Hurricane season begins June 1 and runs through November 30. Colorado State University’s April outlook called for a somewhat below-average Atlantic season this year, with a developing El Niño expected to suppress storm formation. That’s welcome, and it changes nothing about preparation. It takes one storm, and Tampa Bay has learned in recent years that “below average” and “quiet” are not the same thing.

Here’s a practical checklist for the next three weeks, organized by what protects your home, your finances, and your family.

Key Takeaways

• The most valuable preparation is documentation: photos, policy review, and a home inventory, done before the first storm forms.
• Physical readiness means knowing exactly how you’ll protect every opening and where water goes on your lot.
• Post-storm plans matter as much as pre-storm ones. Know who you’ll call and what you’ll do first.

Step 1: Review Your Insurance Now

Do this in May, not when a storm has a name. New flood policies through the National Flood Insurance Program typically carry a 30-day waiting period.

• Confirm your hurricane deductible. It’s usually a percentage of dwelling coverage, and the dollar figure surprises people.
• Verify wind coverage and check for exclusions like wind-driven rain limits.
• Confirm you have flood insurance. Homeowners policies do not cover rising water. After 2024’s surge events, many owners in X zones added it.
• Ask about Additional Living Expense coverage if you’d need to relocate during repairs.
• Check whether a wind mitigation inspection could lower your premium. Older homes with recent roof work often qualify for credits they aren’t receiving.

Our guide to hurricane insurance claim mistakes explains what goes wrong after a storm and how to avoid it.

Step 2: Document Everything

• Walk every room with your phone recording video. Open closets and cabinets. Narrate what you see.
• Photograph the exterior from all sides, the roof from the ground, the pool equipment, the fence, the dock.
• Photograph serial numbers on appliances, HVAC equipment, and electronics.
• Scan insurance policies, deeds, titles, and IDs to cloud storage.
• Save a copy of your elevation certificate if you have one.

This takes an hour and can be worth tens of thousands of dollars in a claim.

Step 3: Inspect the Envelope

Roof. Look for lifted shingles, cracked tiles, exposed fasteners, and deteriorated flashing. Have a licensed contractor address anything questionable now; roofers are unavailable in September.

Openings. Know how every window, door, and garage door will be protected. If you rely on shutters or panels, locate them, confirm all hardware is present, and do a test fit. If you have impact glass, confirm the rating covers every opening.

Garage door. A non-rated garage door is one of the most common failure points. Bracing kits are available for existing doors; replacement with a wind-rated door is better.

Soffits and vents. Loose soffit panels let wind-driven rain into the attic. Secure them.

Gutters and drainage. Clear gutters, extend downspouts away from the foundation, and confirm your lot drains away from the house. Check that pool equipment and HVAC condensers sit on raised pads.

Step 4: Trim and Secure

• Have a licensed arborist remove dead limbs and thin heavy canopy over the house. Tampa requires permits to remove trees above certain trunk sizes, so trim, don’t cut, unless the tree is hazardous and documented.
• Plan where outdoor furniture, grills, planters, and trampolines will go. Pools can hold furniture if nothing else is available.
• Inspect fences and gate hardware.
• Secure or remove screen enclosure panels only if the enclosure is not rated for the expected winds; consult the installer.

Step 5: Power and Water

• Test your generator under load. Change the oil. Stock fuel and stabilizer, or confirm the natural gas or propane supply for a standby unit.
• Confirm transfer switch operation if you have one. Never run a portable generator indoors or in a garage.
• Charge battery backup systems and know how long they’ll run your essentials.
• Store water: one gallon per person per day for at least seven days, plus more for pets.
• Fill vehicle tanks and propane cylinders.

Step 6: Build the Kit

Category	Essentials
Food and water	Seven days of non-perishables, manual can opener, water
Medical	Prescriptions (ask for early refills), first aid, hearing aid batteries
Light and power	Flashlights, lanterns, batteries, power banks, car charger
Information	Battery or crank radio, printed contact list, county evacuation zone card
Sanitation	Trash bags, disinfectant, bleach, paper goods
Repair	Tarps, rope, duct tape, plywood, screws, basic tools
Documents	Insurance, IDs, deed, medical info in a waterproof container
Cash	Card readers don’t work without power

Step 7: Know Your Zone and Your Plan

Confirm your evacuation zone on the Hillsborough or Pinellas County emergency management site. Zones are based on storm surge risk, not flood zone maps, and they changed after recent storms. Know where you’d go, how you’d get there, and what you’d take. Decide in advance the conditions under which you’ll leave.

Step 8: Plan for After

• Save the contact for a licensed local contractor now. After a storm, unlicensed out-of-town crews arrive fast. Our post on hiring a non-licensed contractor explains why that matters.
• Know the first steps: safety, photos, temporary protection, insurer notification. Our immediate post-storm guide walks through them.
• Understand the 24-to-48-hour mold window. Fans and a dehumidifier in the kit are worth their space.
• If your home is in a flood zone, understand the FEMA 50 percent rule before you need it.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is hurricane season?

June 1 through November 30, with the historical peak from mid-August to mid-October. Our hurricane season guide covers the rhythm of the season.

What is the forecast for 2026?

Colorado State University’s April outlook projected somewhat below-normal activity, citing a developing El Niño. NOAA’s seasonal outlook is typically released in late May. Forecasts describe overall activity, not where storms will land.

How much water should I store?

At least one gallon per person per day for seven days, more in heat. Don’t forget pets.

Should I fill my bathtub?

Yes, for flushing and cleaning if water service is interrupted. Not for drinking.

Do I need to board up impact windows?

No. Impact-rated glass is designed to protect the opening without shutters. Confirm every opening, including garage doors and skylights, is rated.

How do I check my evacuation zone?

Both Hillsborough and Pinellas counties offer address lookup tools on their emergency management websites. Zones are lettered A through E based on surge risk.

Get Ahead of the Season

Preparation done in May is calm. Preparation done in September is not. If your roof, openings, or drainage need attention before the season peaks, TomCo Solutions provides storm hardening and restoration across Tampa Bay.

Schedule a private 30-minute consultation or call (813) 922-2299.