You’ve prepped for days, maybe weeks – stocked up on water, installed shutters, and secured your policy paperwork. But now, the storm is almost here. What should you actually be doing 24 hours before landfall?
This final window of time is your chance to shift from preparation to protection. The checklist may be shorter, but the stakes are higher. These are the hours where small decisions can mean big differences in how you and your home weather the storm.
Below is a focused guide to last-minute hurricane prep for Florida homeowners – a blend of physical readiness, insurance essentials, and a few crucial steps many forget.
Lock in Your Emergency Plan
Even if you’re planning to stay home, now is the time to confirm your safe room location, family communication plan, and evacuation routes. Make sure everyone in the household knows where to go, what to take, and how to reach each other if phones go down. Start a group text or record a voicemail greeting with key info – both can be a lifeline if things get chaotic.
And if you haven’t packed your go-bag yet – do it now. Include medications, identification, cash, snacks, and pet supplies.
Charge, Back Up, & Disconnect
With the potential for long outages ahead, you’ll want every device fully charged. Phones, laptops, power banks, flashlights, radios – everything. Back up important documents digitally, including your home insurance policy, ID cards, and recent photos of your property. If you lose power, these backups become your best friend.
Once charged, unplug any nonessential electronics. Power surges from outages and lightning strikes can silently destroy expensive gear.
Pro tip: Keep one battery- or solar-powered light source in each major room of the house.
Bring It In, Tie It Down, Lock It Up
Even the most well-secured homes have a few overlooked items outside. The potted plant you meant to bring in? It’s a projectile waiting to happen. Walk the perimeter of your home and bring in anything not bolted down: grills, cushions, bird feeders, even small décor.
Inside your home, secure windows, reinforce door locks, and double-check any temporary storm protection measures. Your safe room should be fully prepped now, with sleeping gear, water, snacks, a light source, and anything else you’d need to shelter in place for 24-48 hours.
Understand Flood Risk – Before the Water Rises
Flooding is one of the most common and costly effects of hurricanes in Florida, yet many homeowners are still under the impression their homeowners policy covers flood damage. It doesn’t. A separate flood policy is required – whether through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) or a private insurer.
This is why last-minute hurricane prep for Florida homeowners must include flood protection steps – especially for those who don’t have flood insurance yet. Move vehicles to higher ground if possible. Elevate electronics and valuables off the floor, especially in ground-floor rooms or garages. Move important papers and keepsakes into sealed bins or plastic bags.
Know Your Insurance Coverage – and How to Access It Before You Lose Signal
This is the time to confirm you’re able to access your Ovation home insurance policy by logging into your account via our website, www.ovationhome.com. (You may need to register your account if you haven’t already done so.) You may want to save a digital and printed copy of your policy, and make sure your agent’s contact information is easy to find – even without power or cell service.
One tip: Take updated photos of your roof, exterior, valuables, and any recent improvements. They may help with your insurance claim if damage occurs. This kind of last-minute hurricane prep for Florida homeowners can smooth out the path to financial recovery.
Prevent Battery-Related Fires from EVs, Hybrids & Other Electric Devices
If you own an electric vehicle, hybrid, golf cart, e-scooter, or even a power tool with a lithium-ion battery, now is the time to act. The fire risk posed by large lithium-ion batteries exposed to floodwaters is a serious, growing, and often overlooked. Once the battery in an EV, for example, is exposed to saltwater, it could overheat and catch fire in the days or weeks after the storm has passed.
So, take these vehicles or other devices out of the garage and away from your home. Move EVs to higher ground before the storm – perhaps in an upper level of a public parking garage. And should they come into contact with saltwater, do not drive, charge or store them in your home or garage. Instead, have EVs or hybrids towed to a dealership for a professional inspection.
Center Yourself – and Stay Sharp
It’s normal to feel anxious with a storm on the doorstep. But if you’ve completed your preparations, now is the time to shift into a calm, alert mindset. Check on your neighbors. Refill water bottles. Make a pot of coffee. Talk with family – especially children – about what to expect and how you’ll stay safe. You’ve done what you can. Now, your job is to stay calm and focused. Emotional readiness is just as important as physical prep.
Storms test physical preparation – but they also test patience, endurance, and resilience. Take a moment to remember you’ve done what it takes to protect your home and peace of mind. Mental calm is a powerful asset. You’ve got this.
Ovation Home Insurance Exchange Has Got You Covered This & Every Hurricane Season
This blog focused on the most urgent last-minute hurricane prep for Florida homeowners – but there’s still more to know. For full checklists, evacuation guidance, insurance claim tips, and what to do after the storm, explore Ovation’s comprehensive Hurricane Preparedness Guide.
For questions about your policy, contact your agent and, if you’re not yet insured by Ovation Home Insurance Exchange, visit us online to get a quote now.