Hurricane Preparedness Checklist for Corpus Christi Homeowners (2026)

Every year, hurricane season runs June 1 through November 30, and every year some Coastal Bend families learn the hard way that preparation beats scrambling. This checklist covers the essentials — with special attention to the power question, because in South Texas, losing electricity in August heat is a safety issue, not just an inconvenience.

Before Hurricane Season (Do This in May)

• Service your standby generator. If you have one, schedule annual maintenance before June: oil and filter change, battery test, and a full-load exercise. A generator that hasn't run since last season is a gamble.
• Check your fuel situation. Natural gas customers: confirm your service is active. Propane customers: top off the tank before season — delivery trucks get busy (or can't run) once a storm approaches.
• Trim trees near power lines and your home. Falling limbs are a leading cause of localized outages. Keep branches clear of your service drop and the generator's location.
• Know your evacuation zone and route. Check your zone with the city/county emergency management office, and know your route inland before you need it.
• Review your homeowners insurance. Confirm hurricane/windstorm coverage and deductibles now — not while watching a cone of uncertainty.

When a Storm Is 72 Hours Out

• Run a generator test. Start your standby unit manually (or confirm its last automatic exercise in the monitoring app) so you know it's ready.
• Stock the outage kit: one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days, non-perishable food, medications for a week, flashlights and batteries, phone chargers and a battery bank.
• Secure outdoor items. Patio furniture, grills, and anything that becomes a projectile gets stored or tied down.
• Fill your vehicles and get cash — gas stations and ATMs need power too.
• Charge everything while the grid is up: phones, battery banks, medical devices.

If You Evacuate

• Leave early. Corpus Christi evacuation traffic on the island and causeway routes can gridlock. When officials say go, go.
• A standby generator protects the empty house. It keeps the fridge cold and — with remote monitoring — lets you confirm from afar that the house has power. Portable generators should never be left running unattended.
• Unplug sensitive electronics and turn off the main breaker if flooding is possible — except the generator circuit, which manages itself.

After the Storm

• Give utility crews room to work. Report downed lines; never approach them.
• Run the generator as designed — automatic units need no intervention. Check oil level if it runs for multiple days straight, per your manual.
• Watch for carbon monoxide. This applies to portable generators: never run one indoors, in a garage, or near windows. (Standby units are permanently installed outdoors to code — another reason they're the safer choice.)
• Document damage with photos before cleanup, for insurance.