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Hurricane Prep Checklist for the Outside of Your Home
Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30. The official checklists cover water, food and documents. This one covers the outside of the house, where anything not tied down can become a projectile.
Early in the season
- Walk the fence and push on each panel and post. Fix loose boards and wobbly posts now, while materials and help are easy to find.
- Check gate hinges and latches. A gate that swings free in high wind tears itself off.
- Have trees looked at by a licensed tree service, and do it well ahead of any storm. Trimming piles left at the curb during a watch are a hazard.
- If you have shutters or panels, lay them out once and confirm you have every panel and all the hardware.
- Decide where the patio furniture, grill, planters and trash bins will go. A garage, a shed, or inside the house.
- Clear ground-level drains and the path water takes away from the house.
- Take dated photos of the outside of the home for your records.
When a storm is forecast
- Bring in everything light: chairs, cushions, umbrellas, potted plants, hoses, toys, decorations, door mats.
- Take down hanging plants, wind chimes, string lights and shade sails.
- Tie down or bring in trash and recycling bins.
- Put up shutters or panels early. Doing it in rising wind is how people get hurt.
- Latch every gate, and tie it if the latch is weak.
- Move vehicles away from trees where possible.
Things to skip
- Taping windows. It does not stop glass from breaking.
- Large trimming jobs in the last days. There is no time for debris pickup.
- Leaving "heavy" furniture outside. Storm winds move it.
Afterwards
Stay away from downed lines and standing water, photograph damage before you move anything, and start with what blocks doors and driveways. Roof damage, large fallen trees and anything electrical belong to licensed trades. Water that got inside needs drying quickly; that is the work our sister company DryMiami does.
If you want help securing the yard before a storm or clearing it after, see our hurricane prep and cleanup page.
Rather have someone do it?
Send us your list with a few photos and get one written quote for all of it.
