Are you one of the new Florida transplants? If so, welcome! Did you know that there are about a thousand people a day moving to Florida? So you are not alone in being new… Maybe you have lived here for a few years but have never really experienced a significant hurricane. 

What I want to do in this blog post is to tell you what no one else tells you. It’s the real story of going through a hurricane. Sure, you can find lists of what you need to prepare all over the internet, we hear it on the news, we see it in the newspapers. However, the real problem is not the hurricane because many times we get warnings, it is all the people that have just moved here and have no idea what a hurricane is. On top of that, they likely haven’t been proactive in preparing for hurricanes or the aftermath. The aftermath can be devastating, so in this blog post, I’m going to explain how it really works when you’re living here. What you need to look out for, and what you need to do to have you and your home prepared. 

Hurricanes on the Treasure Coast, FL

I have been through some really major storms and some of them happened all within the same time period. Where I live, on the Southeast coast of Florida we had three major storms hit where we were at ground zero. That was quite an experience and I want to tell you what it’s really like and what to expect and what not to expect. My husband went through Hurricane Andrew which as most of you know was the worst hurricane to ever hit the United States. The one thing to keep in mind is that one storm can really change the face of an area for many many years. So being prepared and the decisions you make are going to be very important.

I’m not here to predict the weather… but you’re going to hear from me, who’s gone through storms, about the things you need to think about in preparing for a hurricane. Remember though, this is in addition to that list of supplies you should gather. The fact is you should be able to self-sustain for about five days for you and your family if there is no power or water.  Please, whatever you do, don’t want to wait until the last minute to start gathering the items you will need! Especially, with all of the supply chain issues, you could be in real trouble when survival items are no longer available at your local store. 

When is hurricane season in Florida? 

Hurricane season goes from June 1st to November 30th. With the most severe months being August and September.  August is not as dangerous as September, but let me just give you some statistics… 25 of the major landfalls of hurricanes are in August and 45 of them are in September. So even though we might have gone through May, June, and July you might think ‘oh we’re almost through.’ The truth is, no we’re actually going into the worst part of it so be on your guard to make sure things are prepared. 

The other thing I want to mention is that when a storm has been announced and they’re predicting it’s coming in as a category one. You’ll see all those spaghetti models and they’ll tell you where it MIGHT hit. However, the fact of the matter is hurricanes have a mind of their own. Even with all the extraordinary equipment to predict hurricanes; they truly can change in an instant. That’s what happened with hurricane Andrew; it was not forecasted to hit the way it did. It looped around and came in again and really caught people by surprise in a very short period of time. So don’t leave everything that you need to do on those lists until the end you need to prepare ahead of time.

Homeowner’s Insurance + Flood Insurance in Florida

The other thing I want to tell you that nobody else does, check your homeowner’s insurance and your flood insurance. While you cannot change those when an impending storm is on its way. The time to do it is ahead of time. Here are some things to consider:

  • With all the changes in the cost of building and repairing homes, do you have enough insurance to be able to do replacement costs on your home? 
  • Do you live in a flood zone? Do need flood insurance? 

My line of thinking is if you live in Florida and you have a driver’s license you’re in a flood zone. Bottomline: you need to make sure that you’re protected. So many people are caught off guard when a flood happens and homeowners insurance doesn’t cover flooding. If by chance you happen to be in one of those critical storms having the proper insurance is going to make the difference in you moving on quickly. 

How’s your roof?

Another thing to consider is your roof. Did you check your roof? In Florida if your roof is 15 years old or over they require that you have a structural engineer look at the roof to certify that it’s good for another five years. Make sure you have a solid roof don’t wait and go the “I’m gonna see if we get a storm and I’ll get my roof paid for” route. Ultimately what can happen, if you lose your roof… 

  1. It could take months or even a year or a year or more to get a new roof 
  2. You’re leaving your home exposed to more damage 

Hurricane tax credits in Florida

We get a lot of tax credits in Florida right now for hardening your home. So it would be wise to make sure you look into that and take advantage. We also have a tax holiday here in Florida to prepare for hurricanes and that is usually at the end of May and it covers items up to about $750. That could cover a generator or many other items; take advantage! Why give the government the tax money you need for your own hurricane supplies? 

Things to have on hand for hurricanes

Always make sure that even though you’ve got your basic list of things you need. It’s smart to keep things on hand that are a little more difficult to get. Like maybe medication or right now baby formula, for example. This will help ensure that you are completely protected. 

Evacuation plans + gas for hurricanes

If you happen to live in an area that might be a mandatory evacuation get a plan together. This is wise because if you need to get off let’s say a barrier island, which I live near, the traffic can be really horrendous. So you’ll want to make sure you are out early, that you’ve got your plan, you know where you’re going, and that you have a full tank of gas. I would recommend that you never let your gas tank get below half a tank during hurricane season. You need to have enough gas to get you out of the area where there could be a potential impact. For the most part, most hurricanes are not major ones but even going through a minor one can be very scary if you’re not prepared. 

So for Hurricanes, I encourage you to make sure you:

  • Have supplies ready for a minimum of five days
  • Stay vigilant because hurricane season is LONG but usually most active at the end
  • Check your homeowners insurance and evaluate if you need flood insurance as well
  • Check your roof
  • Take advantage of tax credits 
  • Keep hard-to-find items on hand always
  • Have an evacuation plan
  • Fill your tank and keep it at least half full

Now I want you to go to this video that can help you understand a little bit more of why it’s important to have flood insurance.

You may be new to Florida or have never experienced a hurricane. It is essential to understand what you don’t know about how to prepare before the hurricane season. In this video 🎬 I will discuss the Hurricane Season in Florida and what you need to prepare, which is rarely mentioned. This isn’t about a list of supplies, it’s other things to be proactive to protect you and your family. These suggestions could make the difference between a positive aftermath experience versus not being in a good situation when the hurricane passes. New videos🎤 released every TUESDAY!

PLEASE 🔔 SUBSCRIBE HERE for weekly YouTube videos.

CLICK BELOW FOR BUYER INFORMATION: 🏡 REAL ESTATE BUYER TIPS:

YouTube Playlist of Videos for Buyers: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLn8jxKLCexRoDjqjnKPgA9Vx3T0PhsJRF

YouTube Playlist for 🚗 Neighborhood Tours: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLn8jxKLCexRr_xYb-SpLZ8PyXaJ__Vkhm

CLICK BELOW FOR SELLER INFORMATION: TIPS FOR SELLING💲 A HOME:

YouTube Playlist of videos for tips for Sellers: https://youtube.com/playlistlist=PLn8jxKLCexRqAumMxx93S3nzqxWJ_XDlo

YouTube Playlist for 😎 55 AND OVER: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLn8jxKLCexRq8Y4HX4LXRn6HRYFjEktyA

Search for homes on the Southeast Coast of Florida called the Treasure Coast which includes🏝:

  • North Palm Beach
  • Jupiter
  • Jupiter Island
  • Hobe Sound
  • Stuart
  • Palm City
  • Hutchinson Island
  • Jensen Beach
  • Sewall’s Point
  • Port St Lucie
  • St. Lucie West
  • Tradition
  • and many more

Contact me at (772) 781-2345 or email me at [email protected]

I am Maria Wells, Broker/Owner of Lifestyle Realty Group. Located on the Treasure Coast of Florida, I am your neighborhood expert in Stuart, Jensen Beach, Palm City, Hobe Sound, Sewalls Point, Hutchinson Island and more. With six real estate designations I bring you knowledge and insights beyond the average Realtor. I will listen to what you are asking, read between the lines and provide information you may not know to ask. As the 2017 elected State President of Florida Realtors, the largest state trade organization in the US serving over 180,000 members and, 2019 elected Region 5 Vice President for the National Association of Realtors I convey tremendous experience and knowledge to handle the complexities of real estate to be your strong advocate. My Concierge philosophy and resources will provide you with personalized attention and service! As a persuasive negotiator, I will get you to the closing table, manage all the details for a worry-free transaction, and be a resource for all your real estate needs for years to come. If you are looking for my “Selling Senior Style” services, I have worked with hundreds of families to solve all of the issues regarding personal and real property for seniors and their families. My designation Senior Real Estate Specialist (SRES) will give you tremendous value if you are in this life journey. I live in Jensen Beach Florida with my husband, where we raise Orchids,🌸, polish up our Harley’s 🏍 , enjoy our grown children and one adorable grandson.👶🏻 🍼. Photos 🎥 by Dragonfly Aerials – dragonflyaerials.pics CONTACT ME: WEBSITE: www.LifestyleRealtyGroup.com EMAIL: [email protected] 📞 PHONE: 772-781-2345 🌴🌝 🌴🌝. 🌴🌝. 🌴🌝. 🌴🌝