The Hurricane Checklist Most People Forget: How to Make Your Home Survive the Storm

Hurricane season is here, but real preparation is about more than buying water and batteries.In this episode of Meteorology Matters, created by meteorologist Rob Jones, we look at what actually helps homes survive hurricanes: sealed roofs, protected windows, stronger garage doors, hurricane shutters, flood barriers, backup power, insurance documentation, and the overlooked steps many people forget until a storm is already approaching.We also explain why the “building envelope” matters, how one failed opening can lead to major structural damage, why closing interior doors can reduce pressure on a roof, and how modern mitigation standards such as FORTIFIED construction can lower risk and reduce losses.The episode also looks back 100 years to the devastating 1926 Great Miami Hurricane and the October 1926 Cuba Hurricane, showing why historical storms still matter today as millions of people live in hurricane-prone areas.Preparedness is not panic. It is planning, mitigation, and giving your family and your home the best chance before the storm arrives.