Your Complete Hurricane Season Prep Guide

As summer winds down and we head into peak hurricane season, there’s no better time to prepare your home and family for whatever Mother Nature might bring our way. While New England doesn’t see hurricanes as often as our southern neighbors, when they do arrive, being prepared makes all the difference between a minor inconvenience and a major headache.

Understanding Hurricane Season in New England

Hurricane season officially runs from June through November, but here in New England, we typically see the most activity between August and October. Remember Hurricane Sandy in 2012? Or Irene in 2011? These storms reminded us that even though we’re not in Hurricane Alley, we’re definitely not immune to tropical storms and hurricanes making their way up the coast.

The good news is that with some simple preparation, you can protect your home, keep your family safe, and have peace of mind when those weather alerts start popping up on your phone.

Home Preparation: Your First Line of Defense

Securing the Outside

Start with a walk around your property about a month before peak season. Look up at your roof — are there any loose shingles that might become projectiles in high winds? Check your gutters and downspouts too. Clogged gutters can cause water to back up and damage your roof or foundation when heavy rains hit.

Windows are another critical area. If you don’t have storm shutters, consider investing in some plywood cut to size for each window. Label each piece so you’re not playing a frustrating puzzle game when the storm is approaching. Store them in your garage or basement where they’re easy to access.

Don’t forget about your doors, especially garage doors. These large panels can fail in high winds, allowing pressure to build up inside and potentially lifting off your roof. Reinforcement kits are available at most home improvement stores and can be installed in an afternoon.

Inside Preparations

Create a dedicated hurricane supply station in your basement or a closet. Stock it with essentials like flashlights (one per family member plus extras), batteries, a battery-powered or hand-crank radio, first aid supplies, and medications. Include non-perishable food for at least three days, one gallon of water per person per day, and don’t forget pet supplies if you have furry family members.

Essential documents should be gathered and stored in a waterproof container. Include insurance policies, identification documents, bank account records, and medical records. Consider making digital copies stored on a flash drive or in cloud storage as an extra backup.

Landscaping: Beautiful Yet Storm-Smart

Your yard can either be your ally or enemy during a hurricane. Wise landscaping choices made now can prevent damage later.

Tree Maintenance

That beautiful old oak in your front yard needs some attention before hurricane season. Hire a certified arborist to inspect your trees, looking for dead branches, signs of disease, or structural problems. Regular pruning not only keeps trees healthy but also removes potential projectiles. The “lion’s tail” effect — where all the foliage is at the ends of branches — actually makes trees more likely to snap in high winds, so proper thinning throughout the canopy is essential.

Consider the placement of new trees carefully. Plant them far enough from your home that if they fell at full height, they wouldn’t reach your house. Select native species that are naturally more wind-resistant, such as American holly or Eastern red cedar.

Strategic Plant Choices

Create layers in your landscape with wind-resistant shrubs and plants. Low-growing, dense shrubs can act as windbreaks, protecting your home’s foundation and more delicate plants. Native options, such as inkberry holly or bayberry, are excellent choices that can withstand both wind and salt spray if you’re near the coast.

Keep your lawn healthy and well-maintained. A strong root system helps prevent soil erosion during heavy rains. If you have gravel or mulch beds, consider switching to shredded bark mulch rather than rock or rubber mulch, which can become dangerous projectiles.

Yard Cleanup Strategy

About 48 hours before a storm’s arrival, do a thorough yard sweep. Bring in or secure patio furniture, grills, planters, and decorations. Even something as innocent as a bird bath can become dangerous in hurricane-force winds. Store everything in your garage, shed, or basement.

Family Evacuation Planning: Hope for the Best, Plan for the Worst

Creating Your Family Plan

Sit down with everyone in your household for a family meeting. Make it less scary for kids by treating it like you’re planning an adventure. Identify two meeting places: one right outside your home for sudden emergencies, and another outside your neighborhood in case you can’t return home.

Plan multiple evacuation routes. Your usual route might be blocked by flooding or downed trees, so know at least three ways to get to safety. Practice driving these routes so everyone’s familiar with them. Make it a fun family drive on a Sunday afternoon, stopping for ice cream along the way.

Communication is Key

Designate an out-of-state relative or friend as your family contact point. It’s often easier to call long distance than locally during disasters. Ensure that everyone has this contact’s information saved on their phones and written down on a card in their wallets.

Create a paper contact list with everyone’s cell phones, work numbers, schools, and doctors. Include your insurance agent’s contact information and policy numbers. Keep copies in your emergency kit, cars, and at work.

Special Considerations

If you have elderly relatives, neighbors, or family members with special needs, include them in your planning. They might need extra help or more time to evacuate. Arrange check-in buddies — neighbors looking out for neighbors is what community is all about.

Don’t forget your pets! Not all emergency shelters accept animals, so research pet-friendly hotels along your evacuation routes. Keep a pet emergency kit with food, water, medications, vaccination records, and comfort items. A recent photo of you with your pet can help prove ownership if you get separated.

Practice Makes Perfect

Run through your evacuation plan at least twice a year. How long does it take to gather supplies and load the car? Kids grow, situations change, and what worked last year might need adjusting. Make it a positive experience — “Remember, we’re a team, and teams practice to be ready for anything!”

After the Storm: Returning Safely

Once authorities give the all-clear, resist the urge to rush home. Take your time and be cautious. Watch for downed power lines, flooding, and damaged roads. Document any damage with photos and videos before cleaning up — this will be helpful for any insurance claims and for getting appropriate assistance.

Check on your neighbors, especially elderly ones or those who live alone. Share resources if you can. Some of my favorite memories from past storms involve the whole neighborhood having a cookout with whatever needed to be used from freezers before it spoiled.

Your Hurricane Season Checklist

Here’s a quick reference to keep handy:

• Review and update insurance policies by June
• Trim trees and secure outdoor items by July
• Stock emergency supplies by August
• Review evacuation plans with family monthly during the season
• Keep gas tanks at least half full from August through November
• Charge all devices when storm watches are issued
• Follow local emergency management for updates

Remember, preparation isn’t about panic — it’s about peace of mind. When you know you’ve done everything you can to protect your family and home, you can face hurricane season with confidence instead of anxiety.