Hurricane season runs June 1 through November 30. If you live in Liberty County, Chambers County, or the Baytown-Crosby-Highlands corridor, that's a deadline. Get ready before the Gulf spins something up and you're scrambling for plywood at Home Depot with every other unprepared homeowner in Harris County.
At a glance
- Start prep in April. Arborist calendars and propane suppliers fill up fast.
- Wind-driven rain causes about 50% of hurricane home damage (IBHS), mostly through compromised roof edges and soffits.
- Store 1 gallon of water per person per day for 14 days minimum.
- Know your windstorm deductible in dollars. A 2% deductible on a $350,000 home = $7,000 out of pocket.
- Flood insurance has a 30-day waiting period. May is the last responsible time to buy before June 1.
- Have $300-$500 cash in small bills. ATMs in Baytown and Crosby ran dry within 36 hours after Beryl.
Monthly prep timeline
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| April | Test generator under load. Replace fuel and oil. Schedule tree trimming. Order long-lead supplies (transfer switches, propane, backup batteries). |
| Early May | Inspect roof for missing shingles, lifted edges, failed flashing. Clean gutters. Photograph every room for insurance documentation. |
| Mid-May | Call insurance agent. Review windstorm deductible, flood coverage, policy limits. Confirm TWIA coverage if applicable. Digitize critical documents to two cloud services. |
| Late May | Fill 14-day water supply. Top off propane. Confirm evacuation route and destination. |
| June 1 | Run generator one final time. Stock 72-hour go-bag. Verify sump pump backup. |
Roof and gutters
A $200 flashing repair done in May beats a $12,000 insurance claim in September. Get up on the roof or hire a TDLR-licensed contractor before June.
Check for missing shingles, lifted edges, and flashing that has pulled away from chimneys, vents, or skylights. In Liberty and Chambers County, the humidity degrades roofing sealants faster than the Panhandle. A roof that looked fine in March can have open seams by June.
Clean gutters of pine needles and oak debris. Run a hose through them to check for sags and joint separations. Backed-up gutters send overflow straight to your foundation or fascia boards.
Don't hand your biggest asset to someone you found on a yard sign. Ask for proof of general liability and workers' comp.
Generator
Run it now. Not the day the storm makes landfall.
After Hurricane Beryl hit the Houston area in July 2024, some Highlands and Crosby neighborhoods went without power for two weeks. That's the record for CenterPoint and Entergy Texas service territory.
| Type | Cost | Tradeoff |
|---|---|---|
| Portable gas | $400-$1,500 | Affordable but requires fuel, can't run central AC, must be home |
| Whole-home standby (22kW Generac) | $5,000-$8,000 installed | Runs on gas or propane, automatic, powers whole house |
Pull your generator out in April. Drain old gas or add STA-BIL stabilizer ($10). Change the oil. Check the air filter. Run it under load for 30 minutes with something real plugged in.
If you go standby on propane, top off the tank before June 1. Propane suppliers in Liberty County and Dayton get backlogged once a storm watch is posted.
Carbon monoxide kills people in Texas every hurricane season. Never run a generator inside a garage, carport, or within 20 feet of a window or door. Install a battery-operated CO detector inside.
Emergency water
One gallon per person per day, for 14 days. Family of four = 56 gallons minimum.
Seven-gallon WaterBrick containers (about $35 each) handle Texas heat better than thin-walled jugs. Fill from tap, add 8 drops of unscented bleach per gallon for storage beyond 30 days, label with fill date, rotate annually.
Store water above flood level. In Chambers County and the low-lying parts of Crosby and Highlands, first floors and garages flood. A raised shelf in an interior closet or second floor is better than a garage corner.
Triple your estimate if you have pets or livestock. Don't forget sanitation water for flushing and wound cleaning.
Trees
Trim before May 31. Trees are the leading cause of structural damage during tropical storms in East Texas.
Walk your property. Every tree within striking distance of the house, fence, vehicles, and utility connection needs evaluation. A tree that takes out your meter base adds days to power restoration. That repair is your responsibility, not CenterPoint's or Entergy Texas's.
Hire an ISA-certified arborist. Verify credentials on the ISA website. In Texas, tree service companies don't require TDLR licensing, so quality varies. Ask for proof of insurance. Be skeptical of anyone who offers to "top" your trees. Topping weakens structure and increases failure risk.
Budget $300-$1,200 per tree depending on size and proximity to structures. Dead limbs come down regardless of size.
Documents checklist
Scan everything with a free app (Adobe Scan or Microsoft Lens). Save to two cloud services. Give a trusted family member outside East Texas access.
- Homeowner's insurance declarations page and full policy
- Flood insurance policy
- Deed to property
- Vehicle titles
- Birth certificates and Social Security cards
- Medical records and prescription lists
- Photo inventory of every room with serial numbers on appliances
- Passport copies
A waterproof, fireproof document box (Honeywell 1104, about $45) stores originals. Keep it where you can grab it in 90 seconds.
Do a phone video walkthrough of your house once a year, narrating serial numbers. Worth more in an insurance dispute than most people expect.
Insurance review
Read your declarations page. Find your windstorm deductible. Write that number down.
| Insurance issue | What to check |
|---|---|
| Windstorm deductible | Ask for the dollar amount, not just the percentage. 2% on $350,000 = $7,000. |
| TWIA coverage | Parts of Chambers County and Trinity Bay area require a separate windstorm policy. |
| Flood insurance | Separate from homeowner's policy. 30-day waiting period. $250K structure / $100K contents through NFIP. |
| Named storm clause | Some policies jump from 1% to 5% deductible when NWS names the storm. |
| Replacement cost | Verify dwelling coverage matches actual rebuild cost at current lumber and labor prices. |
Call your local independent agent, not the 1-800 number. An agent writing in Liberty and Chambers County knows the flood map quirks and TWIA nuances.
Take date-stamped photos of your property now, before any storm. Pre-storm condition photos make it harder for an adjuster to argue existing damage.
Go-bag checklist
- 72-hour supply of medications
- Phone chargers and portable battery pack
- $300-$500 in small bills
- Copies of ID and insurance declarations
- Change of clothes and toiletries
- First aid kit
- Pet supplies if applicable
- Written evacuation route and destination address
Hurricane prep in East Texas isn't exotic. It's maintenance done on purpose, with a deadline. Start in April. The Gulf doesn't wait.