On the Gulf Coast, a hurricane isn't an "if." The difference between a hard week and a crisis is whether the work got done before the storm was named — because once it's in the forecast, the stores are stripped and the contractors are booked. Here's the checklist, organized so you can act, not scramble.
Gulf hurricane season runs June through November, with the worst odds from August into October. Split your prep into three phases: what you do before the season, what you do when a storm is coming, and what you do after it passes.
Phase 1 — Before the season (do this now)
Harden the house
- Roof: inspect for loose or missing shingles and have them fixed. Wind gets under a loose edge and peels.
- Windows & doors: confirm your shutters or plywood panels are cut, labeled, and stored where you can reach them. Check that the garage door is rated for wind — it's the most common structural failure point.
- Trees: trim dead and overhanging limbs away from the house and power lines.
- Gutters & drainage: clear them so heavy rain flows away from the foundation, not into it.
Handle the paperwork
- Review insurance now. Confirm wind coverage, and check whether you need separate flood insurance — standard homeowner policies don't cover flood, and new flood policies have a waiting period, so buying after a storm forms is too late.
- Document your belongings with photos or video, stored in the cloud.
- Copy key documents (IDs, policies, deeds) into a waterproof bag and a digital backup.
Ready your systems and supplies
- Service your generator and store fuel safely; know how to run it outdoors only, away from windows.
- Know where your water, gas, and electrical shut-offs are — and how to use them.
- Build your emergency kit before the rush. See Building a Home Emergency Kit That Actually Works for the full list.
Phase 2 — When a storm is coming
Know the two terms: a watch means hurricane conditions are possible within ~48 hours; a warning means they're expected within ~36 hours. When a watch is issued, start acting.
| Task | Why |
|---|---|
| Fill your gas tank | Stations run dry and lose power; "half full is empty" in an evacuation |
| Get cash in small bills | Card readers and ATMs fail when the power's out |
| Fill water containers | One gallon per person per day, three days minimum |
| Charge everything | Phones, power banks, and any medical devices |
| Put up shutters / panels | Do it early — not in rising wind |
| Bring in loose items | Furniture, grills, and décor become projectiles |
| Set fridge & freezer cold | Buys hours of safe food if the power drops |
If evacuation is ordered, go. Take your kit, medications, documents, and pets, and tell someone outside the storm zone your route. Don't gamble on riding out a surge — water, not wind, is what most often turns deadly.
Phase 3 — After it passes
- Stay put until it's declared safe. Watch for downed lines, flooding, and gas leaks. Never wade into standing water — it can be electrified or contaminated.
- Run generators outside only. Carbon monoxide from an enclosed generator kills every season.
- Document damage with photos before you clean up or make temporary repairs, for your insurance claim.
- Use tarps and duct tape to stop further water intrusion until a real repair is possible.
The prep that matters happens off-season. Roof checks, shutter storage, insurance review, generator service — these are the tasks that quietly slip year to year until a storm exposes them. Putting them on a recurring schedule is exactly what Everstead is built to do.
Get ahead of the season
You can't control when a storm forms, but you can control whether your home was ready before it did. Everstead keeps your hurricane-prep tasks on a schedule alongside the rest of your home's upkeep — so "before the season" actually happens.