Hurricane season doesn't check whether you're in town. For families who split time between residences, or who simply aren't in South Florida when a storm builds in the Atlantic, that's the real risk — not the storm itself, but being hundreds or thousands of miles away when the forecast turns.
Here's the walkthrough I'd actually do, room by room, before a named storm gets close.
72 Hours Out
- Confirm shutters or impact protection can actually be deployed. Not just that they exist — that tracks aren't painted shut, panels aren't stored somewhere inaccessible, and everything needed is on-site, not in a garage across town.
- Walk the yard for anything that becomes a projectile. Patio furniture, potted plants, decorative items, anything not bolted down.
- Check the generator, if there is one. Fuel level, and confirm it actually starts. A generator nobody's tested since last season is a coin flip.
- Clear gutters and downspouts. A blocked gutter turns a heavy rain event into a water intrusion problem fast.
24–48 Hours Out
- Move anything valuable or sentimental off the floor, especially in homes with any flood risk, even homes that have never flooded before.
- Unplug non-essential electronics. Power surges during storms are common and unglamorous — and they're one of the more preventable causes of post-storm damage.
- Confirm the refrigerator and freezer are set as cold as possible. If power is lost, this buys real time before food spoils.
- Photograph the property, inside and out, dated. If there's ever a damage or insurance question afterward, a clear "before" record is worth more than memory.
The properties that come through a storm cleanly are almost never lucky. They're prepared, on a schedule, by someone who was actually there to do it.
After the Storm Passes
- Don't assume "no visible damage" means "no damage." Roof issues and slow leaks often don't show themselves for days.
- Check for standing water immediately, including areas that don't look obviously affected — under sinks, around the water heater, along exterior doors.
- Confirm power and A/C are actually restored, not just that the street has power. Individual breakers can trip without anyone noticing for days, and Florida humidity makes an un-cooled closed home a mold risk fast.
- Document everything before touching anything, if there's any damage at all — this matters enormously for insurance.
This checklist reflects general hurricane preparedness information for informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for guidance from your insurance provider, a licensed contractor, or local emergency management authorities. Always follow official evacuation orders and storm guidance from Palm Beach County Emergency Management.
If You're Not Here to Do This Yourself
This is exactly the gap Property Watch exists to close. A pre-storm visit before the shutters go up, and a post-storm walkthrough the moment it's safe to check — documented, photographed, and reported to you directly, whether you're two hours away or across the country.