Hurricane season runs June 1 through November 30, but preparation is a year-round responsibility that shouldn’t be reduced to a pre-storm scramble. Nowhere is that truer than in Florida, where the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) has documented more hurricane landfalls than in any other state in the U.S.
In fact, Florida doesn’t just get the most hurricanes; it’s been hit by many of the most destructive ones on record. Hurricane Ian delivered $112.9 billion in damage in 2022. Idalia, Milton, and Helene followed in 2023 and 2024, hitting a market already strained by rising construction costs and insurance litigation.
As warming Atlantic waters cause storms to develop and strike the coast faster than ever before, the window between a tropical storm watch and a direct hit can now be shorter than 48 hours. A plan built before the season starts is the only one that holds.
This guide covers the full scope of hurricane preparedness, including physical steps to harden your home, how to build a real emergency plan, and what to do after the storm passes. We’ll cover the insurance gaps most Florida homeowners don’t discover until it’s too late.
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What Your Insurance Covers and What It Doesn’t
Florida homeowners insurance is not a single blanket of protection. It has seams, and storms may find them. Before hurricane season arrives, pull out your policy declarations page and read it.
Coverage limits set several years ago may no longer reflect the actual cost to rebuild. Construction costs have climbed sharply since Ian, Idalia, and Milton drove up demand for labor and materials across the state. A dwelling limit that covered full replacement cost in 2021 may fall $50,000 to $100,000 short today.
Personal property coverage is often 50% or less of the dwelling limit. A home insured for $400,000 in dwelling coverage may only carry $200,000 or less for contents. Inventory your belongings now, not after a loss, to ensure you have the appropriate coverage.
The Flood Gap: What Standard Policies Exclude
Storm surge is often the deadliest part of a major hurricane. Yet standard homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage or storm surge. These are two separate exclusions that catch Florida homeowners off guard every season.
Coastal proximity is one risk factor, but it isn’t the only one. A slow-moving storm dumping 20 inches of rain well inland can flood neighborhoods that have never seen storm surge. FEMA data show that 25% of National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims filed between 2014 and 2024 came from properties outside designated high-risk flood zones.
Separate flood insurance is the only way to cover this exposure. Check your flood zone status using the resources at the Loggerhead Storm Center before making a coverage decision.
Understanding Your Hurricane Deductible
Florida homeowners insurance policies include a separate hurricane deductible that applies only to named-storm losses. It’s typically calculated as a percentage of the insured dwelling value—usually 2–5%. For a $400,000 home, that’s $8,000 to $20,000 out of pocket before coverage activates.
This deductible is triggered by any storm that becomes a hurricane, not by wind speed or damage severity alone. A glancing blow from a Category 1 can activate it just as fully as a direct Category 4 hit. Confirm now that you can cover your deductible without liquidating savings under pressure.
Florida policies also offer optional endorsements that address common claims. For instance, Loggerhead’s water backup add-on covers damage from water which backs up from sewers or drains, which is a separate category from both flood and wind. Hurricane screen enclosure coverage protects the aluminum-framed screened enclosures common across the state, and refrigerated property coverage handles food losses during extended power outages. These add-ons are inexpensive relative to the claims they address.
Hardening Your Home Before the Storm Arrives
Insurance covers the aftermath, but physical preparation determines how severe that aftermath is. Here’s what you need to prepare.
Windows, Doors, and the Weakest Points in the Envelope
Every window and door that fails in hurricane-force winds becomes an entry point for wind pressure, rain, and debris. The National Institute of Building Sciences estimates that every $1 spent on pre-disaster mitigation saves $6 in post-disaster recovery costs. Impact-resistant windows and doors carry a higher upfront cost than storm shutters or hurricane shutters, but they provide continuous protection without requiring installation in the hours before a storm.
Garage doors are the most common structural failure point in high-wind events. A standard residential garage door can buckle at sustained winds well below Category 3 strength. Once it fails, the resulting pressure change can compromise the roof structure above it. If your garage door isn’t wind-rated, retrofit bracing kits are available. You could also consider upgrading to an impact-resistant model. Loggerhead offers a wind protection discount for homes with qualifying features. A Florida wind mitigation inspection documents these upgrades and can reduce your annual premium.
Storm shutters and hurricane shutters are a cost-effective alternative for windows that aren’t impact-rated. Accordion shutters deploy quickly and provide solid protection. Plywood, on the other hand, offers limited protection and must be cut, stored, and installed correctly to do much at all. If plywood is your plan, cut and label the panels before June 1.
Roof Condition and Secondary Water Barriers
Florida’s building code has required secondary water barriers (SWB) on new construction since 2002. Homes built before that date frequently lack one. When a roof sustains damage and there’s no SWB, rain enters the structure directly, turning a manageable roofing claim into a full water damage event.
A professional roof inspection before June 1 is worth the cost. Homes with roofs older than 15 years may face coverage limitations or higher deductibles with some carriers. Loggerhead offers a discount for roofs replaced within the last 10 years.
Clearing gutters before storm season also matters, because blocked gutters allow water to back up against the fascia and into the attic.
Landscaping as a Wind Hazard
Outdoor furniture, planters, potted plants, lawn ornaments, and dead tree limbs all become projectiles in high winds above 74 mph. Before a storm hits, bring everything movable inside or secure it. This is not a day-before task.
Trees within striking distance of the structure deserve a separate assessment. An ISA-certified arborist can evaluate which trees present a real risk. Removing a compromised tree before storm season costs far less than the structural damage it prevents.
Sandbags are also useful for directing water away from doorways and low-lying entries. Many Florida counties distribute them for free before major storms. Find your local distribution point before you need it.
Inside the House:What to Secure Before You Leave or Shelter In
Water Intrusion and Interior Flooding
Wind-driven rain enters through gaps around windows, doors, and roof penetrations that were never designed to handle sustained high winds. Before a storm, check weather stripping, caulk gaps around window and door frames, and verify that attic vents are intact.
Water backup from sewers or drains inside the home is a separate coverage category from flood damage and wind-driven rain. Standard homeowners policies don’t automatically cover this. Loggerhead’s water backup endorsement addresses this specific scenario, which becomes more common during extended periods of saturated ground and overwhelmed municipal drainage.
Document the interior of your home on video before evacuating. This creates a pre-loss baseline that materially accelerates the claims process. For more information on the full claim process, Loggerhead’s post-disaster guide walks through what adjusters need from you as a policyholder.
Documents, Electronics, and Valuables
Insurance declarations pages, passports, mortgage documents, and financial records should be stored in a waterproof container or backed up to secure cloud storage before storm season begins. Adjusters require specific documentation to process claims efficiently, and missing records could slow the process when you can least afford delays.
Loggerhead’s special personal property endorsement covers collectibles, art, and jewelry that standard homeowners insurance policies limit or exclude. If you’ve made significant purchases since your last policy review, verify that your coverage reflects current value.
Move important electronics to interior rooms (and off the floor) before leaving. A laptop on a kitchen counter is significantly more likely to be damaged than one stored in an interior closet on a high shelf.
Your Pre-Season Preparation Checklist
Once a hurricane watch is issued, the preparation window shrinks fast. Most of what follows should be done before a named storm forms, not after one is tracking toward your coast.
Building a Family Emergency Plan
An effective emergency plan is specific. It should name:
- An evacuation route
- A secondary route if the first becomes congested
- A meeting point outside the home if family members are separated
- A contact outside the state who can serve as a communications hub when local cell networks are overloaded
Florida’s evacuation zones run from A (highest risk: typically barrier islands and coastal low-lying areas) through F. Zone A residents should be ready to leave before a Category 1 watch is issued. (You can find your zone at floridadisaster.org.)
If your household includes pets, elderly family members, or anyone with medical needs, your evacuation plan should account for those logistics before a mandatory order is issued.
Enable emergency alerts on every cell phone in your household. NOAA Weather Radio and the National Weather Service provide official storm updates. Sign up for your county’s local emergency management alert system—most Florida counties offer text and email notifications.
What Goes in a Hurricane Supply Kit
FEMA and ready.gov recommend a minimum 72-hour emergency kit that includes:
- 1 gallon of water per person per day
- Non-perishable food
- A battery-powered NOAA weather radio
- Flashlights with extra batteries
- A first-aid kit
- A 7-day supply of prescription medications
In Florida, plan for seven days of emergency supplies, not three. Power outages after major storms regularly last one to two weeks in the hardest-hit areas.
Your supply kit should also include a fully charged portable cell phone battery pack and a printed list of important phone numbers. Cloud-stored contacts are inaccessible without data connectivity, and cell service disruptions are common after a direct hit.
Generator safety isn’t optional. Carbon monoxide poisoning kills more people in the aftermath of U.S. hurricanes than the storms themselves, according to the CDC. Generators must be placed at least 20 feet from any window or door, with exhaust directed away from the structure. Never run a generator inside a garage, even with the door open.
Knowing When to Leave
A hurricane watch means hurricane conditions are possible within 48 hours. A hurricane warning means conditions are expected within 36 hours, which isn’t enough time to evacuate you and your loved ones safely if you haven’t started. Begin preparations and monitor conditions when a watch is issued for your zone, not when it escalates to a warning.
Loggerhead’s Hurricane Terminology 101 guide covers the full range of terms (tropical depression, tropical storm, storm surge, eyewall, etc.) so you understand exactly what forecasters are describing when you’re making decisions under pressure.
Homeowners who shelter in place should identify their safe place in advance, and it should be an interior room on the lowest floor, away from windows and exterior walls. A bathroom or hallway is often the best option, but remember that your garage is not a shelter. Keep local news and official channels open throughout the storm.
After the Storm: Assessment, Claims, and Avoiding Fraud
Immediate Safety Before Re-Entry
The 24 to 48 hours after a storm are when secondary injuries happen. Downed power lines are live until confirmed otherwise by local authorities, so treat every downed line as energized. Compromised tree limbs, weakened by root saturation and wind, may continue to fall after the storm has passed. Floodwaters can also carry debris, contaminants, and hidden electrical hazards.
Tap water should be treated as contaminated until local authorities issue an all-clear. Do not walk through flood water unless you know what’s in it. Open cabinets and closets carefully because contents may shift during severe weather and may fall when doors are opened.
When assessing your home’s exterior, look specifically for damaged roof tiles, holes or gaps where light is visible from inside the attic, stripped siding, and cracks in the foundation or walls. Document everything with photos and video before beginning any cleanup or temporary repairs.
Filing a Claim: What Loggerhead Needs From You
Loggerhead accepts insurance claim reports 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by phone at (855) 216-9428 or through our online customer portal. Photo and video documentation uploaded at the time of filing accelerates the process. The more clearly you can document pre-storm conditions and post-storm damage, the faster your claim moves.
Florida policyholders are required to take reasonable mitigation steps to prevent further loss after a covered event, which may include tarping a damaged roof, boarding a broken window, or pumping standing water from a crawl space. Don’t take on full repairs, but take reasonable measures to stop damage from compounding. Failure to mitigate can affect the outcome of a claim.
Contractor Fraud: Know These Red Flags
Post-storm contractor fraud spikes after every major hurricane in Florida. Verify every contractor’s license before any work begins. The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation maintains a public license lookup. Get at least three written estimates, check online reviews, and ask for references from recent jobs in your area. If you need a vetted starting point, Loggerhead has partnerships that can help. Ask your claims representative about this resource when you report your loss.
Start Your Hurricane Season Ready
Take these four actions before June 1 to cover most of your exposure:
- Review your policy and confirm your deductible.
- Document your home on video.
- Confirm your evacuation zone.
- Assemble your emergency kit with a seven-day supply in mind.
The Loggerhead Storm Center has checklists, flood zone resources, and contractor guidance, and our claims team is reachable at (855) 216-9428 for any questions you might have.
The goal isn’t to eliminate risk—that’s not possible in Florida. The goal is to be ready when the forecast stops being hypothetical and to keep your family safe.
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FAQs
What Are 10 Things You Need to Prepare for a Hurricane?
- A 7-day water supply (1 gallon per person per day)
- Non-perishable food
- A first aid kit
- Prescription medications
- A battery-powered NOAA weather radio
- Flashlights with extra batteries
- A portable cell phone charger
- Cash in small bills
- Important documents in a waterproof container
- A confirmed evacuation plan with your zone identified
What Are the 5 P’s of Hurricane Preparedness?
People, prescriptions, pets, papers, and personal needs is a framework used by Florida emergency management officials. People means knowing where every member of your household will be. Prescriptions means a 7-day supply in a portable container. Pets means carriers, food, and documentation for shelters that accept animals. Papers means insurance declarations, IDs, and financial records in waterproof storage. Personal needs means anything specific to your household, including medical equipment, infant supplies, or mobility aids.
How Often Should I Update My Home Inventory?
You should update your home inventory at least once a year, and immediately after significant purchases. A video walkthrough of every room saved to cloud storage is the fastest method and creates a timestamped record that holds up well during the claims process. Do this before hurricane season, not after a loss.