On the shoreline, fall brings two jobs at once. Hurricane season isn't over yet, and winter is coming. This checklist covers both, in the order it makes sense to do them, for homes in Branford, Guilford, Madison, Clinton, East Haven, and nearby towns.
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1. Know your risk (15 minutes, do it first)
☐ Look up your evacuation zone. Connecticut's Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security (DEMHS) has a "Know Your Zone" map. Type in your address to see whether you're in a hurricane evacuation zone. Branford, Guilford, Madison, Clinton, East Haven, Westbrook, and Old Saybrook are all on its shoreline town list.
☐ Check your flood zone. FEMA's Flood Map Service Center shows the official flood maps for your address. If you plan work that needs a permit, this matters too. Branford's permit checklist says that if your parcel is in a FEMA flood hazard area, you'll need to submit a flood hazard application.
☐ Sign up for alerts. The Connecticut Insurance Department (CID) tells residents to know their evacuation routes and local emergency alerts before a storm.
2. Insurance: the step with a deadline
The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30, according to CID. That still leaves about two months of season after late September.
☐ Find out if you have flood insurance. CID says standard homeowners, renters, and business policies don't cover flood damage. Storm surge is generally treated as flood damage, so you need a separate flood policy.
☐ Don't wait for the forecast. Under federal rules (44 CFR 61.11), a new National Flood Insurance Program policy, or more coverage on an existing one, usually takes effect 30 days after you apply and pay. Exceptions include buying the policy when you take out or refinance a mortgage. If you're thinking about flood coverage, sort it out now.
☐ Check your hurricane or wind deductible. CID notes that some policies have a separate hurricane or wind deductible, often a percentage of the home's insured value.
☐ Update your home inventory. CID recommends a room-by-room record in photos and video. Store a copy somewhere other than the house.
3. Outside the house: wind and water
☐ 🔧 Trees. CID's hurricane checklist says to trim trees and remove hazards. Dead limbs over the roof, driveway, or power lines are a job for a tree pro, not a ladder. See tree trimming near you.
☐ Gutters and downspouts. Clear them once the leaves are down, and make sure downspouts carry water away from the foundation. Blocked gutters also play a part in ice dams (see our ice dam guide).
☐ 🔧 Roof check. Look for missing or lifted shingles and loose flashing from the ground, with binoculars or a phone zoom. Don't climb up. If you see damage, get a roofer to look before winter.
☐ Secure loose items. CID says to secure outdoor furniture and loose items. On exposed lots, pick a spot in the garage or shed now for the grill, furniture, and trash cans.
4. Power outages: plan before the storm
☐ Test CO and smoke detectors. Ready.gov recommends carbon monoxide detectors with battery backup in central locations on every level of your home.
☐ Generator safety. Ready.gov says generators and fuel should always be used outdoors, at least 20 feet away from windows, doors, and attached garages. It also says to keep the generator dry and let it cool before refueling.
☐ 🔧 Standby generator or transfer switch? Connecting a generator to your home's wiring is electrical work, and DCP says that needs the right Connecticut license. See electricians near you and how to check a contractor's license.
☐ Charge up. Keep phones and power banks charged when a storm is forecast (CID).
5. Winterize the plumbing
The American Red Cross lists these steps before cold weather:
☐ Outdoor spigots. Take off, drain, and store your hoses. Close the indoor valve that feeds each outdoor spigot, then open the outdoor spigot to let it drain. Leave it open.
☐ Irrigation and pool lines. Drain them following the manufacturer's or installer's directions. The Red Cross warns not to put antifreeze in these lines unless the directions say to.
☐ Exposed pipes. Insulate supply pipes in unheated spaces like the garage, crawlspace, attic, and under sinks on outside walls. Use pipe sleeves or UL-listed heat tape.
☐ Know your main shutoff. Find it and make sure it turns. Our burst pipe guide shows you how.
☐ Going away? The Red Cross says to leave the heat on and set no lower than 55°F.
☐ 🔧 Heating tune-up. Get your furnace or boiler serviced before the first cold snap. See furnace repair near you or HVAC near you.
6. After a storm
The Connecticut Insurance Department's advice:
☐ Stay away from downed power lines. ☐ Photograph and video the damage, if it's safe. ☐ Contact your insurer or agent as soon as you can. ☐ Keep receipts for emergency repairs and cleanup. ☐ Avoid unlicensed contractors and storm-chasing scams. CID lists contractor fraud as a common post-storm problem. ☐ Don't start permanent repairs until your insurer has reviewed the damage. Emergency steps to prevent more damage, like tarping or shutting off water, are a different thing.
For hour-by-hour steps, see Nor'easter damage: a Connecticut homeowner's first 48 hours.
Quick-print version
September/October: evacuation zone · flood zone · flood insurance (30-day wait) · wind deductible · home inventory · tree trimming · roof check October/November: gutters · secure outdoor items · CO detectors · generator plan · heating tune-up Before the first freeze: drain hoses and spigots · irrigation blowout · insulate exposed pipes · test the main shutoff
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