Hurricane Season Electrical Checklist

Why it matters here

The western Panhandle has a long hurricane history. Hurricane Ivan in 2004 and Hurricane Sally in 2020 both caused widespread damage and long outages in the area, and the National Weather Service office covering Pensacola issues the local tropical watches and warnings each season (National Weather Service Mobile/Pensacola).

Before the season (spring)

• Decide how you will run a generator, and have an inlet with an interlock or a transfer switch installed if you do not have one.
• Start and run the generator under load. Replace old fuel and check oil.
• Pick the circuits you want on backup and label them in the panel.
• Install battery-backed carbon monoxide alarms on every level.
• Consider whole-home surge protection at the panel.
• Check FEMA's flood maps to see whether the home is in a mapped flood zone (FEMA flood maps).

When a storm is coming

• Charge phones, battery packs and medical device batteries.
• Unplug sensitive electronics you will not need.
• If flooding is likely, know how to turn off the main breaker, but only if you can reach it while standing on dry ground.
• Keep the generator stored where it will stay dry and can be moved outdoors safely.

Generator safety during an outage

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission warns that portable generators cause carbon monoxide deaths after storms and should never be run indoors, in garages or near open windows; it recommends placing them at least 20 feet from the house with exhaust directed away (U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, portable generators). Never plug a generator into a wall outlet. Ready.gov's outage guidance adds keeping freezers closed and using flashlights instead of candles (Ready.gov, power outages).

After the storm

• Stay away from downed lines and report them to the utility.
• If water reached outlets, the panel or appliances, leave the power off to those areas until they are checked.
• Look for damage at the meter base and the service wires to the house. Damage there is often the owner's to fix before the utility can reconnect.
• When utility power returns, switch the generator off and return the interlock or transfer switch to normal before turning the main back on.

Flooded equipment

Breakers, outlets, panels and wiring that sat in water usually need evaluation and often replacement. See home wiring and rewiring and what shapes a generator or surge scope.

Related pages: generator connections & surge protection, home wiring & rewiring, electrical panel upgrades, and what shapes an estimate.

Sources: National Weather Service Mobile/Pensacola; U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, portable generators; Ready.gov, power outages; FEMA flood maps.