What to Do With Your Pool Before a Hurricane

Florida Pool Hurricane Preparation: What to Do (and What Not to Do)

Southwest Florida has one of the highest rates of residential pool ownership in the country. In Sarasota and Manatee counties alone, pools are found in roughly 40% of single-family homes. When a hurricane threatens, pool owners face a unique set of preparation questions : many of which are answered incorrectly by well-meaning neighbors and social media posts.

This guide sets the record straight. As a restoration company that has responded to hundreds of storm-damaged properties with pools across SW Florida, WrightWay Emergency Services has seen firsthand what works, what does not, and what mistakes cause the most damage.

Should You Drain Your Pool Before a Hurricane?

No. Never drain your pool before a hurricane. This is the most common and most dangerous pool preparation myth in Florida.

Why Draining Is Dangerous

• Hydrostatic pressure: When the ground becomes saturated from heavy rain (a certainty in any hurricane), groundwater pushes against the exterior of your pool shell. The weight of the water inside the pool counterbalances this pressure. An empty pool can literally pop out of the ground : a phenomenon called “pool pop” that costs $10,000 to $30,000 or more to repair.
• Structural cracking: Even if the pool does not pop, the unbalanced pressure can crack the shell, requiring expensive structural repair.
• Flooding contribution: Thousands of gallons pumped out of your pool have to go somewhere. That water contributes to neighborhood flooding and can violate local discharge ordinances.

What You Should Do With the Water Level

Lower the pool water by approximately one to two feet below the normal waterline. This provides capacity to absorb heavy rainfall without overflowing and sending contaminated pool water across your lanai and into your home. Do not lower it more than two feet.

Pool Equipment Preparation

Your pool equipment : pump, filter, heater, chlorinator, and automation systems : represents thousands of dollars in investment. Proper preparation can save most of it.

Before the Storm

1. Turn off the power to all pool equipment at the breaker panel. Do not just use the equipment switches : disconnect at the breaker.
2. Turn off gas to the pool heater if applicable.
3. Do NOT disconnect the pump, filter, or plumbing. This can cause damage when debris shifts equipment. Leave everything connected and in place.
4. Cover the equipment pad with a waterproof tarp secured with sandbags or straps if flooding is expected. This will not protect against deep flooding but helps with wind-driven rain and minor water rise.
5. Remove the pool pump motor if you are in a flood zone and have time. The motor is the most expensive component and the most vulnerable to water damage. Unbolt it, disconnect the wiring at the junction box, and store it above expected flood levels : in a high shelf in the garage, or take it with you if evacuating. Note: only do this if you are comfortable with the electrical connections or have a pool technician help.

Patio Furniture and Loose Items

Should you throw your patio furniture in the pool? This is a common Florida practice, and the answer is: it depends.

When It Makes Sense

• Lightweight aluminum or plastic furniture that cannot be secured any other way and would become dangerous projectiles in high winds
• You have no garage, shed, or interior storage space available
• The items are not made of materials that will damage your pool finish

When It Does Not Make Sense

• Wrought iron or steel furniture: Will rust and stain your pool surface (especially plaster or quartz finishes). Rust stains may require acid washing or surface refinishing.
• Wooden furniture: Tannins from wood will stain the pool surface and the wood itself may be ruined by chlorinated water.
• Cushions, umbrellas, or fabric items: These will absorb water, swell, and can clog your skimmer, main drain, or filter system.
• Potted plants: Soil will contaminate the water and clog the filtration system.

Best practice: Store all loose items in your garage, shed, or inside the house. If the pool is truly your only option, limit it to clean aluminum or plastic pieces and remove them as soon as possible after the storm.

Pool Screen Enclosure Preparation

Screen enclosures (lanai cages) are extremely common in Southwest Florida, and they are extremely vulnerable to hurricane-force winds. Most standard screen enclosures are engineered for 100-120 mph winds, which is below the sustained wind speeds of a Category 3 or higher hurricane.

• Do NOT try to reinforce the screen enclosure. Adding boards, straps, or extra bracing to a screen enclosure can actually make it more dangerous by turning it into a larger sail or creating rigid points that transfer force to your home’s structure.
• Open or remove screen panels if possible. Some newer enclosures have removable screen panels. Removing them allows wind to pass through the frame without building pressure against the screens. Check with your enclosure manufacturer.
• Accept that it may be damaged. Screen enclosures are designed to be replaceable. Your homeowner’s insurance typically covers screen enclosure damage from named storms (subject to your hurricane deductible). Document the enclosure with photos before the storm for your insurance claim.

Chemical Treatment Before and After

Before the Storm

• Superchlorinate (shock) the pool 24-48 hours before the storm arrives. Use calcium hypochlorite shock at 2-3 times the normal dose. This helps combat the massive influx of organic debris (leaves, dirt, algae spores) the storm will dump into your water.
• Do NOT add algaecide. The turbulence and dilution from rainfall makes algaecide ineffective. Save it for after the storm.
• Balance pH to 7.2-7.4 before shocking. This ensures the chlorine works at maximum efficiency.
• Store all pool chemicals in a waterproof container off the ground and away from each other. Pool chemicals are extremely dangerous when mixed with floodwater. Chlorine products and acid stored together can create toxic gas if containers breach.

After the Storm

1. Remove large debris by hand before running any equipment
2. Check the equipment pad for damage and flooding before restoring power
3. Run the pump and filter system : clean or backwash the filter frequently as it processes debris
4. Shock the pool again and maintain elevated chlorine levels until the water clears
5. Add algaecide once the chlorine level drops below 5 ppm
6. Run the pump continuously until the water is clear (may take several days)

When Storm Damage Extends Beyond the Pool

Pool damage is often just the beginning. Hurricane-force winds that destroy a screen enclosure frequently also damage the roof, drive rain through compromised windows, and deposit debris that blocks drainage and causes flooding. Storm surge in coastal areas of Siesta Key, Fort Myers Beach, Sanibel, and other barrier islands can inundate an entire property.

If your home sustains storm damage, the pool can wait : your home cannot. Water intrusion, whether from roof failure, broken windows, or flooding, begins causing secondary damage (mold, structural deterioration) within 24-48 hours. WrightWay Emergency Services provides 24/7 storm damage response including emergency water cleanup and board-up services to stabilize your property immediately.

Get Help When You Need It

Hurricane preparation protects your pool. Professional restoration protects your home. If a storm damages your property, do not wait : call WrightWay Emergency Services at (941) 379-8669 for immediate response across Southwest Florida. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, before, during, and after every storm.