Hurricane season in coastal South Carolina doesn't wait for you to be ready. By the time a storm is named, the supply chains for generators, plywood, and contractors are already stressed — and the homeowners who prepared in May have options that everyone else doesn't.
May is the month to act. Not June when the first cone of uncertainty shows a storm approaching Hilton Head or the Grand Strand. May, when you have time, availability, and a full market of contractors.
Here's the practical checklist: 15 tasks, divided into what you can do yourself, what you should hire out now, and what you should skip (or defer).
The Pre-Season Inspection (May)
Before you do anything else, do a walk-around inspection of your property. Document everything with photos — roof, gutters, exterior fixtures, windows, doors, grading around the foundation. Photos taken in May are your baseline for insurance documentation if a storm causes damage later.
Do These Yourself (May)
These tasks require time, not specialized equipment. Do them in May, before the checklist demand surge.
1. Clean and secure gutters
Clogged gutters are the most common cause of water intrusion during heavy coastal rain events. Clear all debris from gutters and downspouts. Check that downspouts direct water at least 3 feet away from the foundation. In coastal SC, where rainfall can be 8–12 inches in a single storm, gutter capacity and proper drainage are critical.
2. Trim trees and remove dead branches
Walk your property and identify any dead branches hanging over the house, driveway, or roof. Remove them now. In a tropical storm or hurricane, dead branches become projectiles. A 6-foot limb through a window or roof is $5,000–$15,000 in damage that a $50 tree trimmer would have prevented.
Also note any trees that are already leaning or have compromised root systems. In high-wind events (65+ mph), trees that seem fine in calm weather can fail. Document which trees concern you, so if one fails in a storm, you have evidence of pre-existing risk.
3. Check window and door seals
Walk through every exterior door and window. Look for gaps in weatherstripping, cracked caulk around frames, and any seal that looks worn. Reseal with high-quality exterior caulk. In a storm with 50–70 mph wind-driven rain, a degraded window seal is a leak.
4. Secure outdoor furniture and décor
Patio furniture, potted plants, decorative elements, grill covers, propane tanks — anything that can move in high wind should be secured to a permanent structure or moved inside. Photograph the secured state so you remember what was where when the storm passes.
For larger items (sheds, carports, freestanding structures): check their anchoring. Many were installed during calmer years and the anchors have loosened over time.
5. Inspect your roof from the ground
You don't need to climb the roof. Walk around the perimeter with binoculars and look for:
- Missing or lifted shingles
- Damaged flashing around vents, chimneys, skylights
- Any visible gaps in the roof plane
- Satellite dish or antenna mounts that look loose
Document what you see. If you spot issues, you have until June 1 to decide whether to fix them yourself or hire someone.
6. Review your insurance policy
Pull out your homeowner's policy and read it. Specifically look for:
- Hurricane deductible (often a percentage of the home's insured value, not a dollar amount)
- Water damage coverage and any exclusions for flood vs. wind-driven rain
- Contents coverage limits
- Whether you have replacement cost or actual cash value coverage
Take photos of every room. Store them in cloud storage (not on your phone, which might be lost). If a total loss occurs, you need documentation of what you owned.
Hire These Out Now (Before June 1)
These tasks require a licensed contractor or specialized equipment. The window to book them is narrow: May. By June 1, the good contractors are booked for the season.
7. Professional gutter cleaning and inspection
If your gutters are high (two-story) or you have multiple acres of roofline, hire a professional. They also do an inspection during cleaning that you'll miss from the ground — including checking for proper hangers, sealed joints, and appropriate slope.
8. Roof inspection by a licensed roofer
If you saw anything concerning in your ground-level inspection, or if your roof is over 10 years old, hire a roof inspection now. A licensed roofer can identify issues that aren't visible from the ground — including soft spots in the sheathing, compromised flashing at the eaves, and nail pops that create leak points during wind-driven rain.
Important: In coastal SC, after Hurricane Matthew (2016) and Hurricane Florence (2018), roof scams spike every hurricane season. Verify that any contractor you hire is licensed in South Carolina, carries liability and workers' comp insurance, and has local references. Don't pay the full amount upfront.
9. Exterior fixture inspection (HVAC, lights, mounts)
Salt air corrodes metal. Every bracket, mounting point, and fastener on your home's exterior is slowly degrading. A handyman or general contractor can inspect all exterior-mounted items — HVAC mounting, light fixtures, flagpole mounts, deck railing connections, gate hardware — and identify which need replacement or reinforcement before high-wind season.
Find a verified handyman in Charleston or Myrtle Beach handyman through ProPulse.
10. Pressure wash the exterior (if you haven't this spring)
Yes, we just said hurricane season prep. Pressure washing your exterior before June 1 serves two purposes: it removes biological growth that can hide damage and deterioration, and it gives you a clean surface to inspect. When you're looking at a freshly washed wall, you see everything — cracks, rot, sealant failures, corrosion. When you're looking at a dirty wall with algae and salt residue, you miss the problems.
See our Charleston pressure washing cost guide for current 2026 pricing.
11. Tree assessment by a certified arborist
If you have mature trees within 30 feet of the house, especially Live Oaks, a certified arborist should assess them before June. Certified arborists (look for ISA certification) can identify structural weaknesses, root rot, and deadwood that isn't obvious from the ground. A $150 tree assessment can identify a $3,000 risk reduction that a storm would otherwise expose.
This is especially important on the sea islands and barrier islands near Charleston, where salt wind stress weakens trees faster than inland properties.
Emergency Preparation (Already in Place)
These aren't May tasks — they're ongoing habits. Make sure you have these before June 1.
12. Inventory and document your belongings
Complete home inventory with photos stored in cloud storage. This takes 2–3 hours and is the single most useful document in an insurance claim. Use a smartphone app (there are free ones) or just a spreadsheet with photos. The goal is to be able to say "I owned a 2022 Samsung 65" TV, serial number X, purchased for $900" — not "I had a TV."
13. Know your evacuation zone and route
Charleston County, Horry County, and Georgetown County each have published evacuation zones and routes. Know yours before June 1. Don't wait until a storm is approaching to figure out which route to take. Make a physical copy of your evacuation plan — if the internet is down, you need a piece of paper.
14. Stock emergency supplies (rotate annually)
Check expiration dates on non-perishables. Replace batteries. Check that generators start. Rotate gas in fuel cans (stale gas damages small engines). Update the first aid kit. This takes 30 minutes and could matter for days.
15. Review your emergency contact list
Not just family — contractors, insurance agent, emergency contact, out-of-area family member who serves as the communication hub if local lines are down. Make sure everyone has the same contact plan. Designate one person outside the affected area as the central point — in a widespread outage, everyone calling everyone creates confusion.
What to Skip or Defer
Some tasks that feel urgent aren't worth doing in May:
- Buying plywood for window covers. If you haven't already cut and labeled plywood for your windows, you're not going to do it correctly in May under time pressure. Instead, invest in hurricane fabric or storm shutters. If you have them, verify they're in place. If you don't, that's a project for next off-season.
- Gas station fuel runs on the day of the storm. Don't waste 4 hours in a gas line. Top off your tank when the storm is still a week away. Keep a 5-gallon gas can for the generator with stabilizer-treated fuel. Fill it in late May, rotate through it before November.
- Any landscaping that involves digging near your foundation. If you're planning to re-grade or re-drain around your foundation, do it in September (after hurricane season) not May. Digging near a foundation in May doesn't fix the problem in time for June, and it may create new water infiltration pathways before you get around to finishing the work.
The May Checklist Summary
| Task | Type | By When |
|---|---|---|
| Gutter cleaning and repair | DIY or hire | May |
| Trim dead branches and trees | DIY or hire arborist | May |
| Check and reseal window/door seals | DIY | May |
| Secure outdoor furniture and décor | DIY | May (before first named storm) |
| Roof ground-level inspection with photos | DIY | May |
| Review homeowner's insurance policy | DIY | May |
| Professional gutter cleaning (2-story+) | Hire | May (before June 1) |
| Licensed roof inspection (if needed) | Hire | May (before June 1) |
| Exterior fixture corrosion inspection | Hire handyman | May (before June 1) |
| Pressure wash exterior | Hire | May (before June 1) |
| Mature tree assessment (arborist) | Hire | May (before June 1) |
| Home inventory with photos | DIY | May |
| Know your evacuation zone and route | DIY | May |
| Rotate emergency supply inventory | DIY | May |
| Review and share emergency contact plan | DIY | May |
When the Storm Is 5 Days Out
When a storm is tracking toward coastal SC, shift from preparation to action: confirm your evacuation plan, top off your tank, charge all devices and portable batteries, bring in unsecured items, check on neighbors who may need help evacuating, and fill prescriptions early — pharmacies may be closed for days after landfall.
Don't wait for official evacuation orders to leave. If you're in Zone A or Zone B in Charleston or Horry County, leaving before an order gives you options. Leaving after an order gives you a traffic jam.
ProPulse helps you find Charleston and Myrtle Beach contractors for post-storm repairs — but first, take May seriously.