfall is the right moment to do this.
☐	Fill bathtubs and large containers with water for sanitation use One filled bathtub gives you toilet-flush water for days.
☐	Set fridge and freezer to coldest setting; freeze water bottles A colder start buys you 12–24 extra hours when power goes out. Frozen bottles become coolers later.
☐	Confirm out-of-area contact protocol with family Local phone networks fail in major storms. An out-of-state relay point keeps everyone connected.

🚨 PHASE 5 — GET YOUR FINAL HOURS & SAFE ROOM RIGHT
✓	TASK	NOTES / DATE
☐	Make the final evacuate-or-shelter decision ⚠️ Mandatory evacuation orders are NOT optional. If you are in a mandatory zone, leave. Period.
☐	Identify and stage your safe room Interior room, no windows, lowest practical floor that isn't flood-prone. Stage water, snacks, flashlights, and a radio in advance.
☐	Place documents and a battery-powered radio in the safe room NOAA weather radio band is essential. AM/FM is the backup.
☐	Unplug non-essential electronics Power surges during the storm and during restoration can kill electronics that survived the wind.
☐	Shut off propane tanks at the source If destructive winds are forecast, eliminate the gas line risk.
☐	Notify your out-of-area contact of your final status Tell them whether you evacuated or sheltered, and where. They're the relay for the rest of the family.

🔧 PHASE 6 — GET YOUR POST-STORM 72 HOURS RIGHT
✓	TASK	NOTES / DATE
☐	⚠️ Wait for the all-clear from local emergency management before going outside First responders need clear roads. Going out too early puts you in their way and at risk.
☐	Treat every downed power line as energized — and assume standing water near a line is also charged This is the single highest cause of post-storm injury and death. Stay back.
☐	Smell for gas before flipping any switch; ventilate first Storm damage often breaks gas lines. A spark in a gas-filled room is catastrophic.
☐	Inspect your home's structure before entering Significant compromise to roof, walls, or ceilings is a "do not enter" signal until a professional assesses it.
☐	Run generators OUTDOORS only — at least 20 feet from any window or door ⚠️ Generator carbon monoxide kills more people every year than the storms themselves. No exceptions.
☐	Photograph and video ALL damage BEFORE moving or cleaning anything Insurance adjusters need the original scene. Cleanup before documentation is the most common claim-reduction mistake.
☐	Make a written inventory of damaged contents Item, original cost, age, condition before and after. The detail helps the adjuster and helps you.
☐	File the insurance claim and get a claim number in writing Phone hold times will be long; file online if available. Document every conversation and the adjuster's name.
☐	Save every receipt — temporary repairs, hotel stays, supplies Most policies cover Additional Living Expenses (ALE) when the home is uninhabitable. Receipts are required.
☐	Keep the refrigerator and freezer closed A full freezer holds for ~48 hours; a half-full one for ~24. Don't open it to check.
☐	Boil water if a boil-water advisory is issued These are almost always issued post-storm. Treat all water as suspect until cleared.
☐	Discard food held above 40°F for more than 4 hours When in doubt, throw it out. Food-borne illness in the middle of a power outage is a separate emergency.
☐	Vet every contractor who shows up at your door ⚠️ Post-storm contractor scams are real and ugly. Confirm state license, get the agreement in writing, never pay full upfront, walk away from anyone who pressures you to sign today.

🎒 PHASE 7 — GET YOUR SUPPLY KIT RIGHT (7 DAYS MINIMUM)
✓	TASK	NOTES / DATE
☐	Water — 1 gallon per person per day, 7 days minimum Plus an additional supply for pets and sanitation. A water filter or purification tablets as a backup.
☐	Food — 7 days of non-perishable Canned proteins, peanut butter, granola bars, dried fruit, crackers, ready-to-eat meals. Plus a manual can opener. Disposable plates and utensils conserve water.
☐	NOAA-band battery or hand-crank radio When the cell network is down and the power is out, this is your information lifeline.
☐	One flashlight per family member + lanterns for ambient light Use LED, never flame. Spare batteries in every common size.
☐	Power banks for phones — charged Plan to use them. Phones become priority devices for status and emergency information.
☐	Generator with 72+ hours of fuel Heavy-gauge extension cords. Stored fuel with stabilizer. Tested before the season.
☐	Two-week supply of all prescription medications Plus first aid kit and OTC basics (pain relievers, antihistamines, anti-diarrheal, electrolyte powder).
☐	Personal hygiene supplies for 7 days Plus any specialty medical supplies you depend on (CPAP, glucose monitors, etc.).
☐	Basic tool kit — multi-tool, drill (charged), screws, plywood scraps Plus tarp and rope for emergency roof patching, duct tape, plastic sheeting, work gloves, heavy-duty trash bags.
☐	Wet/dry vacuum for water cleanup The difference between a 4-hour cleanup and a 4-day one.
☐	Waterproof container with copies of critical documents Insurance, IDs, deeds, mortgage, and the printed emergency contact list. Plus cash in small bills.
☐	Pet supplies — food, leashes, carriers, vaccination records Vaccination records are required at most evacuation shelters.
☐	Family-specific essentials Baby formula, diapers, wipes if applicable. Comfort items for young children — this matters more than people expect.