Hurricane Preparation for Renters and Apartment Residents

1. Confirm the property plan

Read your lease and building notices, then ask for a clear division of tasks. Who installs approved shutters? Who handles drainage, trees, common areas, and repairs? How will management send updates if its office or online portal is unavailable? Report existing leaks or damaged windows in writing before a storm approaches.

• Save the manager's regular and emergency maintenance contacts.
• Ask about entrances, stairways, parking, and access during a power outage.
• Confirm any authorized preparation inside your unit and who supplies materials.
• Ask how residents will learn whether the building is ready for return.

Do not improvise structural changes or attach coverings without authorization. Avoid last-minute ladder work. The National Weather Service hurricane preparedness guide encourages renters to coordinate preparation with landlords. Fannie Mae's lease guidance helps identify maintenance procedures and responsibilities; the details depend on your lease and location.

2. Plan where you will go

Find your evacuation zone through local emergency management. Choose a destination and a backup, confirm transportation, and include pets and accessibility needs. Ask the local shelter planner which locations may open, how opening notices are issued, and what arrangements are available. A familiar school or community center is not necessarily an open shelter.

Follow local evacuation orders even if management has not contacted you. Do not assume an upper-floor apartment is safe because it sits above street-level water. If you rent a mobile or manufactured home, plan sturdier shelter before severe weather and follow local instructions to leave. The NWS hurricane preparedness guide explains mobile-home wind vulnerability. Its hurricane planning page explains evacuation preparation.

If elevators, powered doors, or usual transport are essential to you, discuss an alternative before an outage. Ask emergency management about local assistance procedures and timing; do not assume registration guarantees a ride or immediate help.

3. Keep supplies portable

Build a kit you can carry if needed: drinking water, food, battery lighting, phone charging, hygiene items, and supplies for each household member. Keep essential documents and daily-use items easy to find. Test what fits in your bag and what you can actually move, especially if stairs are your only exit.

Keep exits and shared walkways clear. Store supplies inside in suitable conditions, rather than relying on a balcony or shared storage room. Bring your own loose outdoor items inside only when conditions are safe and building rules allow. Never use a grill or other outdoor cooking device inside the apartment.

4. Save records before you need them

Photograph belongings and the unit's current condition. Save your lease, insurance contacts, identification, and maintenance messages in secure digital storage with essential paper copies. Ask your insurer what your policy covers and what separate coverage might be needed; avoid assuming the owner's policy protects your belongings.

After evacuation, return only when officials say it is safe and check building access with management. Avoid damaged buildings and flooded roads. Report damage without entering unsafe areas, keep receipts, and save written communications. Fannie Mae's renter disaster checklist (PDF) covers documentation and landlord communication. The NWS after-hurricane guidance covers return hazards.