Preparing Your Home's Electrical System for Hurricane Season

Every Central Florida homeowner knows the routine when a storm is in the forecast. But while stocking up on water and batteries is second nature, your home's electrical system often gets overlooked — right up until the power flickers, surges, or goes out entirely. A little preparation before hurricane season can save you a major headache.

Protect Against Power Surges

Storms are a common cause of power surges, and a single surge can damage or destroy sensitive electronics and appliances. Whole-home surge protection, installed at your panel, guards everything in the house at once — a far better safeguard than a handful of power strips. If you've never had surge protection installed, before storm season is the time to consider it.

Consider a Standby Generator

Extended outages are a reality of hurricane season in Florida. A standby generator keeps your essentials running — your AC, refrigerator, and medical equipment — when the grid goes down. Unlike a portable unit, a properly installed standby generator connects safely to your home's electrical system and kicks on automatically. Installation should always be done by a licensed electrician to keep it safe and up to code.

After the Storm

Once a storm passes, keep an eye out for warning signs before assuming everything is fine:

• Flickering lights or outlets that no longer work
• A burning smell near the panel or any outlet
• Breakers that trip repeatedly or won't reset
• Any water intrusion near electrical equipment

If you notice any of these, don't take chances — have a licensed electrician inspect the system. Storm-related electrical damage isn't always obvious, and it's not worth the risk.