Coastal living, prepared

Storm-Ready on the Coast

Living on the water is the whole point of the Lowcountry — and being ready for hurricane season is simply part of owning here. This guide is the practical version: what to do before the season starts, what to do when a storm gets a name, and how to handle the days after. No drama, just a plan.

Do this in May

Before the season

The best storm prep happens on a sunny weekend. An hour now removes most of the scramble later.

Read your insurance policies. Confirm what your homeowners policy covers, what your hurricane or wind deductible actually is, and whether you carry flood insurance — flood damage is not covered by a standard homeowners policy, and new flood coverage typically has a waiting period before it takes effect.
Video every room of your house. Walk the whole home with your phone — open closets and drawers, film the garage and outbuildings. If you ever file a claim, this footage is the easiest proof of what you owned and what condition it was in.
Photograph your documents. Insurance declarations pages, deed, IDs, medication lists — snap them and store copies somewhere off-site (cloud storage counts). Keep the originals in one grab-and-go folder.
Walk the yard with storm eyes. Trim limbs that overhang the roof, note what would need to come inside (furniture, planters, grills), and check that gutters and drains are clear.
Stock the basics. Water, shelf-stable food, batteries, portable phone chargers, cash in small bills, and a full tank-of-gas habit from June through November.

The countdown

When a storm is named

Once a storm has a name and a cone, work the clock backwards. Local officials' instructions always override this list.

72 hours out

Refill prescriptions and fuel every vehicle.
Decide now where you would go if an evacuation is ordered — a friend inland beats deciding on a crowded highway.
Charge everything: phones, power banks, laptops, rechargeable lanterns.

48 hours out

Bring in or tie down everything the wind can lift — patio furniture, trash cans, potted plants, flags.
Set the fridge and freezer to their coldest settings and freeze water bottles to fill the gaps (they keep food cold longer if the power goes).
Pack the go-bag: documents folder, medications, chargers, clothes, pet supplies, cash.

24 hours out

Shutter or board windows if that's your plan — do it in daylight, not in the first rain band.
Take one last set of photos of the house, inside and out, timestamped by your phone.
Move vehicles out of flood-prone spots and away from trees; unplug electronics you're leaving behind.
If officials say go — go early. Leaving ahead of the rush is the single biggest stress-saver on this page.

Know before you need it

Evacuation

South Carolina assigns every coastal address an evacuation zone, and orders are issued by zone — so the most useful two minutes of prep is simply learning yours. Look up your address on the state's official tool:

SCEMD — Know Your Zone

Plan two routes inland, not one — the obvious highway is everyone else's plan too.
Tell someone outside the storm area where you're headed and check in when you arrive.
Take the go-bag and the documents folder even if you expect to be back in a day.
Lock up, shut off what officials advise (and know where your water and gas shutoffs are before the season), and don't return until authorities reopen your area.

The recovery

After the storm

Document before you clean up. Photograph and video all damage from multiple angles before moving or repairing anything — your claim depends on it. Keep damaged items until your adjuster says otherwise.
Call your insurer early.Claims are generally handled in the order they arrive. Note your claim number, the adjuster's name, and every conversation date.
Make temporary repairs, keep receipts. Reasonable steps to prevent further damage (tarping a roof, boarding a broken window) are expected — save every receipt for reimbursement.
Be careful with contractors. Storm-chasing crews follow every hurricane. Get written estimates, verify licensing and local references, never pay large sums up front, and be wary of anyone who pressures you to sign over your insurance benefits on the spot.
Watch for hidden damage. Water finds its way into walls and crawl spaces — musty smells, staining, or warped flooring weeks later are worth a professional look.

We check on every client after a storm — that's the standard.

Whether you bought with us years ago or you're just weighing what coastal ownership really involves, we're glad to talk through storm history, flood zones, and insurance questions for any home you're considering.

Talk to us