Prepare Your Home for Hurricanes
Gear up for potential storms with information and resources in this special News Briefs edition
By: Ku‘u Home Magazine
May 1, 2026
As Hawai‘i’s hurricane season approaches June 1-Nov. 30, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and Building Industry Association (BIA) of Hawaii continue their longstanding disaster resiliency partnership advocating for the safety and well-being of island homeowners and communities.
“After experiencing the Kona low while I was in Hawaiʻi for the Building Leaders Summit, it served as a strong reminder that severe weather can happen anytime, anywhere and that its worst impacts often happen extremely quickly,” says Jonathan Falk, NAHB director of disaster operations. “As I always say, an ounce of preparedness is worth a pound of response.”
The NAHB Disaster Relief Program monitors weather threats nationwide and works with associations like BIA to tailor emergency guidance and training for locally appropriate preparation.
Falk shares these tips for Hawai‘i homeowners to get ready for hurricane season:
- Know your home’s vulnerabilities — trim overhanging tree branches, secure outdoor furniture and seal any cracks or leaks in your roof or foundation.
- Consider elevating electrical systems and installing flood barriers if you live in a flood-prone area.
- Review and organize important documents such as insurance policies, identification, medical information and home records. Store these documents together digitally and in a safe physical location.
- Map and practice evacuation routes and shelter-in-place plans that work for your entire household, including pets, kūpuna and ‘ohana with disabilities.
- Call a licensed local contractor or specialist to inspect your home’s weak infrastructure spots and get started early on hurricane-related repairs or improvements.
“Disasters often leave homeowners little time to react,” Falk says. “Taking these steps now can help reduce stress and minimize damage when severe weather strikes.”
Watch Out for Scammers
Finding the quickest and cheapest ways to repair or rebuild your home after a hurricane can be tempting. Scammers know this and often prey on homeowners under post-disaster duress. Avoid additional losses by following these National Association of Home Builders scam-prevention guidelines:
• Ask prospective contractors to show proof of licensing, insurance and customer references.
• Scammers may present suspicious project estimates or false authorization forms for you to sign and get work started immediately. Don’t sign anything before a contractor is officially cleared to be hired for your job.
• A vendor claiming that a written agreement isn’t necessary to begin doing repairs or start rebuilding is likely a scammer. Stay protected by requiring a clear project contract itemizing job scope, cost and change management procedures.
• Don’t make any cash payments or deposits in full before a contract is signed and the job is started.
• Be wary of contractors who drastically underbid to win your business or offer special pricing to get a contract signed on the spot.
A full list of tips and additional resources for homeowners are available at nahb.org/other/consumer-resources.
Local Government Guidance for Hurricane Readiness
According to the Hawai‘i Emergency Management Agency (HIEMA), a recent statewide assessment revealed that only about 12% of households are equipped with an adequate supply of essentials for hurricanes and other emergencies. HIEMA officials noted in an email statement to Ku‘u Home that this statistic represents a “significant preparedness gap.”
“Waiting until a storm is on the horizon is often too late, as supply chains could potentially break down and store shelves empty quickly,” HIEMA said in the statement.
The Kona low storms in March were reminders for homeowners to prepare to shelter at home as safely as possible. HIEMA recommends stocking up on two-weeks-worth of food, water, medications, back-up power and batteries.
Visit dod.hawaii.gov/hiema to find a complete list of hurricane season necessities and options to receive mobile alerts during a hurricane.
“The biggest lesson is that preparedness is a kākou effort — a collective responsibility,” HIEMA noted in the statement. “A prepared community is a strong community and a strong community is a resilient one.”
Department of Planning and Permitting Updates
The City and County of Honolulu Department of Planning and Permitting (DPP) reports that contractors are required to implement the following considerations noted in Hawai‘i State Residential Code Section R301.2.1 to strengthen residential construction against hurricane impacts:
- Design Wind Speed: Specifies the wind speeds that buildings must be designed to withstand, which helps ensure structural stability during severe storms and hurricanes.
- Exposure Categories: Identifies how surrounding terrain — such as open coastline vs. urban areas — affects wind pressures on structures.
- Wind Load Design Requirements: Provides criteria for structural elements like roofs, walls and connections to resist uplift and lateral wind forces.
Ahead of hurricane season, DPP advises homeowners to review new Flood Insurance Rate Maps developed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency effective June 10.
“The designated risk of flooding around many properties has changed and DPP is working closely with the City’s Climate Change, Sustainability and Resiliency Office to inform the public about these adjustments that can impact required policies for your property,” DPP officials noted in an email statement.
Visit resilientoahu.org/getfloodready or email dpp@honolulu.gov for more information.
Community Resource Round-Up
From utilities to insurance, remediation and restoration, here are quick notes from key agencies and local businesses to support homeowners before, during and after a hurricane.
“Recent storms have shown that homeowners should be prepared for possible water service disruptions, especially during power outages. Since Board of Water Supply pumps rely on electricity, outages can limit the ability to pump water from wells to reservoirs. Until power is restored, the water remaining in the Board of Water Supply reservoirs may be all that is available. Residents are strongly encouraged to store emergency water in advance — at least 1 gallon per person per day for 14 days — for drinking, cooking and sanitation.” — Steven Norstrom, information specialist, Board of Water Supply
“If you use gas, you should not shut it off unless instructed by emergency officials or Hawai‘i Gas. Your gas appliances and equipment should still work during a power outage. After a storm, it’s a good idea to check your equipment for any possible leaks and to ensure that everything is in working order. For more details about emergency preparedness, visit hawaiigas.com/safety.” — Shawn Tasaka, vice president of operations, Hawai‘i Gas
“It’s important for homeowners to take time to review their insurance coverage with their agent as some homeowners [insurance] policies may not include hurricane insurance. … One of the most important steps is confirming that your home is insured to value. Your agent can help you evaluate whether your current limits would be sufficient in the event of a loss. For hurricane policies specifically, homeowners should also review additional coverages that can make a meaningful difference after a storm. These include protection for other structures on the property, personal belongings and loss of use coverage, which helps pay for temporary living arrangements if your home becomes uninhabitable.” — Ken Fujiwara, vice president of personal lines insurance unit, Atlas Insurance Agency
“We’ve seen a significant uptick in calls related to roof leaks, water intrusion and mold growth following Hawai‘i’s recent heavy rain events. Many homeowners are surprised to discover that storm-driven moisture can cause hidden structural damage that isn’t immediately visible. Ahead of hurricane season, our top advice is: Don’t wait for a storm to find your home’s vulnerabilities. Have your roof, windows and drainage systems inspected now.” — Kiana Langer, marketing specialist, Premier Restoration Hawai‘i
This story appears in the May/June 2026 print issue of Ku‘u Home magazine.