There’s a moment every Florida homeowner knows. The forecast cone shows up on the news, and suddenly a storm that was a faraway swirl in the Atlantic has your county inside the line. After years of restoration work across Jacksonville, Orlando, and Sarasota, we can tell you the families who come through it best aren’t the ones who panic and aren’t the ones who ignore it. They’re the ones who already know exactly what to do in the days before it arrives.
September is when this matters most. It’s the statistical peak of hurricane season, the single most active month for storms making landfall in Florida. If a system is going to threaten the state, the odds are highest right now. So instead of a general prep list, here’s a countdown, what to do as the clock ticks down from 72 hours out.
72 Hours Out: Lock In Supplies and Information
When a storm is three days away, shelves start emptying fast. This is the window to get ahead of the rush, not fight through it.
- Fill your gas tank and fill any approved fuel containers for your generator
- Stock water: at least one gallon per person per day for a week
- Refill prescriptions and restock your first aid kit
- Get cash on hand, since ATMs and card readers fail when power goes out
- Confirm your evacuation zone and route, and decide now where you’d go
- Charge every phone, power bank, and battery device in the house
48 Hours Out: Protect the Outside of Your Home
With two days to go, shift your attention to the exterior, where most storm damage begins.
- Install shutters or board up windows with pre-cut plywood
- Bring in or tie down anything that can become a projectile: furniture, grills, planters, trash cans
- Clear gutters and downspouts one last time so water drains away from the foundation
- Trim any remaining loose or overhanging branches you safely can
- Photograph or video your home inside and out for insurance documentation
- Elevate valuables and electronics off the floor, especially on the ground level
24 Hours Out: Final Prep and Decisions
The day before, your options narrow quickly. Focus on safety and the essentials.
- Make your final evacuation decision early. If you’re leaving, leave before conditions worsen and roads clog
- Set your fridge and freezer to the coldest setting and freeze water jugs to keep food cold longer
- Fill bathtubs and containers with water for cleaning and flushing
- Turn off propane tanks and unplug non-essential electronics to protect against surges
- Keep important documents in a waterproof container you can grab fast
- Charge everything one last time and keep your phone on battery-saver mode
After the Storm Passes: Move Fast, Stay Safe
Once it’s over, the recovery clock starts immediately, especially with water. In Florida’s heat and humidity, water that gets inside can lead to mold within 24 to 48 hours, so quick action protects both your health and your home.
- Stay clear of standing water, which can hide electrical hazards and contamination
- Document all damage with photos and video before you move or remove anything
- Get water extracted and drying started as soon as it’s safe, rather than waiting to see how it dries
Storm Response in Jacksonville, Orlando & Sarasota
Even the best countdown can’t stop a hurricane, but it can put you in the strongest possible position to recover. Elements Disaster Recovery provides emergency water extraction, structural drying, storm and mold cleanup, and full disaster recovery throughout Jacksonville and Northeast Florida, Orlando, and Sarasota, with a live person answering the phone around the clock.
The best time to know who you’ll call is before the storm, not while you’re standing in a flooded room. If a hurricane leaves damage this season, reach out anytime, day or night.