Home Prep for Hurricane Season in Houston

Is your home ready for hurricane season? There are plenty of resources out there on how you should prepare for the upcoming hurricane season but what about your home?  According to the experts, the 2025 hurricane season is predicted to be more active than average with a 33% chance that a major hurricane landfall will happen somewhere along the Gulf Coast. This is due to warmer than normal ocean temperatures. While the official hurricane season is June to November, the warmer ocean temperatures could allow hurricanes earlier than usual as well. That is next month!

As a homeowner in the Houston area, performing some general maintenance & preparation can significantly reduce the damage to your property and ensure the safety of your family. Below are some tips on how to protect your home & property during this hurricane season.

What are the Risks

Hurricanes & heavy storms can bring a number of hazards;

• High Winds & Debris: These can damage walls, windows & roofing materials.
• Heavy Rainfall: Can cause leaking into the home in addition to severe flooding.  Either of which can cause structural damage.
• Storm Surge: Coastal residents are well aware that rising sea levels can flood coastal areas, damaging homes and infrastructure.
• Power Outages: Power outages can lead from inconvenient to life threatening depending on how well you are prepared.
• Supply Chain Disruptions: While power outages and storm damage could lead to food & water supply shortages. It can also lead to building supply shortages.

Pre-Hurricane Season Preparation

Home Inspection and Maintenance

• Inspect your Home: Identifying and repairing minor issues can prevent major damage during a storm. Roof, windows, walls, doors, gutters and drainage are all key components to look at when preparing for a hurricane or major storm. We do offer a Pre-Storm Inspection where we look at all those systems as well as identify all your primary shutoffs.
• Trim Trees: Remove tree branches that are close to or overhanging your roof. These could cause damage from the high winds making them sway or even break.

Key Points to remember

• Rainfall: The exterior of your home is supposed to be waterproof. Heavy or wind driven rain will test your roof coverings, walls, windows and doors. Remember that exterior grade caulk does not last forever. It should be inspected yearly and replaced every 5 years or so.
• Flooding: While there is not much you can do if the flood water rise above your slab height (which happened to me a number of years ago), you can ensure that your home and property will drain the water away effectively. Gutters, downspouts and general drainage should be cleared of any debris or potential obstructions. Think where the water will flow and ensure there is nothing that will obstruct or slow it down on its path away from your home.
• Outdoor Items: Secure or bring inside any outdoor furniture, decorations, or equipment that could become projectiles.

Creating a Hurricane Emergency Plan

Family Preparedness

• Emergency Plan: There are plenty of resources on the web discussing emergency plans. Websites such as the City of Houston, Harris County Flood Control, and Ready.Gov provide detailed recommendations. You should consider preparing an Emergency Kit with essentials such as water, non-perishable food, medications, flashlights, batteries, and first aid supplies.
• Electricity: You should consider what you will do if you lose power for an extended period. There are plenty of options out there.
• Consumables: Don’t be that person at HEB looking for water the night before a storm. It will not be there. Plan ahead.
• Important Documents: Important documents should be kept in a waterproof and fireproof location. Digital backups of these files should be considered.
• Insurance: Review and update your insurance policy. Many people don’t know the limits or deductibles. You should have enough money saved to cover those expenses.

Recovery

Assessing Damage

• Inspect your Home: Even if you believe you weathered the storm with no issues, it is worth the time to inspect your home. Minor issues can cause major damage if not addressed as soon as possible. Look for any damage at all the locations that you inspected prior to the storm.
• Document Damage: If there is any damage, take photos and videos for potential insurance claims.

Repairs & Remediation

• Safety First: Ensure it’s safe first. Electrical issues are the primary concern at this stage.
• Do not Delay: Damage or issues do not go away if they are ignored. In fact, they only become worse. Water damage inside the home can lead to mold issues if not addressed immediately.

While we can provide pre-storm and post-storm inspections for you, these are normally pretty easy to do yourself. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out.