Miami hurricane hub
Miami hurricane home preparation: before, during & after
A practical, Miami-specific guide to preparing your home for a hurricane — what to arrange with licensed professionals before the season, how to stay safe during a storm using official guidance, and how to recover and find qualified help afterward without falling for post-storm scams.
Start with official guidance
For life-safety decisions — evacuation, shelters, and real-time storm information — the authoritative sources are Miami-Dade Emergency Management, the National Hurricane Center, and Ready.gov. Know your evacuation zone before the season. This page focuses on the home-preparation and hiring decisions where a directory can genuinely help; it does not replace official emergency instructions.
Before a storm
Most of what protects a home is professional work best arranged early in the season, before demand spikes.
Have the roof assessed and any loose or damaged material addressed by a licensed roofer. See the roofing cost guide.
Have trees professionally trimmed in spring. Confirm whether a permit is required, as Miami-Dade regulates certain tree work.
Impact windows or rated shutters, properly approved and installed. See impact windows vs shutters.
Service the AC and secure the outdoor unit; a generator needs a licensed electrician and a proper transfer switch. See the electrician cost guide.
Before-a-storm home preparation checklist
A general starting point for early-season preparation. Follow official Miami-Dade guidance for supplies and evacuation planning.
This checklist is a general starting point, not a contract or legal advice. What a specific job requires may differ.
Document your home for insurance
Before a storm, create a dated record of your property and belongings — room-by-room photos or video, the exterior, and higher-value items — and store it where you can reach it without power. Keep your policy details accessible. Ask your insurer what documentation they want; requirements vary by policy. See our contractor insurance guide for what to check when repairs are needed.
During a storm
Once a storm is affecting the area, follow official instructions rather than any general guide. The essentials from emergency authorities:
- Stay informed through the National Hurricane Center and Miami-Dade officials, and follow any evacuation order.
- Stay indoors and away from windows; do not go outside during the eye of the storm.
- Never run a portable generator indoors, in a garage, or near open windows — carbon monoxide is deadly. Follow the manufacturer's and official safety guidance.
- Stay away from downed power lines and standing water, and do not drive through flooded roads.
- Turn off utilities only if instructed by officials or if you smell gas or see a clear hazard — otherwise follow official guidance.
This is general safety information drawn from official sources; it does not replace emergency instructions from Miami-Dade County and the National Weather Service.
After a storm
Safety first, then documentation, then repairs — in that order.
- Wait for official all-clear before returning to an evacuated area, and treat all downed lines as live.
- Do not energize electrical equipment or an AC unit that has been submerged; have it inspected by a licensed professional first.
- Photograph and document all damage before you clean up or make permanent repairs, and contact your insurer.
- Arrange temporary protection to prevent further water intrusion, and keep receipts for reasonable mitigation.
- Take your time on permanent repairs — post-storm is when high-pressure sales and unlicensed operators appear.
Find qualified help
Verify every contractor's license before hiring — see avoiding contractor scams after a hurricane and how to verify a Florida license. Directory categories that commonly matter after a storm:
- Roofers23 in the directory · roof repair & replacement
- General contractors300 in the directory · impact windows, shutters, structural repair
- Tree & debris services35 in the directory · tree removal, debris
- Electricians24 in the directory · generators, storm damage
- Plumbers10 in the directory · water lines, drainage
- HVAC17 in the directory · AC after flooding or surge
- Cleaning & water cleanup122 in the directory · specialized restoration may be limited in our data
- Local services436 in the directory · general repair and cleanup
These are directory listings, not endorsements or a statement that any business is available or licensed. Verify directly.
Miami hurricane preparation: questions people ask
When should I prepare my Miami home for hurricane season?
Before the season starts, not when a storm is named. The Atlantic hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30, and the professional work that protects a home — roof assessment, tree trimming, shutter or impact-window installation, generator setup — books out and becomes harder to schedule once a storm is approaching. Doing it in spring means more contractor availability, less price pressure, and time to verify licenses properly. Keep supplies and documentation ready from the start of the season, and follow official Miami-Dade and National Hurricane Center guidance as any specific storm develops.
What should I photograph for insurance before a hurricane?
Document your property and belongings before a storm so you have a dated record if you need to file a claim. Photograph or video each room, the exterior, the roof condition if you can do so safely, and higher-value items, and store the files somewhere you can access without power — a cloud account or emailed to yourself. Keep your policy details accessible too. This is general preparedness; your insurer can tell you exactly what documentation they want, and it is worth asking before a storm rather than after.
How do I avoid contractor scams after a hurricane in Miami?
After a storm, out-of-area operators and unlicensed contractors appear in volume. Verify every contractor's license with the Florida DBPR and Miami-Dade County, confirm a local physical address, get the scope and price in writing, and be wary of door-to-door solicitation, large cash deposits, and offers to 'handle your insurance claim' or waive your deductible. See our dedicated checklist for hiring after a hurricane, and talk to your insurer directly before signing anything.
Should I get a generator installed before hurricane season?
If you want one, installing it outside of storm season is far easier — demand, lead times, and permit queues all spike once a storm is named. The safety-critical part is the connection: a properly installed transfer switch or interlock, done by a licensed electrician, isolates your home from the grid and protects utility crews. Never run a portable generator indoors or in a garage, and follow the manufacturer's and official safety guidance. See our Miami electrician cost guide for how generator work is priced and permitted.
Related guides
Sources & verification
Factual and regulatory statements on this page are based on official government and licensing authorities. Requirements change — always confirm current details at the source.
- Miami-Dade County — Emergency Management / Ready Miami-DadeLocal hurricane preparedness guidance, evacuation zones, and official alerts for Miami-Dade County.Source checked 2026-08-28
- U.S. Department of Homeland Security / FEMA — Ready.gov — HurricanesFederal preparedness guidance for hurricanes (before, during, and after a storm).Source checked 2026-08-28
- NOAA National Weather Service — National Hurricane CenterOfficial tropical-cyclone forecasts, watches, and warnings.Source checked 2026-08-28
- Florida Building Commission — Florida Building CodeThe Florida Building Code and the High Velocity Hurricane Zone (HVHZ) that applies to Miami-Dade.Source checked 2026-08-28
- Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) — Consumer protection — after-disaster fraudGuidance on avoiding post-disaster contractor fraud and filing consumer complaints.Source checked 2026-08-28
Page last reviewed 2026-08-28.