Illustration image of red house with white porch and white picket fence but dark skies and clouds hovering above house; concept of extreme weather or stormy weather, storm.

Be Storm Smart: How to Prepare for Extreme Weather

April 16, 2026

According to a 2025 report from Realtor.com, an estimated 26.1% of U.S. homes are exposed to at least one type of severe or extreme weather risk.(1) Extreme weather can strike unexpectedly, resulting in costly damage to your home and putting your family’s safety at risk. While you can’t control the forecast, you can control how prepared you are for it.

Protect your home before the weather turns wild

Fortunately, there are proactive steps you can take to help protect your home from extreme weather, but it’s important to start the process before the storm season starts. To help prepare your home for wild weather, be sure to:

Inspect and repair roof shingles and flashing
Clean your gutters and downspouts
Trim overhanging tree limbs and secure outdoor items
Check windows, doors, and shutters to make sure they are properly sealed/reinforced

If you live in a fire zone, keep roof surfaces and gutters free of flammable materials, such as pine needles, leaves, and branches, and consider installing fire-resistant roofing and/or siding materials.

Percentage of U.S. homes that faced the following types of severe or extreme climate risk in 2025

5.6% Wildfire

6.1% Flood

18.3% Wind/hurricane

Source: Realtor.com, Housing and Climate Risk Report, September 3, 2025

Be prepared with a plan

Extreme weather can sometimes cause power outages that last for days. It can also result in downed power lines, fallen trees, and/or flooding that make roads impassable. Know evacuation routes and have an emergency communication plan that identifies a safe place to meet in the event that family members become separated. Keep important addresses and phone numbers readily accessible and identify a place where you can safely stay for an extended period of time, if necessary. In addition, assemble an emergency kit with the following items:

Food/supplies. Stock up on several days’ worth of nonperishable food and bottled water. Store other items that are specific to your family’s needs, such as infant formula, diapers, pet food, clothing, and blankets.

First aid/medicine. Be prepared for possible medical needs by having a first-aid kit. Also talk to your doctor about obtaining an extra prescription for important medications you take.

Communication/safety items. Make sure your cell phones are fully charged. Also gather additional safety items, such as matches, flashlights, batteries, and a battery-powered AM/FM radio. Have copies of your driver’s license or identification card and other important documents.

Make sure your insurance coverage can weather the storm

Review all of your insurance policies to make sure that you have appropriate coverage for your property and belongings. Consider insuring your home and its contents to their full replacement cost, including any new additions, remodels, and furniture. To assist with extreme weather-related insurance claims, be sure to take pictures/videos and make an inventory of your home and valuables in case they are damaged or destroyed.

If your home suffers severe damage from extreme weather, you’ll need to file a claim with your insurance company. To make the claims process easier, take pictures to document the damage as soon as possible. While your claim is being processed, take steps to prevent further damage (e.g., putting a tarp on a damaged roof), since the insurance company may not cover anything beyond the initial damage to your property. Claims may be paid up to policy limits.

Keep in mind that certain types of extreme weather damage (e.g., flood damage) may be excluded from a standard homeowners policy, but separate coverage is often available. Contact your insurance agent or company to determine if you need to purchase additional insurance tailored to the risk in your area. If your home is deemed to be at high risk of extreme weather due to its geographic area, you may want to look for an insurance company that specializes in high-risk home insurance. High-risk policies often have significant exclusions and policy limits and are more expensive than traditional home insurance policies. However, they can provide coverage to a home that might otherwise be uninsurable.

For more information on extreme weather preparedness, visit the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s website, ready.gov.

Source:

1) Realtor.com, Housing and Climate Risk Report, September 3, 2025

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