Pre-Season (May)
May is when you do the work you'll regret skipping in September. The two big-ticket items are gutter cleaning (clogs cause the most non-storm-direct water damage during heavy rain) and roof inspection. After that, work down the list of small projects that compound during a storm.
Don't wait until late August. Once a named system is in the gulf, every roofer, gutter pro, and tree service is booked solid for two weeks.
Storm-Watch Window (3–5 days out)
Once a system is named and tracking toward Florida, you have a working window of about three days. The grocery stores will sell out of water and bread first; the hardware stores sell out of plywood, batteries, and propane second.
The smartest move is to do this prep before the cone touches Florida — by the time it does, lines are already long.
24 Hours Before Landfall
Last day prep. By now lockdown is mostly done. Final items are about minimizing damage if power goes out and water comes in.
If you're under evacuation order, leave. Property is replaceable.
What FixAway Can Help With
Pre-season: gutter cleaning, hurricane shutter installation and re-securing, generator transfer-switch interlock kits, exterior light and outdoor outlet hardening, roof-edge wood rot repair, sump pump install.
Post-storm: drywall repair from ceiling leaks, fence and gate repair, screen replacement, exterior trim repair, generator-fueled appliance hookup, debris removal coordination.
Post-Storm Documentation That Speeds Insurance Claims
After the storm passes, document damage before cleanup starts. Insurance adjusters move faster when photos are organized by area: roofline, exterior elevations, interior ceilings, flooring, and affected personal property.
Keep receipts for temporary protective measures such as tarps, boarding, and emergency materials. Those costs are often reimbursable and help demonstrate that you acted quickly to prevent secondary damage.
How To Apply This Advice In Jacksonville Homes
The fastest way to use this guide is to pick one urgent fix, one preventive maintenance task, and one long-term upgrade for your property this month. That three-step sequence keeps costs manageable while still improving safety, comfort, and resale readiness over time.
If your home has multiple open issues, bundle them into a single scope review and prioritize in this order: moisture and electrical risk first, functional daily-use repairs second, cosmetic updates third. This order usually prevents expensive secondary damage and avoids redoing finish work after core systems are stabilized.
If budget is limited, complete one high-risk item now and schedule remaining tasks on a dated checklist. Smaller, consistent improvements usually outperform one large reactive spend and keep your home easier to maintain through Jacksonville's heat and storm cycles.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I call about hurricane prep work?
May or early June. Once a named system is in the gulf, our schedule fills with emergency calls and we triage by severity. Pre-season work is calmer and cheaper.
Should I install permanent storm panels or use plywood?
If you have impact glass, you need nothing else. If not, accordion or roll-down shutters are best long-term but expensive. Panel-and-bolt systems are a middle ground. Plywood works as last resort but voids most homeowners' insurance discount.
Do I need a generator?
Depends on whether you have medical needs, work-from-home dependence, or freezer contents you can't lose. A 7-9kW portable generator with a transfer switch interlock kit covers most needs. Whole-home automatic generators are nice but $8K–$15K installed.
What does insurance want to see post-storm?
Date-stamped photos of every angle of damage, your policy number, your pre-storm photos for comparison, and a contractor estimate (which we can provide for handyman-scope items).
Are emergency post-storm services available?
Yes — we prioritize active leaks and security issues (broken doors, fallen trees blocking entry). Same-day usually possible. We don't compete with restoration contractors on full water-damage remediation, but we can stabilize most issues until the bigger team arrives.