Roof: Your First Line of Defense
Roof failure is the number one cause of catastrophic hurricane damage to homes. Once the roof goes, wind pressurizes the interior and the walls follow. These are the upgrades that actually matter, in order of impact:
- Hurricane straps and clips. Metal connectors that tie your roof framing directly to your wall framing. A retrofit costs $1,500 to $3,000. No other hardening upgrade delivers more protection per dollar.
- Sealed roof deck. A self-adhering membrane applied over the decking as a secondary water barrier. If shingles tear off, this layer keeps water out. Best done during a roof replacement. Ask your roofer about it specifically.
- Impact-rated shingles. Class 4 shingles resist hail and flying debris far better than standard architectural shingles.
- Wind mitigation inspection. Costs $75 to $150, documents every upgrade you have made, and typically cuts windstorm insurance premiums by 20 to 40 percent. It often pays for itself in the first year.
Windows and Doors: Seal the Envelope
A single broken window lets hurricane wind pressurize your home like a balloon, and that internal pressure is what blows roofs off from the inside. Your options, by budget:
- Plywood, for emergencies only. Use 5/8 inch exterior grade, pre-cut and labeled for each window, with the mounting anchors installed now, not during a warning. Scrambling for plywood 48 hours before landfall is how people get hurt.
- Accordion shutters. $15 to $25 per square foot installed. They deploy in minutes and are the practical sweet spot for most homeowners.
- Impact windows. $500 to $1,500 each. Permanent, no deployment needed, and they add resale value. The best long-term answer if your budget allows.
- Garage door bracing. Double-wide garage doors are a notorious failure point in hurricanes. Retrofit kits run $150 to $500 and install in an afternoon. This is the most overlooked upgrade on this list.
Yard and Exterior: Remove the Projectiles
- Trim all trees, especially limbs overhanging the roof or near power lines. Hire an arborist for anything large.
- Plan indoor storage now for patio furniture, grills, potted plants, and decorations. Most wind-borne debris in a hurricane comes from the homeowner's own yard. Your patio umbrella becomes someone else's broken window.
- Clear gutters, downspouts, and storm drains so rainfall has somewhere to go.
- Secure sheds and check fence posts. A failed fence section becomes a battering ram in 120 mph wind.
- Consider a whole-house surge protector, installed by an electrician for $300 to $700. Lightning-induced surges fry everything plugged in.
Insurance: The Boring Part That Matters Most
Do these four things before June. Not one of them can be done during a warning.
- Buy flood insurance now. Standard homeowners policies exclude flooding, and most hurricane damage is water damage. NFIP flood policies carry a 30-day waiting period. Buying one when a storm is already forming is the same as not having one.
- Check your hurricane deductible. It is typically 2 to 5 percent of your dwelling coverage, not a flat $1,000. On a $400,000 home, that is $8,000 to $20,000 out of pocket before insurance pays a dime. Know this number before you need it.
- Document everything. Walk through your home with your phone and video every room, every exterior wall, and the serial numbers on major appliances. Upload it to cloud storage. After a storm, you will not remember what was in the guest room closet.
- Understand replacement cost vs. actual cash value for your roof. An actual-cash-value policy pays depreciated value. On a 15-year-old roof, that is a fraction of what a replacement costs, and the gap comes out of your pocket.
When a Storm Is Actually Coming: The 72-Hour Checklist
- Deploy shutters or install your pre-cut plywood. Do not wait for the last 24 hours.
- Bring in every yard item. Secure anything too heavy to move.
- Charge all devices. Fill bathtubs for flushing water and containers for drinking water.
- Set your fridge and freezer to their coldest settings. Freeze water bottles to hold temperatures longer.
- Move valuables and electronics to high ground.
- Know your evacuation zone and your route. Leave when officials tell you to leave, not when it starts looking dramatic outside.
Harden Your Home This Spring
Do not wait for June. Get quotes for straps, shutters, and garage door bracing from verified local contractors while schedules are open, materials are in stock, and prices are normal.