Start with surge protection
Storms bring power interruptions, and the return of power can be as damaging as the outage. A whole-home surge protective device at the electrical panel, combined with quality point-of-use protection for your TV, network and control equipment, reduces the risk from voltage spikes. Surge protection cannot guard against a direct lightning strike or flooding, but it meaningfully lowers everyday risk.
Plan for the outage
Decide what must keep running: usually the router, modem, camera recorder and the controller for your automation system. Battery backup (a UPS) can keep these alive through short interruptions and shut them down cleanly during longer ones. See our guide to keeping your network and cameras running in an outage.
Make sure you can see and manage the home remotely
If you travel or leave the island before a storm, remote visibility matters. Confirm that you can reach your cameras, thermostat and system status from your phone, and that notifications actually arrive. Remote management platforms let a support team check device health and bring systems back online without a site visit once it is safe to do so.
A simple pre-storm checklist
- Confirm surge protection is in place and not showing a failed indicator.
- Check that backup batteries are healthy and the equipment is plugged into the battery-backed outlets.
- Back up your system configuration and note where the backup is stored.
- Unplug sensitive, non-essential equipment if you are leaving the property for an extended time.
- Raise equipment off the floor, away from windows and away from areas that could take on water.
- Record the make, model and serial numbers of installed equipment for insurance purposes.
- Take dated photos of the installation before the storm.
After the storm
Do not power everything back up at once. Check for water damage and damaged cabling first, then restore power in stages. If anything has been exposed to water or salt spray, have it inspected before use.
Note: Smart home technology does not replace official guidance. Always follow instructions from the Department of Meteorology and emergency management authorities.
