Are accordion shutters or impact windows better for hurricane protection?

Both provide strong protection. Impact windows are more convenient — no deployment required and they provide year-round security and noise benefits. Accordion shutters are less expensive upfront and equally protective when deployed. For full-time residents planning long-term ownership, impact windows are worth the higher initial cost. For investment properties or seasonal homes, quality accordion or roll-down shutters are very effective.

What evacuation zone is Cape Coral in?

Cape Coral properties fall into different zones depending on their location within the city. Properties near the Caloosahatchee River, Charlotte Harbor, and the Matlacha Pass area are in higher-risk zones (Zone A or Zone B in Lee County). Look up your specific address at the Lee County Emergency Management website — do this before storm season, not when a storm is approaching.

What should I do first after a hurricane damages my home?

Document all damage with photos and video before touching anything — this is critical for insurance claims. Then contact your insurer to open a claim. Make only emergency temporary repairs (tarping, boarding) until the adjuster visits, and keep all receipts. Be cautious of unlicensed contractors — verify licenses through the Florida DBPR contractor lookup before signing any repair contract.

Hurricane Preparedness for Florida Homeowners: Supplies, Shutters, Insurance, and Evacuation

After Ian: Why This Matters More Than Ever

Hurricane Ian made landfall near Fort Myers Beach as a Category 4 storm on September 28, 2022. In Lee County specifically, the storm surge reached 12–18 feet in some areas. Thousands of homes were destroyed. The death toll in Lee County exceeded 80. The insurance market disruption that followed touched every property owner in the region.

Ian changed how Southwest Florida homeowners — new and veteran alike — think about hurricane preparation. This guide is built for the reality of living in one of the most hurricane-exposed corridors in the United States. It is not about managing anxiety. It is about doing the work before the storm so that your decisions during a storm are clear and your recovery after is faster.

Supplies: What to Have Before June 1

Hurricane season runs June 1 through November 30. The time to buy supplies is in April or May — not when a storm is three days out and every store within 100 miles is sold out. Here's the core list:

Water and food:

1 gallon of water per person per day for a minimum of 7 days (plan for 14 if you have a well)
Non-perishable food for 7–14 days: canned goods, protein bars, freeze-dried meals
Manual can opener
Pet food if applicable

Power and communication:

Battery-powered or hand-crank weather radio (NOAA)
Flashlights + extra batteries or rechargeable lanterns
Portable power bank(s) for phones (charge before storm season)
Car charger for phones as backup
Battery-operated fan (heat and humidity after Ian were as dangerous as the storm for some residents)

Documents and finances:

Copies of all insurance policies in a waterproof bag or cloud storage
Photo/video inventory of home contents (stored offsite or in cloud)
Cash in small bills — ATMs and card readers go offline post-storm
Copies of ID, passport, medication list, contact information

Medications and first aid:

30-day supply of prescription medications (request early refills when a storm watch is issued)
Complete first aid kit
Any special medical equipment with backup power (CPAP, etc.)

Shutters vs. Impact Windows: What Actually Protects Your Home

Storm protection for windows and doors is the most important structural preparation a SW Florida homeowner can make. Here's an honest comparison:

Accordion shutters: Permanently mounted, fold flat when not in use, deploy in minutes. One of the most practical shutter types for FL homeowners. Cost: $800–$2,500 per opening installed depending on size. Excellent protection for regular openings. Provide creditable wind mitigation discount with insurers.

Panel shutters (aluminum or steel): Stored and mounted before storms. Less convenient than accordion shutters but effective and less expensive upfront. Require manual installation — plan 4–8 hours to fully shutter a typical home. Some panel systems now slide into tracks for faster deployment.

Roll-down shutters (motorized): The premium option — electrically operated, extremely fast deployment, highest protection level. Cost: $1,500–$5,000+ per opening. Best for high-value properties or those with mobility limitations.

Impact-resistant windows and doors: The most protection, zero deployment time, and provides insurance discounts comparable to shutters. Higher upfront cost ($15,000–$40,000+ to fully retrofit a home) but eliminates the storm prep labor and provides year-round security and noise benefits. Highly recommended for full-time residents in coastal areas.

What not to use: Plywood provides minimal protection and is difficult to install correctly. Hurricane film alone is insufficient. If you're buying a home in Lee or Collier County, prioritize properties that already have impact glass or accordion shutters — the retrofit cost is significant and worth factoring into your purchase price.

Annual Insurance Review: What to Check Before Season

Your hurricane insurance review should happen every March or April — before the market gets stressed as storm season approaches. Key items:

Dwelling coverage: Is your home insured for full replacement cost at current construction costs? Post-Ian, construction costs per square foot in SW Florida are 30–50% higher than pre-storm estimates. If your policy was written on 2019 valuations, you may be significantly underinsured.
Hurricane deductible: Most Florida policies have a separate hurricane deductible expressed as a percentage of insured value (typically 2–5%). On a $500,000 policy, a 2% hurricane deductible means you absorb the first $10,000 of storm damage. Understand this before a storm, not after.
Contents coverage: Is it replacement cost or actual cash value? ACV will pay significantly less for damaged belongings — replacement cost coverage is worth the premium difference.
Flood insurance: Separate from wind/hazard. Know what you have, know your coverage limits, and know your flood zone. If you're in Zone A or AE, flood coverage is not optional — the National Flood Insurance Program maximum is $250,000 for structure and $100,000 for contents; private flood carriers may offer higher limits.
Loss of use / additional living expenses: If your home is uninhabitable post-storm, does your policy pay for temporary housing? Ian displaced tens of thousands of Lee County residents for months. Verify this coverage exists and understand its limits.

Evacuation Zones: Know Yours Now

Lee and Collier counties use lettered evacuation zones (A through E in Lee, 1–6 in Collier) based on storm surge vulnerability. Zone A (Lee) and Zone 1 (Collier) are the highest-risk areas, typically covering barrier islands, coastal areas, and low-lying waterfront properties.

Look up your zone now at the Lee County Emergency Management website or Collier County's emergency management portal. Don't wait for a storm watch to find out whether you're in a mandatory evacuation zone — that information should be in your head before June.

Key points about evacuation:

Evacuation orders for Zone A/Zone 1 are not suggestions — Ian's surge made clear what happens when coastal residents shelter in place
Local shelters are the last resort; they're crowded, bring pets only to pet-friendly shelters, and conditions are difficult. Hotels north of Orlando or visiting family are better options when time allows
I-75 north becomes heavily congested within 12–24 hours of an evacuation order. Leave early or have a plan that doesn't require the highway
Know multiple routes — not just I-75

Generators: What You Need and Why

Power outages after major storms in SW Florida can last 1–4 weeks in affected areas. In heat and humidity, a generator isn't a luxury — it's a health necessity, particularly for elderly residents or those with medical equipment.

Portable generators ($500–$2,000): Adequate for running a refrigerator, window unit, and phone charging. Must be operated outside — carbon monoxide poisoning from indoor generator use is a leading post-storm cause of death in Florida. Requires stored fuel (stabilize with Sta-Bil if storing more than 30 days).

Standby generators ($8,000–$25,000 installed): Permanently installed, automatically activates within seconds of power failure, runs on natural gas or propane. No manual setup, no fuel storage, no carbon monoxide risk indoors. The most practical solution for full-time SW Florida residents who intend to shelter in place through minor-to-moderate storms.

If you have a well, verify whether your well pump is protected by a generator circuit. Many SW Florida homes on well water lose water pressure immediately when power fails.

Post-Storm: Steps to Take in Order

After the storm passes:

Do not return home until authorities lift the mandatory evacuation order — entering an active flood zone is dangerous and may be illegal
Document all damage with photos and video before touching anything — this is critical for insurance claims
Contact your insurance carrier immediately to open a claim — don't wait to assess damage yourself first
Prevent further damage (tarping roof, boarding broken windows) without making permanent repairs until the adjuster visits
Keep all receipts for emergency repairs, temporary housing, and supplies — these are claimable under loss of use coverage
Be alert to contractor fraud — unlicensed contractors and bogus assignment of benefits schemes proliferate after major storms in Florida. Verify licenses through the DBPR contractor lookup before signing anything
Photograph and document the contractor's work before and after if you hire someone for emergency repairs

Hurricane Preparedness for Florida Homeowners: The Complete Guide