Storm preparation is a race to remove predictable failure paths: loose objects, blocked drainage, a weak sump backup and unsafe generator plans. Stop exterior work once conditions are already dangerous.
Start with water paths and loose exterior objects
| When / trigger | What to do | Why it sits here |
|---|---|---|
| 48–24 hours before | Bring in or secure loose furniture, grills, planters, tools, and trash bins | Wind turns ordinary objects into projectiles. |
| Before rain | Clear accessible gutters, surface drains, and downspout outlets | Blocked drainage can push water toward the building. |
| Before outage risk | Test sump and battery backup; charge phones, lights, and power banks | A storm often combines rain with power loss. |
| Documentation | Photograph exterior/interior condition and keep insurance/contact records accessible | A dated baseline helps after damage. |
| Generator plan | Operate portable generators outside and well away from openings; never in garage | CPSC/Ready.gov warn about deadly CO. |
| After storm | Inspect from safe ground for roof, tree, siding, drainage, and utility damage before normal routines resume | Damaged lines and unstable trees can make cleanup dangerous. |
Conditions that mean shelter matters more than maintenance
- Tree or branch is touching service lines.
- Sump backup fails test.
- Roof already leaks before storm.
- You do not have a safe generator location.
Generator carbon-monoxide safety is non-negotiable
High tree work, roof tarping in unsafe conditions, downed electrical lines, structural damage, and generator transfer-switch work require qualified professionals or emergency services.
The post-storm walk should be from a safe distance first
Hurricane zones may need shutters and evacuation planning; inland thunderstorm areas may emphasize trees, sump power, and hail; wildfire regions have different debris and air-quality priorities.
Spend on drainage, backup power strategy, and secure exterior conditions before convenience items. A generator is not useful if it cannot be operated safely outside away from openings.
Finish exterior preparation before wind, lightning or flooding makes outdoor work unsafe. Secure loose objects, clear accessible drainage paths, test the sump backup and stage lighting or communications early. Once severe weather begins, the job changes from maintenance to personal safety. After the storm, start from a safe ground-level view and look for downed lines, leaning trees, roof damage, blocked drainage or standing water before resuming normal routines.
A safe storm checklist ends before the storm begins
Move or secure furniture, grills, planters and tools that can become windborne. Clear accessible ground drains, downspout outlets and debris that is already blocking water flow. Test the sump pump and backup system before rain arrives, then charge communication devices and stage lights and batteries. Take simple exterior photos from safe locations; they can help you identify what changed afterward without relying on memory.
If you plan to use a portable generator, CPSC says to operate it outside only, at least 20 feet from the home, with exhaust directed away from the building. A garage with the door open is not a safe generator location. Once strong wind, lightning or flooding has started, stop exterior maintenance and follow emergency instructions for your area. The post-storm check should begin from the ground: downed lines, leaning trees, damaged roof sections and floodwater can make a normal property walk unsafe.
- Keep the main water shutoff and electrical service location known in case storm damage creates a leak or electrical hazard.
- Do not enter floodwater around electrical equipment.
- Photograph damage only when the location is safe; documentation is never worth a fall, shock or tree hazard.
Use the calm period to bring in furniture and loose objects, clear reachable drainage paths, confirm the sump system is ready, charge essential devices, and photograph exterior conditions from safe ground. Once wind, lightning, floodwater, or falling debris makes outdoor work unsafe, maintenance stops and shelter becomes the priority. Do not climb to clear a gutter or tarp a roof because the checklist was started too late.
For backup power, plan placement before the outage. CPSC says portable generators belong outside only, at least 20 feet from the house, with exhaust directed away from buildings that people can enter. Never move a generator into a garage, porch, basement, or near an opening because rain is falling. After the storm, use a ground-level visual survey first and document damage before approaching unstable trees, power lines, roofs, or flooded electrical areas.
Storm-prep questions
What should be finished before wind and lightning make outdoor work unsafe?
Secure loose outdoor objects, clear the drainage points you can reach safely, close and latch windows and doors, test the sump system, charge phones and lights, and move vehicles or valuables away from obvious flood or falling-tree exposure before conditions deteriorate. Once wind, lightning or heavy rain begins, do not climb ladders, clear roofs or handle large outdoor objects. Storm preparation has a cutoff point; after that, personal safety takes priority over maintenance.
How should I prepare for heavy rain if the sump pump depends on grid power?
Test both the primary sump pump and the backup arrangement before the storm. If the backup is battery-powered, verify battery condition and alarms according to the manufacturer. If you use a generator for backup power, plan the connection and fuel safely in advance rather than improvising during an outage. Also reduce incoming water by confirming gutters, downspouts and grading are functioning, because backup power cannot compensate indefinitely for poor drainage around the foundation.
Where can a portable generator be operated safely during a power outage?
CPSC says portable generators should be operated outside only, at least 20 feet from the house, with exhaust directed away from the home and other occupied structures. Never run one in a garage, basement, shed or near doors, windows or vents. Use working CO alarms inside the house. Generator placement is a life-safety rule, not a convenience tradeoff when weather is bad or extension-cord routing is awkward.