How Home and Building Owners Can Prepare for the 2025 Florida Hurricane Season

Flooded street along beach during a florida hurricane, guide to prepare for 2025 hurricane season

Are You Prepared for the 2025 Hurricane Season?

The 2025 Atlantic hurricane season is quickly approaching. This year, it begins on June 1 and concludes on November 30. If you believe the forecasts, then Florida’s homeowners can expect to deal with a potentially active period consisting of up to 18 tropical storms, three to six of which are at risk of possibly escalating to Category 3 hurricanes or higher.

For Florida homeowners and commercial building owners alike, this means that proactive preparation will be more important than ever to help safeguard their properties and ensure personal safety. Here are some tips that will help prepare you for 2025’s hurricane season.

Recognize Your Risks

Florida’s geographical position makes it particularly susceptible to hurricanes, but some areas are more prone to experiencing the worst of these storms than others.

For instance, the state’s extensive coastline and low-lying areas are especially prone to storm surges, heavy rainfall, and high winds. Recognizing your property’s vulnerability is therefore first step in effective preparation.

Develop a Comprehensive Emergency Plan

A well-structured emergency plan is essentially your guidebook for weathering out a storm. This plan should include evacuation routes, regional designated shelters, and communication strategies. Ensure all family members or building occupants are familiar with the plan and conduct regular drills to help reinforce preparedness.

Assemble an Emergency Supply Kit

Prepare a kit containing essentials that will help sustain you and your family (including pets) for at least seven days. Items should include non-perishable food, water, medications, flashlights, batteries, extra clothing, and important documents. Don’t forget any specialized needs for infants or elderly family members.

Fortify Your Property

Before a hurricane is predicted to hit, make sure that the shingles or tiles on your roof are secure and address any existing damage to help prevent leaks during heavy rains. Protect your windows and glass doors by installing storm shutters or plywood to shield against flying debris.

You should also bring in your outdoor furniture, decorations, and tools to prevent them from becoming projectiles in high winds. You should also get into the habit of maintaining your landscaping regularly. This will allow you to remove any dead or overhanging branches that could break off and damage structures.

Hurricane Evacuation Sign Against a Stormy florida Sky, necessitating homeowners and building owners prepare for 2025 hurricane season

Review Your Insurance Coverage

Confirm that your insurance policies are up-to-date and make sure that they provide adequate coverage for hurricane-related damages, including wind and flood damage. It is better to know what you’re covered for before you are dealing with your insurance company.

Stay Informed on the Weather

Keeping abreast of weather updates from reliable sources such as the National Hurricane Center will allow you to track the storms, so you can prioritize certain actions. You can also set up your weather apps to provide you with emergency notifications and watch local news outlets for important local information in real time.

Have a Plan for Power Outages

With any tropical storm, you should anticipate potential power disruptions and have a backup power solution, like a generator. Make sure your generator is maintained, accessible, topped off with fuel, and ready to go.

Address Your Flood Risks

Many areas throughout Florida are susceptible to flooding, but this is especially the case for those areas in the low-lying regions. So, if you live in one of these areas, it is important to keep your potential for flooding in your mind when you are preparing for an upcoming storm. Some of the things you can do include:

Raising your electrical panels and appliances above potential flood levels.
Installing check valves to prevent flood water from backing up into your drains.
Utilizing sandbags to help divert water away from your property’s foundation.

Practice Your Evacuation

Familiarize yourself with local evacuation routes by taking the family for a drive along the routes. This is a case where practice makes perfect, and your evacuation will be smoother if you already know how you’re getting out of the area. You can also make a plan for temporary accommodations if needed. Before the storm hits, make sure your vehicles are fueled, and keep your emergency supplies accessible in the event you are forced to make a swift departure.

Florida homeowners and building owners are nothing if not resilient. We have made it through all the previous hurricane seasons and we will make it through the 2025 hurricane season as well. But as with all hurricanes and tropical storms, preparation is the key to success!