StormStock · Hurricane guides
What to do after a hurricane
More people are hurt after a hurricane than during one. The danger changes shape: it stops being wind and becomes electricity, carbon monoxide, water and exhaustion.
Before you step outside
Assume the ground is not what it was.
- Treat every downed line as live, including ones lying in water or draped over a fence. Report them, do not move them.
- Wear closed shoes and gloves. Nails, glass and metal are everywhere.
- Smell for gas before using anything electrical, and leave immediately if you smell it.
- Do not use a generator indoors, in a garage, or near a window — not even with the door open. Carbon monoxide kills people every season and it has no smell.
Food and water
An outage has a clock on it.
- A closed refrigerator holds safe temperature for about four hours. A full freezer holds about 48 hours, a half-full one about 24.
- Throw out anything perishable that spent more than four hours above 40°F. When in doubt, throw it out — food poisoning in a place with no working hospital is a serious problem.
- Follow boil-water notices exactly and assume they apply until officially lifted.
Document everything
This is the part people skip and regret.
- Photograph damage before you clean up or move anything, room by room, wide shots and close-ups.
- Keep receipts for anything you buy to make the home safe or liveable — much of it is claimable.
- Write down the date and time. Photos with a timestamp and location carry far more weight with an adjuster.
Finding what is open
After the storm, the practical questions are which station has fuel, which store has ice, and which roads are passable. That information changes hourly and no official source publishes it fast enough — which is exactly why StormStock exists: neighbours report what they are seeing, with a timestamp so you can judge how fresh it is.
- Check fuel before driving anywhere. Stations with fuel but no power cannot pump.
- Ice sells out first and returns last.
- Report what you find. The map is only as good as the last person who used it.
Common questions
How long does food stay safe without power?
About four hours in a closed refrigerator, roughly 48 hours in a full freezer and 24 in a half-full one. Anything perishable held above 40°F for more than four hours should be discarded.
Where can I run a generator safely?
Outdoors only, at least 20 feet from the house, with the exhaust pointed away from doors, windows and vents. Never in a garage or covered porch, even with the door open. Carbon monoxide is colourless and odourless and it kills quickly.
What should I photograph for insurance?
Every damaged room before you move anything, from wide angles and close up, plus serial numbers on damaged appliances and the outside of the building. Photos taken before cleanup are worth far more than photos taken after.
How do I know which gas stations have fuel?
There is no official live feed for this. In Central Florida, StormStock users report fuel availability and price at nearby stations with a timestamp, which is usually the fastest signal available after a storm.
This guide follows official guidance from the National Hurricane Center, FEMA and Florida emergency management. It does not replace instructions from your local officials. In an emergency, call 911.