Hurricane preparedness for snowbirds in Florida

Hurricane season timing — the snowbird advantage

Florida's hurricane season officially runs from June 1 through November 30. The statistical peak risk period — when major hurricanes are most likely to form and hit Florida — is from mid-August through mid-October. The typical Canadian snowbird arrives in October or November and departs in April or May. This means the vast majority of snowbirds are in Canada during the highest-risk months of hurricane season, which is one of the underappreciated advantages of the snowbird lifestyle.

However, there are two periods of potential overlap: late October arrivals (some late-season storms, though statistically less common) and late May/early June departures (the very beginning of hurricane season). Snowbirds present during these windows should monitor nhc.noaa.gov and have an evacuation plan ready.

Pre-departure hurricane checklist

Before returning to Canada each spring, complete these hurricane-preparedness steps for your Florida property:

Shutters and windows

• Test all hurricane shutters — accordion, roll-down, or panel shutters — to confirm they operate correctly
• Close and lock all shutters before leaving if your area is historically prone to late-season storms
• If your property has impact-resistant windows instead of shutters, confirm they have no cracks or seal failures

Outdoor areas

• Store all outdoor furniture, planters, decorations, and grills inside or in a storage unit — these become dangerous projectiles in high winds
• Remove shade sails, awnings, and any temporary structures
• Trim trees and bushes near your unit if you own a single-family home (condo associations typically handle common area landscaping)

Utilities and interior

• Turn water off at the main shutoff valve (prevents flooding from pipe bursts or burst hose connections)
• Leave air conditioning on economy/auto mode at about 82–85°F to prevent mold growth in Florida's humid summers
• Unplug electronics and appliances susceptible to power surge damage
• Leave interior doors open to allow air circulation

Documentation

• Walk through and video-record the entire property before departure — this is invaluable for insurance claims
• Upload the video and photos to cloud storage accessible from Canada
• Keep your insurance policy documents in cloud storage (not just a physical copy at the Florida property)

Trusted local contact — essential for absent owners

Every Canadian snowbird property owner needs a trusted local contact in Florida who can: check on the property after a storm, communicate damage to you and your insurance company, coordinate emergency repairs, and take protective action (additional sandbagging, emergency shutter deployment) if a storm approaches.

Options: a property management company (typically $50–$150/month for basic year-round watch service), a trusted neighbor with formal written authorization, or a local friend or family member. A property manager is strongly recommended — they have the relationships with contractors for emergency repairs and experience navigating post-storm insurance processes.

Florida property insurance — the crisis you need to know about

Florida has been experiencing a severe property insurance crisis since approximately 2021, driven by litigation costs, climate-related losses, and reinsurance challenges. More than a dozen private insurers have left the Florida market or been declared insolvent. The consequences for Canadian snowbird owners:

• Higher premiums: Florida property insurance rates have risen 40–100% in many areas over the past 3 years
• Citizens Property Insurance: the state-backed insurer of last resort is now one of the largest insurers in Florida; many snowbird-owned condos are insured through Citizens; Citizens rates are set by the state and have also risen significantly
• Coverage limitations: some policies now exclude or limit wind damage, or have very high wind deductibles (e.g., 2–5% of the insured value for named storm damage)

Verify your property insurance coverage annually. Confirm: (1) your policy is in force; (2) your dwelling coverage amount reflects current replacement cost (construction costs have risen significantly); (3) your wind deductible amount; (4) your flood insurance status (most standard policies do NOT cover flood — separate NFIP or private flood policy required in flood-prone areas).

Evacuation zones — know yours before you need it

Florida counties organize evacuation zones alphabetically from A (highest risk) to E or F (lowest risk). Zone A properties are within the storm surge inundation zone for a Category 1 hurricane or higher. Mandatory evacuation orders for Zone A are common for any significant storm. Know your property's evacuation zone and the designated evacuation routes before a storm approaches — not after.

Find your property's evacuation zone: search "[County name] Florida evacuation zones" or visit your county's emergency management website. Zone lookup tools are available by address in most Florida counties.

Sources

1. National Hurricane Center — nhc.noaa.gov
2. Florida Division of Emergency Management — floridadisaster.org
3. Citizens Property Insurance — citizensfla.com
4. Florida Office of Insurance Regulation — floir.com