Hurricane Prep Checklist for Small Property Owners

• Find your hurricane deductible. In Florida it’s often a percentage of the building’s insured value, not a flat dollar amount. On a $1 million building, a 5% hurricane deductible is $50,000 out of your pocket. Know the number before the storm, not after.
• Check flood coverage. Standard property policies don’t cover flooding. Flood insurance is a separate policy, and a new federal flood policy usually has a 30-day waiting period, so buying one when a storm is in the forecast is too late.
• Ask about business income or loss-of-rents coverage. If units are unlivable for months, this is what replaces the rent.
• Get a wind mitigation inspection. Florida insurers give discounts for features like roof-to-wall straps, secondary water barriers, and impact-rated openings. A licensed inspector documents them on the state’s wind mitigation form. If yours is more than a few years old or the roof has changed, get a new one.
• Save your agent’s and insurer’s claim numbers somewhere you can reach without power or internet.

• Have a licensed roofer inspect it every spring, and after any major storm.
• Fix loose shingles or tiles, lifted flashing, and failing seals around rooftop equipment now. Small gaps become big leaks at 100 mph.
• Make sure rooftop HVAC units, vents, and satellite dishes are secured to the structure.
• Clear gutters, scuppers, and roof drains. On a flat roof, a clogged drain can mean standing water and a collapse risk.
• Keep the roof's age, last inspection, and any warranty paperwork with your insurance documents.

• If you rely on shutters or panels, count them, check the hardware, and label which opening each one fits before you need them.
• Check that impact windows and doors still seal and latch properly.
• Garage and roll-up doors are a common failure point. Ask a pro whether yours are wind-rated or need bracing.
• Decide in advance who installs shutters at each property, and when.

• Have trees trimmed back from the roof, power lines, and parking areas. Do it before June: after a storm watch, every crew is booked.
• Make a list of everything outside that can become a projectile (furniture, grills, signs, dumpsters) and who secures it.
• Clear storm drains and swales on the property.

The best insurance claim starts before the storm. Walk every property and take date-stamped photos and video of the roof, exterior walls, windows, each unit’s interior, and major equipment like HVAC units and water heaters. Store them in the cloud, along with your policies, leases, and a tenant contact list.

After a storm, Florida generally gives you 1 year from the date of loss to report a new claim (§627.70132), but report as soon as you safely can. “Before” photos make the “after” much easier to prove.

• Confirm you have current phone numbers and emails for every tenant, plus an emergency contact.
• Send a short storm-prep notice before the season: what you'll handle, what they should do (bring in balcony items, report leaks right away), and how to reach you.
• Tell tenants how and where to report damage after the storm, so you hear about water intrusion in days, not weeks.

After a hurricane, the shortage isn’t materials. It’s licensed pros who answer the phone. Owners who already know a roofer, a water damage restoration company, an electrician, and a plumber get called back first. Everyone else gets whoever knocks on the door.

• Pick at least one pro in each of those trades for each property, and verify their licenses now, while you have time.
• Get their emergency numbers and ask how they prioritize existing customers after a storm.
• Consider a maintenance or inspection agreement with your roofer. It usually puts you higher on the call-back list.
• Read up on the storm-chaser tactics so you recognize them when the trucks arrive.

• Know your hurricane deductible in dollars
• Confirm flood and loss-of-rents coverage, at least 30 days before you might need it
• Wind mitigation inspection is current
• Roof inspected and repaired; drains and gutters clear
• Shutters counted, labeled, and assigned
• Trees trimmed; outdoor items have an owner
• Before photos and video saved to the cloud
• Tenant contacts current; storm notice sent
• A licensed roofer, restoration company, electrician, and plumber you've already vetted