Hurricanes don't only threaten beachfront homes. As we witnessed with Hurricanes Helene and Debby, catastrophic flooding and wind damage can reach communities hundreds of miles inland - devastating neighborhoods far from the coast across the Carolinas, Georgia, Tennessee, and Virginia.
As one of the Southeast's leading smart home security providers, CPI Security's customers are directly in the path of Atlantic storm activity every year. We've built this guide to help you prepare confidently - before, during, and after a storm - and to answer the questions we hear most from our customers when severe weather approaches.
What Is a Hurricane?
A hurricane is a tropical cyclone that forms over warm ocean water and sustains winds of at least 74 miles per hour. Storms are rated on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, which categorizes hurricanes from Category 1 (74–95 mph winds) through Category 5 (157+ mph winds).
According to NOAA, an average Atlantic hurricane season produces 14 named storms, including 7 hurricanes - 3 of which typically reach major hurricane status at Category 3 or higher.
Wind speed alone doesn't tell the full story. Storm surge and inland flooding - not wind - are the leading causes of hurricane-related deaths in the United States. A Category 1 hurricane can produce deadly flooding. A weakening tropical storm can dump feet of rain over a region in hours. Every storm deserves to be taken seriously, regardless of its category at landfall.
When Is Hurricane Season in the Southeast?
The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30, with peak activity typically occurring in early-to-mid September. That said, tropical storms have formed outside this window - which is why preparedness shouldn't start when a storm is named. It should start now.
For Southeast communities specifically, inland flooding and tornadoes spawned by weakening storms extend the threat zone well beyond the coast. If you live in the Carolinas, Georgia, Virginia, or Tennessee, hurricane season is your concern too.
What to Include in a Hurricane Emergency Kit?
Don't wait for a named storm to start gathering supplies - stores sell out fast and roads get congested quickly. Build your kit before hurricane season begins and check it every spring.
At minimum, your kit should include:
- Water - one gallon per person per day for at least 3 days (7 days is better)
- Non-perishable food - a 3–7 day supply your household will actually eat
- Flashlights and extra batteries (or a hand-crank flashlight)
- Battery-powered or hand-crank NOAA weather radio
- Portable battery bank to keep cell phones charged
- First aid kit with any prescription medications (7-day supply minimum)
- Important documents - IDs, insurance cards, medical records - in a waterproof container or backed up to secure cloud storage
- Blankets, a change of clothes, and basic toiletries
- Multi-purpose tool or pocket knife
- Cash - ATMs and card readers often go offline after a storm
Pro tip: If you have pets, young children, or family members with medical needs, tailor your kit accordingly. A standard kit may not cover everything you'll need for a multi-day outage or extended shelter stay.
How to Protect Your House from a Hurricane
Secure the exterior
- Bring in everything that wind can turn into a projectile - patio furniture, grills, potted plants, bikes, trash cans, and children's toys
- Clean gutters and downspouts so rainwater drains properly
- Trim trees and shrubs close to your home - dead branches become dangerous in high winds
- Close and lock all windows and doors
- Consider plywood boarding or storm shutters for windows, especially on the windward side of your home
Prepare the interior
- Store important documents (birth certificates, wills, insurance policies, passports) in a waterproof safe or sealed container
- Unplug small appliances and electronics before the storm arrives
- Turn your refrigerator and freezer to their coldest settings - food stays safe longer if the power goes out
- Test smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors and replace batteries if needed
- Fully charge all cell phones and portable batteries
- Fill your car's gas tank - stations may be closed or out of fuel after the storm
Know your safe room
Identify the safest place in your home before the season starts. This should be a small interior room or hallway on the lowest floor, away from all windows and exterior walls. A bathroom or closet in the center of your home is often ideal.
Know your evacuation plan
Talk with your family about your plan before a storm is named. Establish a meeting point, write down emergency contacts, and map out at least two evacuation routes. Your plan should also include steps for shutting off gas, water, and electricity before you leave.
Always follow guidance from local and state officials. If an evacuation order is issued for your area, leave. Don't wait.
What to Do During a Hurricane at Home
- Monitor local news and NOAA Weather Radio for real-time updates
- Never ignore an official evacuation order - sheltering in place during a mandatory evacuation puts first responders at risk
- Take shelter in your safe room, away from all windows and exterior doors
- Stay inside even if conditions seem calm - you may be in the eye of the storm, and the other side of the eyewall is just as dangerous
- If flooding begins inside your home, move to the highest floor - but do not enter a sealed attic. Rising floodwater can trap you if there's no exit
- Never drive through flooded roads - just 12 inches of moving water can carry away a small vehicle. Turn around, don't drown.
- Do not approach downed power lines under any circumstances
If your home is damaged or you need to evacuate, find local emergency shelters at ready.gov or text SHELTER + your ZIP code to 43362.
Does Home Security Work During a Power Outage?
Yes - and this is one of the most common questions we get from CPI customers when a storm is approaching.
Your panel keeps monitoring
When your home loses power, your CPI panel will display an "A/C Power Failure Trouble" alert and begin beeping. This is normal - it's the system alerting you to the outage, not a sign that your security is down.
Your panel runs on a rechargeable backup battery for 24–48 hours during an outage. That means if a break-in, fire, carbon monoxide threat, or medical emergency occurs while the power is out, our Central Station is still monitoring and will respond. Once power returns, the backup battery should recharge within 12–24 hours. If it doesn't, contact us at digitalcaresupport@cpisecurity.com.
Follow these panel-specific steps to silence the beeping: Your CPI Panel: What to Do During a Power Outage
What happens to your security cameras
Security cameras and video doorbells require both power and Wi-Fi to operate, so they will go offline during an outage. This is expected behavior - not a malfunction. Your alarm system continues to protect your home even while cameras are offline.
How to reconnect your cameras after power returns
After power is restored, you may see a red LED on your cameras or find them showing as offline in the app. Use these guides to get them back online:
Reconnect Doorbell Cameras
Reconnect Exterior Cameras
Reconnect Interior Cameras
Reconnect Video Recorders
If cameras remain offline after following the steps, contact our support team at digitalcaresupport@cpisecurity.com.
CPI Security is Here When It Matters Most
Our Central Station operates 24/7, every day of the year - including during active storms. If your community is in the path of a hurricane or severe tropical storm, our team is monitoring and ready to dispatch help if you need it.
The best hurricane safety tip we can offer is a simple one: prepare before a storm is named. It takes far less time than you think, and it makes an enormous difference when conditions deteriorate quickly.
For additional resources, visit ready.gov and your state's emergency management agency.
Questions? Call us at 800-948-7133 or visit cpisecurity.com.