Hurricane Preparation Guide: AL, TN & GA (2026)
When hurricane season hits the Southeast
The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30, and activity peaks from mid-August through October (source: NOAA National Hurricane Center). The Alabama Gulf Coast faces direct landfall risk, but Tennessee and Georgia are not spared: hurricane remnants drive inland flooding, damaging wind, and tornado outbreaks hundreds of miles from the coast. Everyone in Alabama, Tennessee and Georgia should treat the start of the season as a deadline to finish preparing.
72-hour preparation checklist
Build (or refresh) your kit before a storm is in the forecast. This list follows federal preparedness guidance from Ready.gov and FEMA; it is intentionally copy-friendly so you can paste it into a notes app or print it.
- Water — one gallon per person per day for at least three days (drinking and sanitation).
- Food — a three-day supply of non-perishable food and a manual can opener.
- Medications — a 7–10 day supply of prescriptions, plus a basic first-aid kit.
- Power — flashlights, extra batteries, phone power banks, and a battery or hand-crank radio.
- Cash — small bills; ATMs and card readers fail when power and networks go down.
- Fuel — fill vehicle tanks early; refill any approved generator fuel containers safely.
- Documents — the document set below, sealed in a waterproof bag or saved to the cloud.
- Evacuation plan — know your zone, your route, and where you will go before an order is issued.
- Communication plan — an out-of-area contact everyone can check in with if local lines are down.
- Special needs — supplies for infants, seniors, pets, and anyone with medical equipment.
Documents to gather before the storm
Assembling your paperwork now turns a stressful claim into a fast one. Keep both a waterproof physical copy and a cloud or emailed copy.
- Homeowners, renters, auto and flood insurance policies (with policy numbers and your agent's phone number).
- Government IDs, passports, and Social Security cards.
- Mortgage or lease documents and your property deed.
- A current photo and video inventory of your home and belongings, room by room — this is the single most valuable thing you can do for a future claim.
- Medical records, prescriptions, and immunization records.
- Recent bank and financial account information.
Insurance check 30 days before peak season
An NFIP flood policy normally has a 30-day waiting period, with specified exceptions (source: FEMA / FloodSmart.gov). Review coverage well before storm season and confirm the effective date. Ask your agent — independent or otherwise — these questions:
- What is my windstorm or named-storm deductible? Coastal policies often apply a separate percentage deductible rather than a flat dollar amount.
- Do I have a flood policy, and when does it take effect? Check the normal 30-day NFIP wait and any applicable exception.
- Is my dwelling settled at replacement cost or actual cash value? See replacement cost vs. actual cash value.
- Are there sublimits for screened porches, fences, outbuildings, or other structures?
- Does my limit reflect today's rebuild cost? Construction inflation can leave older limits short.
For deeper background, see our guides on hurricane coverage on the Gulf Coast and wind & hail deductibles in AL, TN & GA.
After the storm — first 72 hours
Safety comes before any paperwork. Wait for official all-clears, avoid downed power lines and floodwater, and do not enter a structurally compromised home. Once it is safe:
- Document everything first. Photograph and video every angle of the damage before you move or discard anything.
- Make reasonable temporary repairs (tarp a roof, board a window) to prevent further damage, and keep all receipts — most policies reimburse mitigation costs.
- Contact your agent or carrier and file your claim, ideally within the first week. Note your claim number and adjuster contact.
- Keep a claim diary with names, dates, and reference numbers for every conversation.
- Be cautious of unsolicited contractors. Use licensed, locally accountable professionals and never sign over your claim before an adjuster has inspected the damage.
State-specific resources
Every link below goes to an official emergency-management or insurance authority.
Alabama
Tennessee
Georgia
- Georgia Emergency Management & Homeland Security Agency (GEMA/HS)
- Georgia Office of Commissioner of Insurance (GA OCI)
Federal
When to evacuate vs. shelter in place
Evacuation orders in each state can come from the governor or from county emergency-management authorities; coastal counties manage their own zone-based orders. When an order is issued for your zone, leave — sheltering in place is only for situations where no evacuation order applies and your home is outside surge and flood zones.
| State | Who orders evacuations | Where to find the official advisory |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Governor and county EMAs (coastal counties run zone-based orders) | ALEMA |
| Tennessee | Governor and county/local emergency management | TEMA |
| Georgia | Governor and county EMAs (coastal counties run zone-based orders) | GEMA/HS |
Always verify orders with your county emergency-management agency and monitor NOAA NHC advisories and local National Weather Service offices.
TCDS Insurance Agency is an independent agency based in Pinson, Alabama, serving Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee. We compare available carriers so you can match coverage to your real hurricane and flood risk. Get a free, no-obligation quote or call us to review your policy before the season.
Hurricane season at a glance (Southeast)
The Atlantic hurricane season runs June 1 through November 30, with activity peaking from mid-August through October (source: NOAA National Hurricane Center). Alabama's Gulf Coast faces direct wind and storm-surge risk, while inland Alabama, Tennessee and Georgia routinely absorb the heavy rain, flash flooding and tornadoes that hurricane remnants carry hundreds of miles from landfall. Preparation is a year-round habit, but the 30 days before peak season is the moment to confirm your coverage and your plan.
Two facts shape every hurricane insurance decision in the Southeast: homeowners policies cover wind but never flood, and a separate flood policy through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) carries a 30-day waiting period before it takes effect (source: FEMA / FloodSmart.gov). You cannot buy flood coverage when a storm is already named. Build your file of documents now, and ask your agent the coverage questions below well before a system enters the Gulf.
| Topic | What to know | Official source |
|---|---|---|
| Official season | June 1 – November 30; peak mid-Aug through October. | NOAA NHC |
| Wind vs. flood | Homeowners covers wind; flood needs a separate NFIP or private policy. | FEMA / FloodSmart |
| NFIP waiting period | Typically 30 days from purchase before coverage applies. | FEMA / FloodSmart |
| Hurricane deductible | Coastal policies often apply a percentage named-storm deductible. | III |
| Build a kit | Food, water (1 gal/person/day, 3+ days), meds, documents, cash, fuel. | Ready.gov |
| Evacuation authority | Governors and county EMAs issue orders; follow local advisories. | FEMA |
Compiled from NOAA NHC, FEMA, FloodSmart.gov, Ready.gov and the Insurance Information Institute. Your policy's specific deductibles and deadlines control.
See the full Alabama insurance guide.
Part of: Flood Insurance
Frequently Asked Questions
What does my homeowners insurance cover during a hurricane?
A standard homeowners policy covers hurricane wind damage to your structure and belongings, debris removal, and additional living expenses if your home is uninhabitable. It does not cover flood or storm surge, that requires a separate flood policy. Coastal homes often have a separate percentage-based hurricane or named-storm deductible, so check your declarations page before the season.
Do I need a separate flood insurance policy?
Yes if you want protection from storm surge or rising water, because homeowners insurance never covers flood. The most destructive part of a hurricane on the coast is surge, and even inland homes flood from hurricane rainfall. FEMA reports a large share of flood claims come from outside high-risk zones, so flood coverage is worth considering across Alabama, Tennessee and Georgia.
How long does NFIP flood insurance take to take effect?
NFIP policies normally have a 30-day waiting period. Exceptions can apply to qualifying mortgage transactions, certain renewal coverage increases, qualifying flood-map changes, and qualifying post-wildfire flooding. Private flood insurers set their own waiting periods and binding rules. Confirm the effective date before relying on coverage; buying a policy does not insure an existing loss.
What is a hurricane deductible?
A hurricane or named-storm deductible is a separate, usually percentage-based deductible (for example 1%–5% of your dwelling limit) that applies only when a named storm causes the damage, instead of your flat all-perils deductible. On a $300,000 home a 2% deductible means $6,000 out of pocket before wind coverage applies. The exact figure is on your policy declarations and varies by carrier.
What if I rent, do I need hurricane coverage?
Renters insurance covers your belongings against hurricane wind damage and provides additional living expenses if the unit is uninhabitable, but it does not cover flood. Renters in flood-prone areas can buy contents-only flood coverage through the NFIP. Your landlord's policy covers the building, not your possessions.