Get your roof ready before the storm.

Atlantic hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30. The best time to deal with your roof is before a storm has a name. This page covers the roof. For your family's plan, supplies and evacuation zones, use the official resources at the bottom of the page.

Before the season

1. Get the roof inspected. We look at the things wind gets under first: loose or cracked tiles, lifted shingle edges, ridge and hip caps, flashing at walls, chimneys and skylights, soffits and vents, and the condition of the underlayment where we can see it.
2. Fix small problems now. A cracked tile or a lifted edge is a small repair in May. In a storm it can be where water gets in.
3. Trim trees and clear gutters. Cut back branches that hang over the roof. Clean gutters and downspouts so heavy rain drains away from the house.
4. Photograph your roof today. Take dated photos of every side of the roof from the ground, plus the ceilings and the attic. If you ever need to show what the roof looked like before a storm, these are the photos you will want.
5. Gather your roof records. The permit for the last roof, the installation date, any warranty paperwork, and your wind mitigation report. Keep copies somewhere other than the house, such as cloud storage or email.
6. Read your hurricane deductible. Many Florida policies have a separate deductible for hurricane damage. Know what yours is before the season, and ask your insurance agent if anything is unclear.

When a storm is coming

• Follow official forecasts from the National Hurricane Center and your county's emergency management office. If you are told to evacuate, go.
• Bring in or tie down anything that can fly. Patio furniture, planters, grills and decorations become debris in high wind, and debris is what breaks tiles and windows.
• Close shutters and storm panels while it is still calm enough to do it safely.
• Stay off the roof. Do not climb up to secure anything once the wind picks up. Tarps cannot be installed safely in high wind.
• Put the important things in one place: your roof photos, policy number, insurer's claim line and our number (239.449.9659), saved on your phone and in a waterproof bag.

After it passes

1. Safety first. Stay away from downed power lines. Do not go on the roof. If a ceiling is sagging or wet, keep people out of that room.
2. Look from the ground and inside. Missing or broken tiles, shingles in the yard, lifted ridge caps, damaged soffits. Inside, look for stains, drips and wet insulation.
3. Photograph everything before cleanup. Wide shots and close-ups, inside and out. Keep any pieces of roof that came off.
4. Stop the water. Call us for emergency tarping. A dried-in roof keeps the damage from spreading.
5. Report the damage to your insurer and keep a record of when you did. Our storm damage guide covers Florida's claim deadlines and what we provide for your claim file.
6. Hire carefully. After a storm, unlicensed crews go door to door. Ask for a Florida roofing license number and look it up at myfloridalicense.com. Get the estimate in writing, and do not sign anything on the spot.

Official resources

• National Hurricane Center: forecasts, watches and warnings.
• Florida Division of Emergency Management: evacuation zones, shelters and state updates.
• Ready.gov: family plans and emergency supply lists.
• Florida DBPR license search: check a contractor's license.