How to Prepare Your Home Before Evacuating for a Hurricane

To prepare your home before evacuating for a hurricane, you should shut off utilities, secure windows and doors, move valuables to higher ground, and take steps to minimize water and wind damage while you’re away.

Evacuation isn’t just about packing a bag and hitting the road, it’s about protecting the home you’re leaving behind. If a hurricane damages your roof, breaks a window, or floods your ground floor while you’re gone, even small oversights can turn into expensive disasters. And with storms getting stronger every year, many homeowners who evacuated safely returned to their homes that were soaked, broken into, or without power for days.

In this guide, we’ll walk through what to do before you go, from utility shutoffs and electronics safety to flood precautions and post-storm reentry tips, so you can leave your home knowing you did everything you could.

What utilities should I shut off before evacuating and how?

Before evacuating, you should shut off your water, electricity, and, if you have it, your natural gas, to prevent flooding, fires, or gas leaks while you’re gone.

Here’s how and why to shut off each:

Water

Why: If pipes break or a valve fails during the storm (especially in slab homes or older plumbing), water can pour into your home for days unnoticed.

How: Turn off the main water valve where it enters the home. In many Florida homes, it’s outside near a hose bib or water meter. If you can’t find it, ask your utility provider in advance.

Electricity

Why: Downed lines, power surges, or short circuits can trigger fires, even after the storm.

How: Flip the main breaker in your electrical panel to the “off” position. If you have a backup generator, make sure it’s disconnected or isolated with a transfer switch to prevent backfeed.

Natural Gas or Propane

Why: Gas leaks can cause explosions, especially if debris damages your home’s line or appliances shift.

How: Only shut off the main gas valve if instructed by officials or if you suspect a leak. Know where your shutoff is and how to use it, usually a wrench is needed. If in doubt, contact your gas provider for safe guidance before hurricane season.

Pro Tip: Label your shutoff valves and breakers ahead of time. You won’t want to be fumbling with instructions when it’s time to go.

Shutting off utilities might seem extreme, but if a tree hits your roof or water gets inside, these steps can prevent a bad situation from getting far worse. If you’ve installed impact-rated windows, storm screens, or shutters, you’re already one step ahead, but utility prep fills in the rest of the safety net.

How should I protect windows, doors, and openings before I evacuate?

Before evacuating, you should secure all windows, glass doors, and large openings with impact-rated shutters, Storm Catcher® Screens, Aluminum Roll Down Shutter, Accordion Shutter or other hurricane protection products and make sure all doors are locked, latched, and reinforced where possible.

Hurricanes don’t just break windows. When high winds enter a structure, they create pressure that can blow off the roof or cause catastrophic collapse. Water intrusion from broken seals or shattered glass can ruin walls, flooring, and furniture in hours, even if the rest of the home is intact.

Here’s what to do:

Windows & Sliders

• Use storm shutters or deploy Storm Catcher® Screens if you have them
• If not, board up with plywood (at least 5/8″ thick, pre-cut to size)
• Don’t tape windows – it doesn’t help and can make glass more dangerous

Doors & Entryways

• Lock all exterior doors, including garage side doors and lanai access points
• If possible, install deadbolts or slide bolts to add strength
• Secure overhead garage doors with bracing kits or a vertical lock pin
• Check weather seals, even small gaps allow water and wind to enter

While You’re at It

• Close all interior doors – this helps reduce wind pressure if a breach occurs
• Draw curtains and blinds – not for aesthetics, but to help contain glass

Installed systems matter. If your home has impact-rated windows, don’t rely on them passively – verify they’re locked and secure. Storm Smart systems are designed to protect whether you’re home or not, but they only work if deployed correctly.

What should I do with valuables, documents, and furniture before evacuating?

Before evacuating, you should move valuables and important documents to high, interior locations, store them in waterproof containers if possible, and protect large furniture from flooding or collapse by elevating or repositioning it.

Here’s how to think about each category:

Valuables & Electronics

• Unplug TVs, computers, routers, and major appliances to prevent surge damage
• Move small electronics off the floor – place on shelves, beds, or countertops
• Take jewelry, cash, and irreplaceable items with you if possible
• Don’t leave high-value items visible from windows – theft can rise post-storm

Documents

• Gather birth certificates, insurance policies, passports, medical records, and property deeds
• Store in a sealed plastic bag or waterproof safe, and place on a high shelf
• Take photos or scan copies to a cloud drive in case originals are lost

Furniture & Decor

• Move rugs, fabric-covered furniture, and electronics away from exterior walls and windows
• Elevate furniture legs with blocks or Styrofoam if flooding is a concern
• Remove wall art, mirrors, and small shelves – even “secured” items can fall when walls shake

Important: You’re not just preventing damage. You’re buying time for your insurance claim, for your return, and for recovery. The fewer things you have to replace, the faster life can resume.

If your home has Storm Catcher® Screens or impact-rated windows, that’s one less variable to worry about but floodwater, humidity, and looters don’t care if you boarded up. Prepping your belongings is the final layer of defense.

When can I return after evacuating and what should I expect?

You can return after evacuating only when local officials declare it safe, which could take hours or days, depending on storm damage, flooding, and road access.

Even if the storm has passed, serious risks may remain:

• Roads may be blocked by debris, flooding, or downed power lines
• Utility outages (power, water, gas) may make conditions unlivable
• Law enforcement checkpoints may restrict access to hard-hit areas
• Looting or structural damage may make early return dangerous

How will you know when it’s safe to return?

• Monitor county emergency management websites and trusted media
• Listen to NOAA weather radio or local news stations
• Don’t rely on rumors, returning too early could put you at risk or delay first responders

What to expect when you arrive:

• Damage that wasn’t visible from the outside
• Spoiled food and mold if power was out
• Water intrusion from windows, doors, or roof penetrations
• Emotional strain – especially if insurance adjusters are delayed or access is limited

This is why everything you do before you evacuate, from shutting off utilities to securing windows matters. It doesn’t just protect your home while you’re gone. It sets the stage for how quickly you can come back and recover.

And if you’ve protected your openings with impact-rated shutters, screens, or windows, chances are higher you’ll return to a home that’s still intact – and not one with shattered glass, soaked drywall, or a collapsed ceiling.

Leaving Home? Let’s Make Sure You Come Back to It Intact.

No one wants to evacuate, but when the order comes, the only thing more important than getting out safely is making sure your home has the best chance of making it through the storm without you.

Storm Smart builds custom hurricane protection systems that work while you’re away:

• Storm Catcher® Screens that protect you from hurricane-force winds and flying debris
• Impact-rated windows and doors that resist debris and pressure
• Aluminum shutters, such as Roll Down Shutters, secure your home fast – and stay in place

Each product is tested to meet and exceed Florida Building Code and HVHZ standards, and our team will help you choose the system that fits your home, budget, and timeline.

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Talk to a local specialist. See the products up close. Learn how to protect the home you’re counting on to still be standing when you return.

Or call us at (888) 546-5708

If you’re not sure where to start, we’ll walk you through it – calmly, clearly, and with one goal: giving you real peace of mind when it matters most.

Because leaving your home doesn’t have to mean leaving it unprotected.

When the order to leave comes, it’s too late to install protection or prepare utilities. The countdown shows how much time you have to act, so you can leave with confidence and return to a home that’s still intact.