The Atlantic hurricane season officially runs from June 1 through November 30. For Long Island, the active threat window is concentrated from late August through October — the period when tropical systems are most likely to track northward along the Atlantic coast and intersect with Long Island. The preparation that matters most happens before the season, not when the storm is 48 hours away.
Structural Preparation
Roof inspection: Schedule a licensed roofing contractor inspection before June 1. Specifically: dormer step flashing on Cape Cods, ridge cap condition, any visible missing or curled shingles, and the condition of all roof penetrations (skylights, plumbing vents, HVAC flues). A roof that holds through October nor’easters will handle most hurricanes — a roof with deferred maintenance may not. Sump pump system: The pre-spring checklist items apply equally to hurricane prep: pump test, battery backup function test, discharge line clearance confirmation. A hurricane making landfall on Long Island will produce both storm surge and inland rainfall — both tax the sump system simultaneously. Gutters and leaders: Clear for maximum drainage capacity. Leaders should direct water at least 6 feet from the foundation. Generator readiness: Whole-house standby generators should be serviced annually. Portable generators should have fresh fuel and be tested before the season. Sandy left 945,000 Long Island customers without power — the next major hurricane will produce comparable outages.
Flood Zone Preparation
South shore Nassau and Suffolk homeowners in FEMA Special Flood Hazard Areas should verify: flood insurance policy is current and covers both the structure at replacement cost and contents; the NFIP policy’s effective date has not lapsed (NFIP policies take 30 days to become effective — you cannot buy flood insurance when the storm is approaching); basement contents are elevated or removed from flood risk areas before the season; and your property’s Elevation Certificate is current and on file.
Document Preparation
Insurance policies, deeds, and mortgage documents stored in a waterproof container or off-site. Photographic inventory of all personal property for contents insurance claims — a room-by-room video walkthrough stored in cloud backup. FEMA community flood map printout showing your property’s flood zone designation for reference during post-storm permit applications.
Emergency Contact Pre-Planning
Storm events overwhelm contractor phone lines within hours of making landfall. Pre-registering with Upper Restoration’s priority emergency response list before the season ensures that Long Island clients receive priority callback during the surge of post-storm service requests that follows every major event. Our pre-season registration program is available at no charge and commits to priority response for registered clients in declared disaster events.
