Hurricane Prep Checklist How to Document Your Home Before an Insurance Claim
The worst time to prove what you owned is after the roof leaks, the power is out, and half the neighborhood is dealing with the same storm damage. Good documentation made before a hurricane can help you remember what was in your home, explain the condition of your property, and support an insurance claim if you need to file one.
Storm prep is not only plywood, sandbags, flashlights, and bottled water. It is also proof. Photos, videos, receipts, serial numbers, policy documents, and a simple inventory can make the claims process less stressful when every detail is harder to recall.
One of the most useful steps is also one of the easiest: take an uninterrupted video walkthrough of your home and property before the storm arrives. Keep recording as you move from room to room, showing furniture, electronics, appliances, closets, garage items, outdoor equipment, fencing, roofing, vehicles, and anything else that could be damaged, destroyed, or lost.
Always review your own policy.
Start with your insurance policies before the forecast gets worse
Before a hurricane warning turns into a last-minute scramble, gather every policy that could apply to storm damage. Many homeowners discover too late that wind damage, water intrusion, and flooding may fall under different coverage.
Pull together:
Homeowners insurance policy
Flood insurance policy, if you have one
Windstorm or hurricane deductible information
Auto insurance policies
Renters insurance, if applicable
Condo association or HOA master policy, if applicable
Warranty documents for major systems and appliances
Save digital copies in more than one place. A phone is helpful, but phones get lost, wet, or run out of power. Store copies in cloud storage, email them to yourself, and place printed copies in a waterproof bag.
Look for the details that matter during a claim:
Your policy number
Claims phone number
Deductible amount
Hurricane or named-storm deductible
Coverage limits
Exclusions
Temporary living expense coverage
Flood coverage terms
Deadline requirements for reporting damage
If you live in a coastal area such as Florida or Panama City Beach, pay close attention to whether the policy treats wind-driven rain, storm surge, and rising water differently. A hurricane, florida, flood situation can involve separate adjusters, separate deductibles, and separate documentation needs.
Do not wait until damage happens to understand where one policy ends and another begins.
Record an uninterrupted walkthrough video of your home
A continuous video shows context in a way that scattered photos cannot. It connects rooms, shows the layout, captures the condition of belongings, and helps prove that items were present before the storm.
Try to record the video in one uninterrupted take. If you need more than one video because the property is large, that is fine. The goal is to avoid a random collection of short clips with missing gaps.
Start outside if conditions are still safe. Say the date, property address or general location, and the reason for the video out loud. For privacy, you do not need to publish this anywhere. This is for your records.
Then walk slowly.
What to say during the video
Narration makes the video more useful. You do not need a perfect script. Just describe what the camera is seeing.
For example:
“Today is August 20. I am recording the inside and outside of the house before the storm. This is the living room. The television is mounted on the wall. The sectional sofa, coffee table, rug, bookshelf, and lamps are all in good condition.”
Mention brand names, model names, approximate purchase dates, or special details when you know them. If you do not know, keep moving. The video is still valuable.
Focus on items that are expensive, hard to replace, or easy to forget later:
Televisions and electronics
Computers, tablets, and gaming systems
Appliances
Furniture
Mattresses
Rugs and window treatments
Tools and lawn equipment
Bicycles, kayaks, paddleboards, and outdoor gear
Jewelry, watches, and collectibles
Musical instruments
Artwork and framed photos
Baby items and medical equipment
Holiday decorations stored in bins
Garage shelving and contents
Patio furniture, grills, and umbrellas
Open closets, cabinets, pantries, and storage rooms. People often document the main rooms and forget the packed spaces where thousands of dollars in belongings may sit.
How to move through the home
Go room by room in a logical order. Move slowly enough that someone watching later can pause the video and identify what is in frame.
A simple route works well:
Front of the home
Entryway
Living room
Kitchen
Dining area
Bedrooms
Bathrooms
Closets
Laundry room
10. Garage
11. Attic access area, if safe
12. Back patio
13. Yard, fencing, pool, shed, and exterior equipment
Do not rush. Hold the camera steady for a few seconds on each wall, each large item, and each storage area. If a room has valuable items, step closer and slowly pan across them.
Keep the camera rolling. That uninterrupted walkthrough is one of the strongest pieces of preparation before storm events because it captures both belongings and condition in a single record.
Photograph the details the video might miss
Video gives the big picture. Photos give sharp detail. Use both.
After the walkthrough, take still photos of high-value items, serial numbers, labels, receipts, and existing conditions. These photos can help when a claim requires specific proof.
Photograph:
Serial number plates on appliances
Model numbers on electronics
Receipts for major purchases
Appraisals for jewelry or art
Custom upgrades
Roof condition from the ground
Windows and doors
HVAC equipment
Water heater
Electrical panel
Outdoor structures
Fence lines
Pool equipment
Boats, trailers, and recreational vehicles, if covered
Take wide shots and close-ups. For example, photograph the entire laundry room, then take close-ups of the washer and dryer model tags. Photograph the whole garage, then closer shots of tool chests, bikes, generators, and storage bins.
If you have made upgrades, document them clearly. New flooring, remodeled bathrooms, custom cabinets, built-in shelving, impact windows, and new appliances can all affect the value of a claim.
Do not delete older “before” photos. If you have pictures from holidays, family gatherings, or home projects that show rooms and belongings before the storm, save those too. They can help fill gaps.
Create a simple home inventory
A full home inventory sounds like a huge project, but it does not have to be perfect to be useful. Start with a simple list and improve it over time.
You can use a spreadsheet, notes app, home inventory app, or printed checklist. The best system is the one you will actually use.
Include:
Item | Helpful details to record |
Furniture | Brand, material, purchase year, approximate cost |
Electronics | Brand, model, serial number, accessories |
Appliances | Model number, serial number, purchase date |
Tools | Brand, type, battery systems, storage location |
Jewelry | Appraisal, photos, storage location |
Outdoor items | Patio furniture, grill, shed contents, lawn equipment |
Documents | Scanned copies, storage location, backup location |
Do one room at a time. If the whole house feels like too much, start with the most expensive rooms: kitchen, living room, primary bedroom, garage, and outdoor storage.
For each item, write down enough detail to jog your memory later. “Samsung 65-inch TV in living room” is better than “TV.” “Four-piece outdoor sectional with blue cushions” is better than “patio furniture.”
If you have receipts, attach them digitally or place them in a labeled folder. If you do not have receipts, keep photos and write down your best estimate of when and where you bought the item.
Back up everything in more than one place
Documentation only helps if you can access it after the storm. A phone full of photos is not enough.
Back up your videos, photos, inventory, and policy documents before the weather gets bad. Use at least two storage methods.
Good options include:
Cloud storage
Email attachments sent to yourself
External hard drive
USB drive in a waterproof bag
Printed copies in a sealed container
Copies shared with a trusted family member outside the storm area
Name files clearly so they are easy to find later. Use labels such as:
`Home Walkthrough Before Hurricane`
`Garage Inventory`
`Appliance Serial Numbers`
`Insurance Policies`
`Roof and Exterior Before Storm`
`Receipts and Appraisals`
If possible, keep the original file dates intact. Do not edit the walkthrough video unless you need to make a separate copy. The original continuous file may be helpful because it shows a clear timeline.
Document the outside of your property while it is still safe
The outside of the home matters too. Wind, rain, falling branches, flying debris, and floodwater can damage areas that are hard to describe after the fact.
Walk the exterior and record:
Roofline from the ground
Gutters and downspouts
Siding, stucco, or exterior walls
Windows and doors
Screens and shutters
Porches and decks
Driveway and walkways
Fence and gates
Shed or detached garage
Pool and pool equipment
Landscaping and mature trees
Outdoor lighting
Generators and propane tanks
Boats, trailers, and recreational equipment
Capture the condition of these areas before the storm arrives. If a fence was standing, a shed door was intact, or a roof had no visible missing shingles, your video and photos can help show that.
Do not take risks for better footage. Stay off the roof. Avoid ladders if winds are picking up. Do not walk near downed lines, flooded areas, or unstable trees. Ground-level photos and video are enough for pre-storm documentation.
Protect documents, valuables, and essential records
Once you have documented everything, protect the items you may need during and after the storm.
Place important records in a waterproof container:
Driver’s licenses and passports
Birth certificates
Social Security cards
Insurance policies
Property deeds or lease documents
Vehicle titles
Medical records and medication lists
Pet vaccination records
Bank and credit card information
Emergency contacts
Printed home inventory
Move valuable items away from windows and off the floor when possible. Store smaller valuables in interior rooms or waterproof containers. If flooding is possible, elevate important items above expected water levels, but only if you can do so safely.
Charge phones, power banks, and camera batteries. If you use your phone for documentation, make sure videos finish uploading before the internet becomes unreliable.
Make the home safer before you leave or shelter in place
Insurance documentation is only part of hurricane prep. Take reasonable steps to reduce damage before the storm.
Common tasks include:
Bring patio furniture, grills, umbrellas, and potted plants indoors
Secure trash cans and loose yard items
Install shutters or board windows if needed
Clean gutters and drains if time and conditions allow
Test sump pumps or drainage systems
Move vehicles away from trees and low-lying areas
Fill prescriptions and gather medical supplies
Set refrigerators and freezers to colder settings before power loss
Unplug sensitive electronics before the storm hits
Place towels or barriers near known leak-prone doors, if safe
Keep receipts for materials you buy for storm protection, repairs, cleanup, lodging, or emergency supplies. Some expenses may be relevant later, depending on your policy and situation.
After the storm, document damage before cleanup
If damage happens, start a second round of documentation as soon as it is safe. Do not enter unsafe structures, stand in floodwater, or touch electrical hazards.
Take photos and videos before moving damaged items, unless leaving them in place creates a safety risk. Capture the full scene, then close-ups.
Document:
Water lines on walls
Wet flooring and rugs
Damaged ceilings
Broken windows
Missing shingles visible from the ground
Fallen trees
Damaged fencing
Ruined furniture
Appliance damage
Mold concerns
Personal property losses
Make temporary repairs to prevent more damage if it is safe, such as covering a broken window or placing a tarp over a leak. Keep receipts and photograph the repair process.
Do not throw away damaged belongings until you have documented them and checked with your insurer, unless they create a health or safety hazard. If you must discard items, photograph them clearly first.
Keep a claim log. Write down the date, time, person you spoke with, phone number, and what was discussed. Save emails, claim numbers, estimates, invoices, and adjuster notes in one folder.
A practical hurricane documentation checklist
Use this checklist before the storm arrives:
Review homeowners, flood, windstorm, auto, renters, or condo policies
Save claim phone numbers and policy numbers
Record a continuous walkthrough video inside the home
Narrate the date, location, room names, and major belongings
Open closets, cabinets, drawers, garage storage, and sheds
Take photos of serial numbers, model numbers, and receipts
Photograph upgrades, appliances, furniture, electronics, and valuables
Record the outside of the property from the ground
Create or update a room-by-room inventory
Back up all files to cloud storage and another location
Store printed documents in a waterproof container
Move valuables and records away from windows and low areas
Secure loose outdoor items
Keep receipts for storm prep, repairs, and temporary expenses
After the storm, document damage before cleanup
The goal is not perfection. The goal is to create a clear record while you still can.
A hurricane claim can involve stress, delays, and hundreds of small details. Pre-storm documentation gives you a starting point when memory is unreliable and damage is fresh. Walk through your home with your phone, keep the video running, show what matters, and back it up before the storm arrives.
That simple hour of preparation can make the days after a hurricane more organized, more accurate, and less overwhelming.
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