Prepare your home for hurricane
Tropical cyclone wind and the losses NRI models from historical storm tracks.
165 US counties are rated Relatively High or Very High for hurricane by FEMA’s National Risk Index. The three things that matter most at home: 1. Fit storm shutters or pre-cut, labeled plywood panels and store the fasteners with them. 2. Photograph every room and your roof before the season starts, for your insurance file. 3. Know your evacuation zone and where you would go.
Before the season
- Check the roof covering and the roof-to-wall connections for loose or lifted edges.
- Trim dead branches that overhang the house.
- Pre-cut window panels, label them by opening, and keep the hardware in one bin.
- Make a dated photo or video record of the house and its contents.
- Find your policy, its hurricane or named-storm deductible, and your agent’s number.
When a warning comes
- Install shutters or panels; bring in or tie down outdoor furniture and grills.
- Fill prescriptions, charge phones and power banks, and set the fridge to its coldest setting.
- If you will run a generator, place it outdoors, at least 20 feet from doors and windows.
After
- Stay off the roof; photograph damage from the ground before any cleanup.
- Make temporary repairs to stop further damage and keep receipts.
- Never run a generator, grill or camp stove indoors or in a garage.
Ask your agent whether your policy has a separate hurricane or named-storm deductible, and how much it is in dollars. We explain and organize; we never predict coverage.
Counties with the highest hurricane scores
Top 25 by FEMA NRI risk score for this hazard. Scores and ratings are relative to other US counties, not probabilities of a loss.
| # | County | Rating | Score | Recorded events |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Harris County, TX | Very High | 100.0 | 75 |
| 2 | Miami-Dade County, FL | Very High | 100.0 | 124 |
| 3 | Lee County, FL | Very High | 99.9 | 106 |
| 4 | Palm Beach County, FL | Very High | 99.9 | 141 |
| 5 | Broward County, FL | Very High | 99.8 | 110 |
| 6 | Jefferson Parish, LA | Very High | 99.8 | 99 |
| 7 | Collier County, FL | Very High | 99.7 | 144 |
| 8 | Brevard County, FL | Very High | 99.7 | 108 |
| 9 | Orleans Parish, LA | Very High | 99.7 | 69 |
| 10 | Charleston County, SC | Very High | 99.6 | 126 |
| 11 | Horry County, SC | Very High | 99.6 | 123 |
| 12 | Sarasota County, FL | Very High | 99.5 | 81 |
| 13 | Hidalgo County, TX | Very High | 99.5 | 46 |
| 14 | Beaufort County, SC | Very High | 99.5 | 113 |
| 15 | Mobile County, AL | Very High | 99.4 | 98 |
| 16 | Chatham County, GA | Very High | 99.4 | 120 |
| 17 | Manatee County, FL | Very High | 99.3 | 85 |
| 18 | Hillsborough County, FL | Very High | 99.3 | 102 |
| 19 | Baldwin County, AL | Very High | 99.2 | 100 |
| 20 | St. Lucie County, FL | Very High | 99.2 | 106 |
| 21 | New Hanover County, NC | Very High | 99.1 | 123 |
| 22 | Brunswick County, NC | Very High | 99.1 | 143 |
| 23 | Cameron County, TX | Very High | 99.0 | 60 |
| 24 | Charlotte County, FL | Very High | 99.0 | 89 |
| 25 | Onslow County, NC | Very High | 99.0 | 131 |