Hurricane Season Property Checklist for Florida Keys Homeowners

Hurricane season in the Florida Keys runs from June 1 through November 30 — six months during which your property sits in one of the most exposed positions in the United States. Key West is a low, flat island at the end of a 113-mile chain surrounded by open water. When a storm tracks through the Straits of Florida, there is nothing between it and your home.

The good news: most storm damage to Keys properties is preventable, and the prep work is straightforward if you start early. The homeowners who struggle are the ones who wait until a named storm is already in the forecast — by then, every contractor on the island is booked solid and the hardware stores are empty.

Here’s the exterior maintenance checklist to complete before the season starts, not during it.

Why Keys Hurricane Prep Is Different

Mainland Florida homeowners deal with wind and rain. Keys homeowners deal with wind, rain, storm surge, and salt — all at once, with limited high ground and a single highway out. A few realities shape the prep list:

• Drainage is everything. Water has nowhere to go on a flat island. Clogged gutters and blocked drains turn heavy rain into standing water against your foundation and walls.
• Anything loose becomes a projectile. In sustained tropical-storm winds, an untrimmed palm frond, a loose gutter section, or a stack of debris is a hazard to your home and your neighbor’s.
• Salt and organic buildup accelerate damage. Storm-driven rain forces water into every crack. Surfaces already weakened by mold, algae, or salt film fail faster.

That’s why exterior cleaning and maintenance is genuine storm prep in the Keys — not just curb appeal.

The Pre-Season Exterior Checklist (Complete by June 1)

1. Clean and inspect your gutters and downspouts.
This is the single most important item. Gutters packed with leaves, palm debris, and shingle grit can’t move water — and during a tropical downpour that water backs up under your roof edge and pours down your walls. Have gutters cleared and checked that downspouts direct water well away from the foundation. If sections are sagging or pulling loose, get them re-secured now, before wind finds them.

2. Pressure wash before the storms, not after.
There are two reasons to pressure wash your exterior, driveway, and walkways ahead of the season. First, a clean surface lets you actually see cracks, soft spots, and early rot that need attention before a storm exploits them. Second, algae and mildew make walkways and pool decks dangerously slick when they’re soaked — and you’ll be walking those surfaces in the rain during prep and cleanup. A pre-season pressure wash also gives you a clean, documented baseline of your property’s condition for insurance purposes.

3. Trim palms, trees, and landscaping.
Remove dead fronds, cut back branches near the roof and windows, and clear anything that could break loose. Coconuts and dead fronds are heavy and fast in high wind. Don’t leave the cuttings in a pile — haul them off, or they become debris the moment the wind picks up.

4. Clear the yard of loose items.
Have a plan and a place for patio furniture, grills, planters, umbrellas, kayaks, and decorations. Know now where they go, so securing them is a 30-minute job when a storm is 48 hours out — not a scramble.

5. Inspect and clean the roof line and soffits.
Salt air and biological growth degrade roof edges, soffits, and fascia. Soft washing (low-pressure, never high-pressure on a roof) removes the growth that traps moisture and hides deterioration. Look for lifted shingles or loose flashing while you’re at it.

6. Check exterior drains, French drains, and grading.
Make sure every drain on the property is clear and flowing. On a flat lot, one blocked drain is the difference between water running off and water pooling against your home.

Before, During, and After a Named Storm

When a storm enters the forecast (48–72 hours out):
Secure or bring in everything loose. Do a final gutter and drain check. Photograph the property, inside and out, for insurance. Fill vehicles and prescriptions. Follow Monroe County evacuation guidance — for many Keys zones, evacuation is not optional.

During the storm:
Stay away from windows and stay off the roads. Nothing outside is worth your safety.

After the storm:
Document any damage with photos before you clean up or move anything — insurers want to see it as it landed. Clear debris carefully (watch for downed lines and nails). Once it’s safe, a thorough pressure wash removes the salt, mud, and organic slime that a storm cakes onto every surface — left in place, that residue accelerates corrosion and staining.

If You Own a Vacation Property or Live Off-Island

A large share of Keys homes are second homes or vacation properties owned by people who aren’t here year-round. If that’s you, hurricane season is when having a trusted local team matters most. Line up your exterior maintenance and post-storm cleanup coordination before June — not from a thousand miles away in September while phone lines are jammed.

Under The Sun Property Care works with off-island owners to keep properties storm-ready and to handle exterior cleanup after a system passes, coordinating remotely so you always know your property’s condition.

Start Early — The Island Books Up Fast

Every homeowner and property manager in the Keys is working from the same calendar. Gutter cleaning, pressure washing, and palm trimming appointments fill quickly in April and May. The homeowners who come through the season in the best shape are simply the ones who scheduled their prep first.

Under The Sun Property Care serves Key West and the Lower Keys from Key West to Big Pine Key. To schedule pre-season gutter cleaning, pressure washing, or a full exterior prep, call (786) 933-0510 or request a free estimate through our website.

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Get Storm-Ready Before June 1st
Under The Sun Property Care provides gutter cleaning, pressure washing, and exterior storm prep throughout Key West and the Lower Keys. Free estimates. Licensed and insured.

📞 (786) 933-0510
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