Hurricane Preparedness: Protecting Your Family, Home and Finances

2. Fortify Your Home and Property

Inspect your property for vulnerabilities before hurricane season peaks. In addition to storm surge and flooding, hurricane force winds, measured on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, measure between 74 and over 150 miles per hour, according to the NOAA’s National Hurricane Center.

Preventive action can reduce damage from such hurricane force winds.

• Trim overhanging branches, remove dead trees, clear gutters, and secure or store any loose outdoor furniture.
• Reinforce garage doors, safely store boats and watercraft, board windows, and further secure roof structures, like pergolas or carports, wherever possible.

These preventive measures can reduce repair costs and make homes safer during severe weather.

“Preparedness is about protecting what matters most. Taking a few proactive steps now will help to reduce stress, minimize loss, and speed the process of recovery when storms pass through our communities”
– Jesse Ozuna, First Vice President of Public Affairs

3. Collect Property Documentation

One aspect of hurricane preparedness that is often overlooked is proper documentation of your personal property. Having an up-to-date record of your property’s condition before a storm will help you tremendously if you have to submit an insurance claim after the storm. This simple task can help you avoid prolonged disputes with your carrier when settling a claim.

• Take photos and videos of the interior and exterior of your home.
• Document current condition of all property located outside your home (i.e. motor vehicles, fencing, play systems, pool, landscaping, driveways and sidewalks, light fixtures, etc.)

Emily Kirchner, Vice President of Economic Development, shares in-depth analysis of short and long-term recovery after recent climate crises. Read more here.

4. Safeguard Critical Documents

Severe weather threatens physical property and losing certain sensitive documents during the mayhem of a storm can further complicate recovery.

• Store personal identification, insurance policies, and bank records in waterproof and fireproof containers, and keep them in a secure but accessible location.
• Create secure digital backups in the cloud or on encrypted drives.

Protecting these records can help ensure faster access to aid, smoother claims processing, and a quicker return to normal routines.

5. Strengthen Financial Readiness

Financial resilience needs to be a cornerstone of every family’s hurricane preparedness.

• Establish an emergency savings fund to cover unexpected expenses.
• Keep a modest amount of cash on hand, since outages may disrupt card and ATM use.
• Confirm access to accounts through digital banking tools in case local branches are affected.

Households that prepare financially are better positioned to manage both the unexpected immediate needs and the more predictable needs of long-term recovery.

6. Stay Informed with Trusted Alerts

In crises, access to accurate information can help families make sound decisions.

• Sign up for and troubleshoot your local Emergency Text Alerts, and view local communication channels and resources on city and community websites.
• Monitor reliable outlets such as the National Hurricane Center for storm tracking and updates.

During crises, misinformation spreads quickly. Relying on trusted sources can help reduce confusion and anxiety.

What’s More: Support Community Recovery

TRB’s core value of Community is about contributing time and resources to strengthen the places we live and work. Success is shared when communities are successful, which is why, as of August 31, employees have contributed more than 7,000 volunteer hours this year.

However, this commitment matters even more in times of crisis, when attention within each household is on personal recovery.

• It is important to remember that natural disasters test entire communities, impacting public works, utilities, schools, businesses, hospitals, and more, not just individual homes.
• Neighbors, schools, and local businesses often depend on one another, and communities with strong connections will likely recover more quickly.

Volunteerism plays a critical role: neighbors and local volunteers often step forward first, while nonprofits and national organizations sustain long-term rebuilding. Sustainable recovery and resilience require both.