The Hurricane-Season Plumbing Checklist for Florida Homes

Ten minutes before the storm saves thousands after it. Run this list when a watch turns into a warning:

• Find and test your main shutoff now — not by flashlight at 2 a.m.
• Fill the tubs for flushing water if service is interrupted.
• Strap or check the water heater and know where its valve and breaker are.
• Clear yard drains and gutters — most “flooding” calls are really blockage calls.
• Backflow check if you’re low-lying: storm surge in a compromised sewer lateral is the worst houseguest.

After the storm: if the water heater took on floodwater, don’t relight it — call first. Same for any gas smell.