How to protect your home during hurricane season — even far from the coast

Coastal homes aren't the only ones that can experience hurricane damage. That fact has been increasingly demonstrated by recent hurricanes — including last year's Hurricane Helene — which initially made landfall in Florida but impacted communities far from the shore throughout Georgia, North and South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and Kentucky.

To help homeowners reduce their risk during this year's hurricane season, the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety's (IBHS) Hurricane Ready guide offers critical actions that can help mitigate the damage your home could suffer from high winds, heavy rain and even tornadoes spawned by hurricanes, whether your home is near the coast or further along the path.

"Recent hurricanes have impacted homeowners much further inland than they may expect; like western North Carolina, which is still recovering from Helene, so we have to change where and how we prepare," said Sarah Dillingham, IBHS senior meteorologist. "Even if you don't live on the coast, your area could be affected by a tropical system so, like coastal homeowners, take steps to prepare your home for conditions it may face once a hurricane moves through."

Why inland homeowners shouldn't let their guard down

According to the National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center, last year's hurricane season ranked third in tropical cyclone-induced tornadoes over the past 30 years, demonstrating how a hurricane system can produce damaging winds throughout a large area, as well as spawn tornadoes that can cause additional wind damage. These impacts from wind and water can be felt hundreds of miles from the coast, regardless of a hurricane's strength rating or category.

"It's crucial for everyone to stay aware of the weather during hurricane season, which runs from June through November," added Dillingham. "But the good news is you can take proactive steps now that research has found can strengthen your home to ensure it is better prepared to resist the forces of nature."

Here are large and small actions that can help your home withstand this year's hurricane season, wherever you live.

Start here: The roof and garage door

As two parts of your home critical to preventing structural damage, the roof and garage door should be your primary focus in strengthening your home.

The roof: Because it's your home's first line of defense against severe weather, your roof should be inspected for damage and wear before the storm season begins.

Need a new roof? Ask your contractor to install it to the FORTIFIED Roof standard, which has been proven in lab studies and real-world events to reduce the risk of damage caused by hurricanes. A study from the Center for Risk and Insurance Research at the University of Alabama analyzed more than 40,000 homes threatened by Hurricane Sally in 2020, including over 7,000 FORTIFIED homes, and found the FORTIFIED homes were 70% less likely to have an insurance claim than a home built to typical construction standards.

The garage door: As your home's largest opening, the garage door is one of the most vulnerable areas during severe weather. If the garage door is compromised, wind rushes in pushing up on the roof and out against walls, putting the entire structure at risk. Post-event damage investigations conducted by IBHS after Hurricane Ike and tornadoes in Joplin, Missouri, and Moore, Oklahoma, revealed that 90% of the homes with garage doors that survived also had no structural damage to the roof.

How do you know if your garage door is strong enough for your area? Check it for a sticker showing that it is wind rated. If your garage door is not labeled as wind resistant or you're not sure, prioritize upgrading to a garage door with a wind rating of 130 mph or higher.

Larger projects involving the roof and garage door, as well as installing hurricane shutters, may take longer, so they should be tackled as soon as possible.

Small actions make a big impact

There are also simple steps that can lower your home's risk of damage from high winds and heavy rains:

• Protection from water: Caulk visible gaps and cracks around windows and doors to keep wind and rain out of your home.
• Tree care: Trees on your property can pose a threat to your home during high winds. Remove dead branches and those that overhang your house. It's also advisable to remove dead, dying or diseased trees, which an arborist can help identify. Keep trees healthy with regular pruning.
• Power back-up: Maintaining or purchasing a generator is a good idea to keep essential appliances running during power outages, which can be extensive and long-lasting after severe weather events like hurricanes and tornadoes.
• Inventory of belongings: Document belongings in case your home does experience damage and you need to file an insurance claim. Use your phone to create a geo-tagged home inventory video of belongings and store it in the cloud for access after a storm.

If a storm is in the forecast, it's important to prep your yard too. Anything left out can become a dangerous projectile during strong winds. Make plans to quickly and securely store items, including patio furniture, grills and toys.

Visit IBHS.org/hurricaneready for IBHS's full Hurricane Ready guide, which offers more research-backed storm prep guidance to help you prevent damage to your home — whether you live near the coast or far inland.