Hurricane Preparedness

Use this checklist to get your Houston home ready before a hurricane: clear the yard, seal the house, protect your appliances and electrical system, and plan your evacuation.

Outside Surroundings:

Take measures to prevent unnecessary debris.

• Secure any parts of your fence that appear weakened or loose.
• Trim trees and shrubbery away from structures and remove any weakened sections of trees that might easily break off and fall onto structures.
• Move lawn furniture, toys, potted plants, garden tools, and other yard objects inside; anchor heavier yard objects deep into the ground.

Seal Your Home:

Seal your home or business in advance.

• If you have shutters, closely monitor local weather conditions and make sure you have enough time to deploy them before the storm is expected to hit your area.
• Check doors, windows, and walls, for openings where water can get in; use silicone caulk to seal any cracks, gaps, or holes – especially around openings where cables and pipes enter the house.

Water Damage Reduction:

Prevent electrical shorts or loss of appliances.

• Place all appliances that are on the ground floor, including stoves, washers and dryers on masonry blocks or concrete.
• Move furniture and electronic devices off the floor, particularly on first floor levels.
• Roll up area rugs, and get them off the floor to reduce the chances they will become wet and grow mold or mildew. This is particularly important if the property will be left unattended for an extended period of time and if long-term power outages are a possibility.
• Put fresh batteries in sump pumps.
• Shut off electrical service at the main breaker if the electrical system and outlets could possibly be under water.

In Case of Evacuation:

It is imperative to have a plan in place should worst come to worst.

• Find out if you live in a hurricane evacuation zone.
• Plan today where you would go and how you would get there if told to evacuate by local officials.
• If you do not live in an evacuation zone, identify someone who does, and plan to be their inland evacuation destination.
• Leave IMMEDIATELY when told to evacuate by local officials.
• Identify an evacuation destination that will accommodate your pets, as most shelters do not permit them.

We hope our fellow Houstonians will not have to endure another hurricane like Harvey, but we want to ensure that you’re fully prepared either way. We will continue to add to this checklist as we discover other best practices for weathering hurricane season. To stay up to date on hurricane season and all things electrical, check out our blog. If you rely on a generator, schedule maintenance before the storm, or call (713) 467-1125.