Florida Hurricane Season Starts June 1 – Here’s How to Prep in May

Florida’s hurricane season officially runs from June 1 through November 30th, and experts are already forecasting an above-average 2025 season​. That means now—in May—is the time to prepare your home or small business for the storms ahead. As one Florida restoration guide notes, “a little early preparation can make a big difference” in safeguarding your property​. This checklist will help you secure your home, review insurance and documents, protect against water, mold and fire risks, and partner with local experts so you’re ready when hurricane season hits.

Secure Your Home Against Storms

• Inspect and reinforce your roof. Schedule a professional roof inspection to check for missing or damaged shingles, cracked flashing, and worn seals​. Fixing small roof problems now can prevent major leaks and water damage later. Consider adding hurricane straps or clips to better anchor the roof structure.
  
  
• Clean gutters and downspouts. Remove leaves and debris so rain flows freely away from your home​. Ensure downspouts extend at least 3 feet from the foundation to prevent water pooling. Clear gutters before the storm season to avoid overflow that can cause leaks, mold, and foundation problems.
  
  
• Seal and protect openings. Caulk gaps around windows and door frames and replace old weatherstripping​. Install storm shutters or board up windows and doors if you don’t have permanent shutters. Even plywood panels will help. Sealed, reinforced openings keep wind-driven rain out of your home.
  
  
• Secure outdoor items. Anchor or store patio furniture, grills, and decorations so they don’t become windborne projectiles​. Bring smaller items (lawn tools, toys, planter pots) indoors or tie them down. Trim or remove dead tree branches and overhanging limbs that could break off in high winds​. Clearing clutter and weak branches now will reduce damage risks later.
  
  
• Check garage doors. Ensure garage doors have hurricane-resistant bracing if available, or reinforce them with a brace kit. Strong garage doors prevent failures that can pressurize and collapse your roof.
  
  

Review Insurance Coverage and Documents

• Review your policies. Check that your homeowner’s or commercial property insurance covers hurricane wind damage. Remember that flood damage is typically NOT covered by standard policies​. If you’re in a flood-prone area, consider buying flood insurance through the NFIP now (it often has a 30-day waiting period)​. Note any special hurricane deductibles in your policies.
  
  
• Update your inventory. Take photos or video of your home’s contents and valuables. An up-to-date home inventory and digital photos will speed any insurance claim after a storm. Keep a copy offsite or in the cloud so it survives local damage.
  
  
• Backup important documents. Gather essential documents – insurance papers, IDs, medical records, proof of ownership – and make copies. Store them in a waterproof container or secure cloud storage​​. Also keep a list of emergency contacts (family, doctors, and utility numbers) in this folder.
  
  
• Note deadlines. Don’t wait until a storm is imminent to update or buy insurance. Policies and riders often require advance notice​. If you discover gaps in coverage, act now so you’re protected for Hurricane Season.
  
  

Protect Against Water Damage and Mold

• Clear drains and downspouts. Make sure yard drains, roof gutters, and storm drains are clear of leaves and debris​. Water must be able to flow freely away from your home to avoid flooding.
  
  
• Test your sump pump. If you have a basement or low crawlspace, verify the sump pump is working and install a battery backup. Sump pumps with backup power help prevent basement flooding during power outages​.
  
  
• Elevate utilities. If possible, raise water heaters, HVAC units, and electrical panels off the floor or above expected flood levels​. This reduces the chance they’ll be submerged or damaged by floodwaters.
  
  
• Move valuables off the floor. Store expensive electronics, furniture, and important papers on shelves or upper floors to keep them safe from minor flooding.
  
  
• Prevent mold growth. Leaks and standing water lead to mold. Mold poses serious health risks and can damage structures. Inspect damp areas (bathrooms, kitchens, basements) for musty odors or spots. Keep indoor humidity low and fix any leaks immediately. Consider applying mold-resistant paints or materials in crawlspaces and bathrooms.
  
  

Tip: United Water Restoration specializes in water damage and mold remediation. If you spot leaks, flooding, or mold growth during your prep, call  1-800-976-6076  for a professional assessment and cleanup plan.

Storms can cause power outages and even fires from downed lines or appliance malfunctions. Mitigate fire risk now:

• Trim and clear vegetation. Remove dead branches and tall brush within 10–20 feet of your home​. Tall trees or limbs near power lines should be cut back by a professional. Clear dry leaves and debris from gutters and under decks – they can ignite easily.
  
  
• Secure fuel sources. Anchor propane tanks and gas grills so they won’t tip or break connections during high winds​. If you evacuate, turn off the main gas valve. Store flammable materials (propane cylinders, gasoline cans) outside, away from open flame and homes.
  
  
• Check fire alarms. Test all smoke detectors and carbon-monoxide (CO) alarms; replace batteries and damaged units. Keep a fire extinguisher on each level of your home and know how to use it.
  
  
• Practice generator safety. Use portable generators outdoors only, in a dry, well-ventilated area​. Keep generators at least 20 feet from doors and windows to prevent CO poisoning. Run heavy-duty extension cords directly from the generator to appliances – never plug a generator into your home’s electrical panel or wall outlets.
  
  
• Plan for outages. Charge or buy extra batteries for flashlights and radios. Stock up on backup fuel safely (in approved containers) and consider a UPS for critical electronics. Know how to shut off utilities (gas, water, electricity) in an emergency.
  
  

Tip: If you’re not sure about your generator or electrical setup, United Water Restoration can inspect and advise on safety. Call  1-800-976-6076 to have their experts review your system before the storm.

Partner with United Water Restoration

Don’t wait until a storm is overhead – get a professional inspection now. United Water Restoration Group of South Florida has certified technicians ready to help you prepare and protect your property​. They can perform a full home inspection, identify vulnerable areas (roof, mold, water entry points), and work with you to create an emergency plan. In the event of damage, their 24/7 emergency team provides water extraction, structural drying, mold remediation, roof tarping and more​

Call United Water Restoration at  1-800-976-6076  to schedule your pre-storm inspection and get personalized emergency planning. By acting in May, you’ll have peace of mind knowing your home or business is as ready as it can be when hurricane season arrives.