Getting Ready for Hurricane Season: Your 2025 Survival & Recovery Plan

Hurricane season — it’s a fact of life for many in the Southeast. But while the storms themselves are unpredictable, your degree of readiness doesn’t have to be. With thoughtful preparation and a strong plan in place, you can reduce danger, damage, and stress when a storm threatens.

1. Use Reputable Preparedness Resources

First things first: arm yourself with up-to-date, authoritative information. The 2025 Hurricane Preparedness Guide published by the Florida Attorney General’s Office is one such excellent resource. It covers everything from how to build a “go bag” to advice on safeguarding your home and interacting with insurance after a storm. (You can find the guide here.)

This kind of step-by-step guide can serve as your checklist springboard: review it, mark which items you’ve handled, and track what still needs doing well before a storm looms.

2. Build Your Emergency Kit & Plan Now

Some key elements to include in your hurricane readiness plan:

• Go bag/emergency kit: At minimum, water (one gallon per person per day for three to five days), nonperishable food, a battery-powered radio, extra batteries, flashlight, first aid kit, medications, copies of important documents (IDs, insurance, property deeds), and a portable charger or power bank.

• Home preparations:

  • Trim trees and shrubbery near your house.

  • Secure or bring inside outdoor furniture, grills, and décor.

  • Reinforce windows and doors.

  • Clear rain gutters and drains.

  • Check and anchor mobile homes, if applicable.

• Evacuation plan: Know your evacuation routes and destination. Identify multiple routes in case roads are blocked. Plan for pets. Let family or friends know your plan and routes.

• Communication & documentation:

  • Keep digital backups (cloud, USB) of important documents.

  • Use a family roster with contact numbers.

  • Monitor official alerts (NOAA weather radio, local alerts, state or county emergency management).

  • Practice your plan with household members.

• Insurance & finances:

  • Review your homeowners’ or renters’ insurance policy now. Know what’s covered (wind, flood, etc.).

  • Take photos or video of your home’s current condition (interior and exterior).

  • Set aside emergency cash (after a storm, ATMs and card readers may not work).

The Florida AG guide is especially helpful in walking you through these steps in logical order, reminding you what you might overlook, and providing contact information for authorities and recovery resources.

3. During & Immediately After the Storm

While the storm is active, your focus should be on safety: shelter, following local instructions, avoiding floodwaters, and staying informed. Once it’s safe to emerge:

• Document all damage — take timestamped photos and videos.

• Call your insurance company as soon as possible and submit claims.

• Be cautious of scammers posing as repair crews (demanding large up-front payments).

• Retain all receipts for cleanup, repair materials, lodging, etc.

• Keep copies of all communications with insurers and contractors.

4. Recovering, Restoring & Rebuilding — How TCG Can Help

This is where TCG enters as a critical partner. After a significant hurricane event, many homeowners and businesses face complicated tasks: structural repair, housing code compliance, permitting, dealing with insurance complications, and full-scale reconstruction. TCG can assist in several ways:

• Damage assessment & restoration planning: TCG’s experts can survey damage, identify structural risks, and propose restoration plans that balance safety, cost, and compliance.

• Permitting & regulatory support: Navigating local building codes, permits, and zoning rules can delay reconstruction. TCG can coordinate with local governments and streamline approvals.

• Rebuild & Restore Your Property: TCG will not only repair storm damage but also rebuild and restore your property to its original condition — or better. Our goal is to make sure your home or business is safe, structurally sound, and ready to weather the future.

• Insurance liaison & documentation support: TCG can help you present accurate cost estimates and prepare documentation for adjusters using Xactimate.

In other words, from the moment the storm passes through to the final nail, TCG can help you restore, rebuild, and come back stronger.

5. Start Now — Don’t Wait for a Storm Warning

Hurricanes may be seasonal, but your preparation should begin well in advance. Use the Florida AG’s 2025 guide as your roadmap. Tackle your checklist piece by piece. And if damage does strike, remember — you don’t have to go it alone. TCG stands ready to guide you through restoration, reconstruction, and recovery.