Hurricane Prep Checklist for Florida Windows and Doors
This hurricane prep checklist covers the Atlantic season, June 1 through November 30. Before the season, check every window and door, fix damaged openings, and gather product approvals, permits, your wind mitigation report, and photos. During a watch or warning, follow official instructions. After the storm, inspect openings, photograph damage, and report claims promptly.
Before Hurricane Season: Your Hurricane Prep Checklist for Openings
Inspect every opening
- Check every window, entry door, sliding glass door, garage door, and skylight.
- On impact windows, look for cracked or delaminated glass, damaged frames, missing screws or anchors, and worn weatherstripping.
- Make sure locks and latches engage fully. An impact window or door performs as tested only when closed and latched.
- Clean slider tracks and check that doors seal evenly.
- If you still have shutters, confirm every panel, fastener, and track is on hand and labeled.
- Repair damaged openings now. The wind mitigation form notes that openings needing repair or replacement can disqualify a home from wind mitigation insurance discounts.
Schedule upgrades early
- Impact windows and doors are made to measure and permits take time, so plan replacements well before June.
- After a major storm, demand for installers and permit reviews can rise sharply, so waiting until a storm threatens is usually too late.
- The opening protection credit generally requires every glazed opening to be protected, so plan phased projects to finish the whole home.
Storm Pro Window and Door, a Florida-licensed contractor (CRC1334277), quotes every unprotected or damaged opening, pulls the permit, and installs with in-house crews. See our impact windows, impact doors, and impact sliding glass doors.
Build your home document folder
The document folder is the easiest part of a hurricane prep checklist to overlook. Keep paper copies in a waterproof container and digital copies in cloud storage:
- Product approval or Miami-Dade NOA numbers for every window and door (how to find them).
- Permits and final inspection approvals for window, door, and roof work.
- Your current wind mitigation inspection form (OIR-B1-1802).
- Insurance declarations page, agent contact, and claim phone number.
- Installation invoices and warranty documents.
- Dated photos and video of every room and exterior wall, including close-ups of windows and doors.
Make your household plan
The Florida Division of Emergency Management recommends that you:
- Know your evacuation zone using its Know Your Zone tool.
- Build a disaster supply kit to last at least 7 days.
- Keep copies of IDs and important documents in your kit or another safe place.
- Sign up for emergency alerts, such as AlertFlorida, and your county's alerts.
What to Do During a Hurricane Watch or Warning
The National Hurricane Center issues a hurricane watch when hurricane conditions (sustained winds of 74 mph or higher) are possible, usually 48 hours before tropical storm force winds are expected. A warning means those conditions are expected, usually issued 36 hours in advance. Work through this part of the hurricane prep checklist as soon as a watch is issued.
- Watch: hurricane conditions are possible, usually 48 hours ahead
- Warning: hurricane conditions are expected, usually 36 hours ahead
- Hurricane conditions mean sustained winds of 74 mph or higher
- Start this part of the checklist as soon as a watch is issued
When a watch is issued
- Check forecasts from the National Hurricane Center and your local National Weather Service office.
- Confirm your evacuation zone and plan with county emergency management.
- Bring in patio furniture, grills, planters, and anything that could become a projectile.
- Close and lock every impact window and door, including sliders and garage doors.
- Install shutters on any openings that still use them.
- Charge phones and power banks, and refill prescriptions.
When a warning is issued
- Follow evacuation orders from local officials without delay.
- If staying, shelter in an interior room away from windows and doors, even impact-rated ones.
- Keep your document folder and supply kit with you.
After the Storm
Stay safe first. Wait for local officials to say it is safe to go outside. Watch for downed power lines, standing water, and debris. Then work through the steps below.
Check windows and doors for damage
- Look for cracks, chips, or spider-web patterns in the glass. Laminated impact glass is designed to hold together when struck, so a cracked pane may stay in the frame but still needs replacement.
- Check frames for dents, bends, or separation from the wall.
- Look for water stains or wet drywall around openings.
- Test that every window and door opens, closes, and locks.
- For a detailed walkthrough, see How Do You Check Hurricane Impact Windows for Damage After a Storm?.
Document everything
- Photograph and video all damage before cleanup or temporary repair.
- Keep receipts for emergency repairs and temporary protection, such as tarps or boarding.
- Take reasonable steps to prevent further damage, as most policies require.
Insurance Claim Tips
If storm damage means an opening needs replacing, Storm Pro can provide a free quote for replacement impact windows and doors with the approval numbers your insurer and inspector will ask for.
This hurricane prep checklist is general information, not legal or insurance advice. Always follow instructions from local emergency officials.
The last step on any hurricane prep checklist is the claim itself.
Report promptly
Under Section 627.70132, Florida Statutes, a new or reopened property insurance claim is barred unless notice is given within 1 year after the date of loss, and a supplemental claim within 18 months.
Use your document folder
Approvals, permits, and before photos show what was installed and its pre-storm condition.
Keep a claim log
Of every call, email, adjuster visit, and claim number.
Get written estimates
From licensed contractors for window and door repairs or replacement.
Ask questions
The Florida Department of Financial Services Division of Consumer Services helps with insurance questions and concerns.
Official Sources
Every rule, number and deadline on this page comes from the agencies below. Check them directly anytime.
01
02
03
04
05
06
07
Frequently Asked Questions
When is hurricane season in Florida?
The Atlantic hurricane season runs June 1 through November 30. Storms can form outside those dates, but most activity falls within the season. Complete your opening inspection, repairs, and document folder before June 1 so you are ready when the first watch is issued.
Do I need to do anything to impact windows before a hurricane?
Close and lock every impact window and door, including sliders and garage doors, because impact products are tested in the closed and latched position. Clear loose outdoor items, check that no glass is already cracked, and keep your product approval records with your important documents.
What is the difference between a hurricane watch and a hurricane warning?
According to the National Hurricane Center, a watch means hurricane conditions are possible, usually issued 48 hours before tropical storm force winds are expected. A warning means those conditions are expected, usually issued 36 hours in advance. Follow local officials’ instructions for both.
What documents should I have ready for hurricane season?
A good hurricane prep checklist includes product approval numbers for your windows and doors, building permits, your wind mitigation form, your insurance declarations page, installation invoices and warranties, and dated photos and video of your home. Store paper copies in a waterproof container and digital copies in the cloud.
How long do I have to file a hurricane insurance claim in Florida?
Florida law bars a new or reopened property insurance claim unless notice is given within 1 year after the date of loss, and a supplemental claim within 18 months. Your policy may have its own notice requirements, so report damage as soon as it is safe.
How do I know if my impact window was damaged in a storm?
Look for cracks or spider-web patterns in the glass, dents or bends in the frame, gaps around the opening, water stains, and windows that no longer open, close, or lock properly. Laminated glass can crack and stay in place, so a window that looks intact may still need replacement.