Protect your home this hurricane season

Summary

Life Kit Episode Summary: "Protect Your Home This Hurricane Season"

Released on June 12, 2025

Introduction

In this episode of NPR's Life Kit, host Marielle Segarra delves into the pressing issue of hurricane preparedness, focusing specifically on safeguarding homes against the increasing threats of hurricanes and flooding. As climate change intensifies these natural disasters, understanding how to protect one's property and belongings becomes crucial. Marielle speaks with Jessica Mazaros, a climate and environment reporter at WUSF, who shares both her professional insights and personal experiences with hurricanes.

Personal Experiences with Hurricanes

Jessica Mazaros offers a firsthand account of dealing with Hurricane Milton last year. She recounts the exhausting experience of preparing her home for the storm:

"My fiancé and I are spending, you know, two nights in a row staying up till 1:00 am boarding up the house and then the floodwaters came in anyways from underneath the house. So needless to say, it was a really exhausting time."
— Jessica Mazaros [01:16]

Despite having only a few inches of rainwater—a relatively minor impact compared to others—Jessica's experience underscores the relentless effort required to brace for hurricanes. She emphasizes that while her situation was manageable, others faced much more devastating consequences, especially those dealing with saltwater intrusion, which can severely corrode structures and belongings.

Changes in Hurricane Patterns

The episode explores how hurricane seasons have evolved over the years, largely due to climate change. Jessica highlights the scientific perspective:

"We've had record warm waters recently. And warming waters, especially in the Gulf, are fueling these storms. Not only making them stronger, more powerful, but it's making them wetter. More precipitation."
— Jessica Mazaros [05:48]

She references a 2021 NASA study indicating a significant rise in the number of people living in flood-prone areas—an increase of 20 to 24% since 2000, which is ten times higher than previous models predicted. This surge is directly linked to extreme rainfall, rising sea levels, and more intense hurricanes, making flooding an increasingly common threat.

Assessing Your Home's Flood Risk

Understanding whether your home is at risk of flooding is the first step in hurricane preparedness. Jessica advises homeowners to utilize available resources:

"The first thing is you can always check FEMA's flood zones. There's maps, you know, at FloodSmart.gov. Once you type in your zip code, it'll tell you about the lower, moderate, or high flood risk coastal flooding, the riverine flooding, and the hurricane flooding risk."
— Jessica Mazaros [06:59]

Beyond online tools, she recommends engaging with neighbors to gain insights into the local flooding history:

"I think it just takes like asking certain questions when you have an inspector come and look at your house or just kind of eyeing it and saying, okay, like how does the lawn grade? What does this road look like? And asking people, like, what is the history here?"
— Jessica Mazaros [07:24]

This community-based approach provides a more nuanced understanding of one's specific risk factors, which may not always be apparent through digital maps alone.

Home Modification Tips for Flood Prevention

For homeowners looking to bolster their defenses against flooding, Jessica offers practical advice on modifying their homes:

1. Material Choices: Replace susceptible materials with more resilient alternatives.

   "Instead of drywall, using durock instead of carpet or wood floors, opt for the tile."
   — Jessica Mazaros [09:06]

2. Electrical Safety: Elevate electrical outlets to prevent short circuits caused by floodwaters.

   "Some people are raising their electrical outlets so the floodwaters don't short circuit the power lines."
   — Jessica Mazaros [09:06]

3. Baseboards and Windows: Use PVC baseboards that resist rot and install storm-proof windows to minimize water intrusion.

   "Instead of installing the same wooden baseboards that will rot when wet, use PVC baseboards."
   — Jessica Mazaros [09:06]

4. Roof Security: Implement roof clips to ensure the roof remains anchored to the home during high winds.

   "Maybe you get roof clips put on so that basically it clips the roof to the home itself so it won't just fly away."
   — Jessica Mazaros [09:06]

Jessica shares a case study of Steve Papola, whose home suffered four feet of storm surge during Hurricane Helene. The total cost for rebuilding his home amounted to approximately $145,000, covered by flood insurance:

"The water is not a game for the middle class or the lower middle class unless you're going to be able to insure properly and make sure that you have the ability to mitigate whatever type of loss comes with the storms."
— Steve Papola [10:33]

Advice for Renters

Renters are also vulnerable to flood damage, often with limited protective measures. Jessica emphasizes the importance of obtaining flood insurance, as standard renters insurance typically does not cover flood-related losses:

"Definitely, you have to get flood insurance. Regular renters insurance may not cover what you lose."
— Jessica Mazaros [12:24]

She also suggests practical steps for protecting valuable items, such as storing important documents and sentimental items in waterproof containers or relocating them to higher ground when evacuating.

Emotional Impact and Community Response

The ongoing cycle of hurricanes has taken a toll on residents' mental health. Jessica shares the anxiety experienced by individuals like Steve Papola, whose family remains displaced and constantly on edge awaiting the next storm:

"My wife is definitely getting anxiety every day that comes. She watches the weather every day of the week. She's listening to the weatherman intently. She has a lot of anxiety. It's starting to build up again."
— Steve Papola [13:45]

Jessica herself admits to struggling with anxiety due to the continuous rebuilding process:

"I'm feeling super anxious and it's coming out sideways. I think. You know, there's a lot of tension in my house because we still haven't even finished the rebuilding and so many people are in that position to not even feel like your home is safe yet."
— Jessica Mazaros [14:04]

Resources and Support

For those facing financial and emotional challenges due to flooding, Jessica points to several resources:

• FEMA Assistance: Applications for financial aid to help with home modifications and temporary housing are available post-hurricane.
• State Grants: Some states offer additional grants to support homeowners in rebuilding efforts.

Takeaways

Marielle Segarra distills the episode's insights into three key takeaways:

1. Assess Flood Risk:

   • Visit floodsmart.gov to determine your flood risk level.
   • Engage with neighbors and consult home inspectors for a comprehensive risk assessment.

2. Homeowners:

   • Consider modifying your home with flood-resistant materials like PVC baseboards and durock.
   • Install storm-proof windows and secure your roof to prevent damage.

3. Renters:

   • Obtain flood insurance in addition to standard renters insurance.
   • Protect important documents and sentimental items by storing them in waterproof containers or relocating them to higher ground.

Additionally, both homeowners and renters should always heed evacuation orders and ensure the safety of all household members.

Conclusion

Jessica Mazaros and Marielle Segarra highlight the increasing necessity of hurricane preparedness in the face of climate change. By understanding flood risks, making informed modifications, and accessing available resources, individuals can better protect their homes and loved ones. The episode serves as a crucial guide for anyone residing in hurricane-prone areas, emphasizing proactive measures to enhance resilience against natural disasters.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• "My fiancé and I are spending, you know, two nights in a row staying up till 1:00am boarding up the house and then the floodwaters came in anyways from underneath the house."
  — Jessica Mazaros [01:16]

• "We've had record warm waters recently. And warming waters, especially in the Gulf, are fueling these storms. Not only making them stronger, more powerful, but it's making them wetter."
  — Jessica Mazaros [05:48]

• "The water is not a game for the middle class or the lower middle class unless you're going to be able to insure properly and make sure that you have the ability to mitigate whatever type of loss comes with the storms."
  — Steve Papola [10:33]

• "I'm feeling super anxious and it's coming out sideways. I think."
  — Jessica Mazaros [14:04]

Production Credits

This episode of Life Kit was produced by Margaret Serino, edited by Sylvie Douglas and Meghan Keane, with visuals edited by Beck Harlan and digital editing by Malika Gharib. Beth Donovan served as the executive producer, supported by production team members Andy Tagle and Claire Marie Schneider. Engineering support was provided by Simon Laszlo Jansen.

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For more episodes on hurricane preparedness and other life hacks, visit npr.org/lifekit. Subscribe to the Life Kit newsletter at npr.org/lifekitnewsletter and share your feedback or episode ideas by emailing [e-mail].

Transcript

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[Marielle Segarra]

You're listening to Life Kit from NPR. Hey, it's Marielle. Atlantic hurricane season started on June 1st, and that's hard to process for a lot of people whose communities and homes were wrecked by hurricanes last year. In states like Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina, a lot of people are still rebuilding. That's the case for Jessica Mazaros. She's a climate and environment reporter at wusf. The NPR member station in Tampa will.

[Jessica Mazaros]

Rapidly intensify as it quickly moves towards the Big Bend area where it's expected to make a critical thing people can do to prevent mold buildup. After noticed any trends in storms recently in terms of like how frequently they come around or how quickly does FEMA offer to those impacted by storms, like what is available to them?

[Marielle Segarra]

Last year during Hurricane Milton, she was working long hours getting people the information they needed ahead of the storm.

[Jessica Mazaros]

And my fiance and I are spending, you know, two nights in a row staying up till 1:00am boarding up the house and then the floodwaters came in anyways from underneath the house. So needless to say, it was a really exhausting time.

[Marielle Segarra]

They were actually some of the lucky ones in Tampa. They had a few inches of rainwater flood their one story house, but it wasn't saltwater, which can be much more corrosive. Still, rebuilding has been a lot of work and Jessica doesn't live right on the water or even in a flood zone. On this episode of Life Kit, how to prepare your home for hurricanes and flooding, two things that climate change is making more intense. I talk with Jessica about what she's learned from her reporting and her personal experience. Specifically, how to know when your home is at risk of flooding, what to do with that information, how to keep your most treasured possessions safe during a storm, and how to rebuild in a way that makes your home less vulnerable. This is part of NPR's Climate Solutions Week, a series where we examine how to be more resilient in a changing climate.

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[Marielle Segarra]

Jessica, what has rebuilding looked like for you and your fiance?

[Jessica Mazaros]

So we had to pull out the carpets, the vinyl wood floors. We also had to take out some of the drywall. So that's what our walls are made of, typically, but basically it's like a sponge. So whenever we water hits it, it soaks up the water. It grows moldy really fast. So we replaced about 3 inches down with durock, which is like a cement board instead of the drywall in case it floods again. So mold won't grow on that. So that's some of our prevention. And then we had to pull out the wooden baseboards, and right now we're replacing them with a PVC baseboard. And again so if water comes, it won't rot like it would the wood.

[Marielle Segarra]

It's kind of a lot considering that you only had a few inches of rainwater.

[Jessica Mazaros]

Yeah, that gave me a lot of perspective. I've been covering hurricanes since 2017. I've lived in Florida my whole life, so I've I've Been going through hurricanes since Andrew in 1992, but okay, I only had three inches and it was fresh water. The people that I talked to with a foot, 2ft, 4ft of saltwater in their homes, I mean, it's completely devastating. And the home has to be almost completely rebuilt from the inside.

[Marielle Segarra]

How has hurricane season changed over the years?

[Jessica Mazaros]

I speak to climatologists and hurricane experts here in Florida, and we've had record warm waters recently. And warming waters, especially in the Gulf, are fueling these storms. Not only making them stronger, more powerful, but it's making them wetter. More precipitation, what I have experienced on the ground is especially like more rain.

[Marielle Segarra]

Are a lot more people seeing their houses flood during these storms.

[Jessica Mazaros]

So in 2021, NASA did release a study that showed people across the globe living in flood prone areas has risen by 20 to 24% since 2000. That is 10 times greater than the number previous models had predicted. It is directly linked to climate change driving this extreme rainfall, rising sea levels, and more intense hurricanes. And I am seeing it on the ground not only in my reporting, but in my own experience as a homeowner. You know, I have spoken to residents who've lived in neighborhoods for three decades or even more, and they never thought that they'd flood, but they experienced a flooding event last year.

[Marielle Segarra]

How can you know if your home is at risk for flooding?

[Jessica Mazaros]

Well, the first thing is you can always check FEMA's flood zones. There's maps, you know, at Flood Smart D, again, floodsmart.gov Once you type in your zip code, what happens is it'll tell you about the lower, moderate or high flood risk coastal flooding, the riverine flooding, and the hurricane flooding risk.

[Marielle Segarra]

Okay, and what are some other ways you can get a sense of your risk?

[Jessica Mazaros]

Honestly, what I wish I would have done myself is regardless of what it says online, to just ask around the neighbors. Like, I have neighbors here who've lived, you know, next door for 30 years. And some people lived in the neighborhood since their grandma has owned a property in the same street for generations. And so I'm technically not in a flood zone, but my house physically is low lying on the block. So the homes on my side of the street flooded, but the neighbors across from us didn't because they're higher. So I think it just takes like asking certain questions when you have an inspector come and look at your house or just kind of eyeing it and saying, okay, like how does the lawn grade? What does this road look like? And asking people, like, what is the history here? What do you know here? And I think that's something that I wish I would have done.

[Marielle Segarra]

Takeaway 1. To get a sense of your home's risk of flooding, go to floodsmart.gov and put in your zip code. If you're in a high risk area and you have a government backed mortgage, you'll be required to purchase flood insurance. And even if you're at moderate or low risk, your home could still flood. In fact, more than 40% of national flood Insurance program claims are from outside the high risk areas. So do some investigating, ask around your neighborhood, consult a home inspector and look into your home's history to get a sense of what this hurricane season might mean for you. Also keep in mind that most homeowners insurance doesn't cover flood damage and that flooding can happen anywhere to anyone, not just from hurricanes, but from things like broken water mains and issues at nearby construction sites. If you're a homeowner and you can afford to modify your home to protect it against floods, what might you do.

[Jessica Mazaros]

For the people rebuilding after a flood event? If you can afford it, don't build back the same. Modify your material choices like instead of drywall, using durock instead of carpet or wood floors, opt for the tile. Some people are raising their electrical outlets so the floodwaters don't short circuit the power lines. And instead of installing the same wooden baseboards that will rot when wet, use PVC baseboards. But I think if you're just in general trying to protect your home from a storm, you get like storm proof windows, maybe you get roof clips put on so that basically it clips the roof to the home itself so it won't just fly away. There's all kinds of things that you can do. It just, it does cost money. One person that I spoke to, Steve Papola, so his family has been displaced since Helene, it brought four feet of storm surge into his one story house. It's about an hour north of Tampa. So just to give you a rough estimate of What Rebuilding after 4ft of storm surge looks like, so Steve Papola thinks that it's about $145,000 altogether for the flooring, the walls, the rebuilding of the kitchen, the electrical rewiring, and thankfully for him, it's all covered by flood insurance. So he doesn't have to pay out of pocket for that. He does have to pay out of pocket for being displaced. You know, he's still paying a mortgage while paying a rent somewhere else while he's waiting for the construction to be completed.

[Steve Papola]

The water is Not a game for the middle class or the lower middle class unless you're going to be able to insure properly and make sure that you have the ability to mitigate whatever type of loss comes with the storms.

[Jessica Mazaros]

Then again, the people are just leaving too. There's a lot of for sale signs going up in neighborhoods that flooded last year along the coast. And I went to at least three different counties for my reporting on this. And every neighborhood that I went to specifically to talk to somebody whose house flooded, there were for sale signs, one after the other leading up to their home.

[Marielle Segarra]

Yeah, I mean, I guess it's like if you can afford it, then you leave. But sometimes people can't.

[Jessica Mazaros]

Right. And some people are living in unhealthy conditions, you know, in a moldy home. And so there's some people who are just at health risk, actually if they're not able to afford to move or to make any modifications.

[Marielle Segarra]

Are there any resources available for folks in that situation?

[Jessica Mazaros]

FEMA would be. So as soon as a, a hurricane hits, they do make applications available for some money to help with modifications to help you to stay in a hotel while you're displaced so you don't have to live under those conditions. And then you can also check, you know, states might have some grants as well to help you out. Takeaway 2.

[Marielle Segarra]

If you can afford it and you own your home, make some modifications. For instance, wood baseboards will rot when they're underwater, but PVC baseboards won't. Tile flooring is preferable to carpet. And consider using durock, which is a cement board instead of drywall. Also, move electrical outlets higher if you can. What advice do you have for renters? We've been talking a lot about homeowners, but if you're a renter and you live in an area that gets strong hurricanes and flooding, what can you do?

[Jessica Mazaros]

Definitely, you have to get flood insurance. Regular renters insurance may not cover what you lose. You know, I know friends of mine, they, they rented on the ground floor an apartment near Fort Myers beach, and they lost pretty much everything. They're, you know, stuff that can't even be replaced. You know, like childhood photos and things.

[Marielle Segarra]

Are there any best practices for whether you're a homeowner or you're a renter and you have important documents, for instance, or childhood photos, things like that, something that you can store them in so they won't be destroyed?

[Jessica Mazaros]

Yeah, I know a lot of people that are putting stuff in plastic giant bins, maybe putting them in higher ground if they have an opportunity to Put it upstairs or you, you just, you drive it somewhere else. I mean, a lot of this is get to higher ground.

[Marielle Segarra]

Well, hurricane season started on June 1st. How are folks in Florida feeling?

[Jessica Mazaros]

There is a lot of anxiety in Florida right now, especially along the Gulf Coast. You know, so many people still rebuilding after back to back flooding events. There was hurricane Debbie in August, Helene in September, and then Milton in October. So it was like three months of back to back storms that caused flooding in different areas in different ways. As Steve Pappola told me, his family is feeling the anxiety.

[Steve Papola]

My wife is definitely getting anxiety every day that comes. She watches the weather every day of the week. She's listening to the weatherman intently. She has a lot of anxiety. It's starting to build up again.

[Marielle Segarra]

What do you tell to people who are feeling anxious like this in any sort of hurricane prone area?

[Jessica Mazaros]

I'm feeling super anxious and it's coming out sideways. I think. You know, there's a lot of tension in my house because we still haven't even finished the rebuilding and so many people are in that position to not even feel like your home is safe yet. And yet we're already entering another hurricane season. It's an unnerving feeling. And so what I would say is like, look down at your feet, look at where you are. Like, just because whatever happened last year doesn't necessarily mean it's gonna happen this year, but if it does, like, we're okay. And so whatever things you can do that are actionable, like the things that we've talked about in terms of hurricane preparedness and having your important papers in order somewhere safe, making sure that whatever you can afford to do to accommodate your home to flooding if you know that it floods, evacuating, if you can evacuate and just holding your loved ones tight like that's all you can really do. And just knowing that like whatever you can control, you're doing it. Everything else, you kind of just have to wait and see.

[Marielle Segarra]

I guess it's a good life lesson in general. Takeaway 3. If you're a renter, know that standard renters insurance usually doesn't cover flood damage. Look into flood insurance and regardless of whether you own your home or rent, you can pack away important documents and sentimental items in a waterproof container and either store it in a high place or take it to higher ground when you evacuate. On that note, always follow the evacuation orders. Jessica, thank you so much for this. I hope that this hurricane season is calm.

[Jessica Mazaros]

Me too. I hope that the waters are calm and that we have a chance to breathe and to continue rebuilding in our area to make ourselves feel safe and secure at home, because home should feel that way.

[Marielle Segarra]

Okay, time for a recap. [e-mail] to understand your risk level this hurricane season. You can also ask neighbors and home inspectors and look at your home's history to see the bigger picture. You might learn important information that you don't find online. And seriously consider buying flood insurance because homeowners insurance generally doesn't cover flood damage. Now, if you're a homeowner and you can afford it, consider modifying your home's flooring walls and electrical outlets. If you're a renter, also seriously consider buying flood insurance on top of your renter's insurance. And in general, make sure you store important documents in a waterproof container and keep them in a high up location. And always follow the evacuation orders. This episode was part of NPR's Climate Solutions Week, which examines how climate change impacts where and how we build. For more climate Solutions, go to npr.orgclimatechangeWeek for more life Kit, check out our other episodes. We've got one on what to put in your go bag and another on what to do if your house floods. You can find [e-mail] LifeKit and if you love Life Kit and you want even more, subscribe to our [e-mail] LifeKitnewsletter Also, we love hearing from you, so if you have episode ideas or feedback you want to share, email [e-mail] this episode of Life Kit was produced by Margaret Serino. It was edited by Sylvie Douglas and Meghan Keane. Our visuals editor is Beck Harlan and our digital editor is Malika Gharib. Beth Donovan is our executive producer. Our production team also includes Andy Tagle and Claire Marie Schneider. Engineering support comes from Simon Laszlo Jansen. I'm Marielle Segarra. Thanks for listening.

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