Before the Storm: Your Pool Preparation Checklist
If you lived in Tampa Bay during the fall of 2024, you already know hurricane season isn't a hypothetical. Helene and Milton hit within two weeks of each other, and pool owners all over the region were staring at flooded equipment pads, contaminated water, cracked decking, and collapsed screen enclosures. The questions came fast. Is my shell intact? Is it safe to turn the pump back on? And do I really need to drain this thing?
At Pool Perfection, we've guided Tampa Bay homeowners through 22 years of hurricane seasons and built more than 1,800 custom concrete pools in this region. We know what storms do to pools that were prepared and pools that weren't. This guide walks you through how to protect your pool before the next storm, recover safely after one passes, and recognize when it's time to call a professional. Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30 every year, according to NOAA's National Hurricane Center, so if you're reading this in spring, now is the time to get ready.
Let's be honest up front. There's no way to hurricane-proof a pool, and the structure itself is usually the least of your worries. A few simple steps still make the difference between a quick cleanup and a serious repair. The Florida Swimming Pool Association publishes annual preparedness guidance, and the non-chemical steps below align with it and with what our crews see in the field.
Keep Your Pool Full and Never Drain It
This is the single most important rule, and it isn't negotiable: don't drain your pool, ever, for any storm. The water inside acts as ballast against the hydrostatic pressure that groundwater exerts on the shell from below. Florida's water table is high, and heavy storm rainfall pushes it higher. An empty or low pool can be lifted and shoved out of the ground by that pressure.
If heavy rain overfills the pool, you don't need to do anything. Your overflow line will carry the excess off and bring the water back to its normal level within a few hours on its own. Draining is a job for licensed professionals only, because a pro first opens the hydrostatic relief valve in the main drain to release the groundwater pressure underneath the shell before any water comes out. Without that step, draining invites disaster, which is why the FSPA also advises seeking professional advice before lowering any pool.
Secure Loose Items and Patio Furniture
Anything the wind can pick up becomes a projectile that can whip around and gouge your coping, crack your deck, or tear your screen. Move furniture, floats, umbrellas, toys, and equipment indoors or into the garage. Tossing furniture into the pool is better than leaving it loose, but it's a last resort rather than a recommendation, and metal pieces especially can stain or scratch the interior finish, so keep those out.
Turn Off All Pool Equipment at the Breaker
Shut off power to your pump, heater, salt system, automation, and lighting at the circuit breaker, not just the timers. If a storm surge, high tide, or flood is in the forecast, kill the power before the water arrives, because energized equipment sitting in floodwater is a fire and shock hazard. Wrap exposed motors and control panels in heavy plastic against wind-driven rain, and elevate any components you can if your equipment pad floods. Ready.gov offers a broader home checklist worth following alongside this one.
Trim Branches and Check Your Screen Enclosure
Falling limbs are one of the most common sources of pool damage, so trim anything overhanging the pool or within reach of your screen cage, ideally in May or early June. Inspect the cage for tears, loose fasteners, and corroded joints before the season, since older aluminum enclosures are the part of your setup most likely to fail in a strong storm.
The "Should I Drain My Pool?" Myth
The answer is no, and it isn't a close call. Never drain your pool before a hurricane. This is the most dangerous myth in storm prep, and it's the one that turns a routine cleanup into a total loss.
When the pool is full, the weight of the water counterbalances the upward force of groundwater beneath the shell. Remove that water while the surrounding soil is saturated, and the groundwater can physically push the shell up and out of the ground. Pool professionals call this a pop, and it happens more easily on lighter pools such as fiberglass, though any empty pool is at risk. A popped pool can't be patched or floated back into place. It has to be demolished and rebuilt from scratch, which is exactly why we treat this rule as absolute.
One related point worth knowing as a homeowner: reputable builders carry pool-pop coverage on their insurance during construction, before the pool is filled and turned over to you. It's a fair question to ask any builder you're considering. After the storm, the water table can stay elevated for days, so the no-draining rule still holds. If the pool must be drained for cleaning, that decision and the work belong to a licensed pool professional, not a DIY weekend.
Protecting Your Pool Equipment
Your pool's mechanical systems are a significant share of its value, and they're vulnerable to wind, water, and power surges. Before the storm, shut everything off at the breaker, wrap exposed components in heavy plastic, and photograph each unit and its serial number for insurance. Confirm that heater hurricane straps are secure and rust-free.
After the storm, don't flip a single breaker until a licensed contractor has inspected each component, especially anything that sat in floodwater. Energizing flood-damaged equipment risks electrical shock, fire, and ruined electronics. This isn't a do-it-yourself moment, and it isn't a corner worth cutting to swim a day sooner.
After the Storm: Pool Recovery and Cleanup
Here's the reassuring part, and it's something our team has seen across more than two decades of storms. A well-built concrete pool is almost always structurally fine after a hurricane. The real exceptions are when a seawall fails and the ground behind it shifts, which can move the pool itself. Short of that, most pools just need a good cleanup. So once local officials clear your area, work through the steps below in order.
Remove debris by hand. Use a deep leaf rake or skimmer net for branches, leaves, and large objects, and skip the automatic cleaner, which will clog almost immediately. The FSPA advises taking care not to scratch or gouge the interior finish while pulling heavy debris out of the water.
Plan for deck and paver repairs near the water. On canal-front and waterfront properties, tidal flooding often lifts and scatters pavers, sometimes washing them into the canal. Resetting, relaying, and repitching that decking is one of the most common post-storm repairs, even when the pool shell is perfectly sound.
Leave the water chemistry to a licensed pool service. If storm surge or tidal flooding pushed saltwater or sand into the pool, the water can foul quickly and grow black mold. As the FSPA notes, a heavy load of sand or seawater is the situation where draining may finally be necessary, and saving the interior finish means a professional drain and clean done fast: draining, acid washing, and refilling. Pool Perfection is a builder rather than a maintenance company, so we don't give chemical treatment advice, and you shouldn't experiment with it yourself. Bring in a licensed pool maintenance service to test, treat, and rebalance the water, especially after any flooding.
When Storm Damage Means It Is Time for a Renovation
Most pools come through a storm intact. Sometimes, though, a hurricane causes or exposes damage that's past simple repair: a cracked concrete shell from shifting ground, an interior finish ruined by saltwater intrusion, or aging equipment finally pushed over the edge. When the damage runs that deep, rebuilding often makes more sense than patching.
Screen enclosures are a special case. Storm damage to a cage is treated as an act of God under your homeowner's insurance, not a pool builder's workmanship claim. The usual path is to get a quote directly from a screen enclosure company and submit it to your insurer. We can coordinate a new enclosure as part of a larger pool renovation, but a standalone screen replacement is a job for a screen specialist, not a pool builder. Pool Perfection's renovation team specializes in turning genuinely storm-damaged pools into modern outdoor living spaces, and our gallery shows what's possible when you start fresh with experienced hands.
Frequently Asked Questions: Pools and Hurricane Season
Should I put a cover on my pool before a hurricane?
No. Standard pool covers aren't built for hurricane debris loads and wind, and a cover can trap heavy branches or tear free and become a projectile. Leave the pool uncovered, clear the deck of anything the wind can throw, and let your overflow line manage the rising water.
Should I drain my pool before a hurricane?
No, never. A full pool resists the groundwater pressure that can push an empty shell out of the ground, a costly failure called a pop. If rain overfills the pool, the overflow line returns it to normal level on its own within a few hours. Only a licensed professional should ever drain or lower a pool, and only after releasing pressure through the hydrostatic relief valve.
Should I turn off my pool pump during a hurricane?
Yes. Turn off all pool equipment at the circuit breaker before the storm, and if flooding or storm surge is expected, do it before the water arrives. Running or submerged equipment creates shock and fire hazards. Don't restore power until a licensed professional has inspected anything that was exposed to floodwater.
How do I clean my pool after a hurricane?
Remove large debris by hand with a leaf net and skip the automatic cleaner. Have a licensed contractor inspect the equipment before power is restored. For the water itself, especially after flooding or saltwater intrusion, call a licensed pool maintenance service to test, treat, and rebalance it. As a builder, Pool Perfection doesn't provide chemical treatment advice.
Can a hurricane crack my pool?
It's uncommon. A well-built concrete pool is usually structurally fine after a storm. The highest-risk scenario is a pool that was drained before the storm and popped, followed by ground failure when a seawall gives way and the soil behind it shifts. If you notice new cracks after a hurricane, have a licensed contractor assess the structure before using the pool.
Who repairs a screen enclosure after a hurricane?
Screen enclosure damage is an act of God covered by your homeowner's insurance, not a pool builder's responsibility. Get a quote from a screen enclosure company and submit it to your insurer. A new enclosure can be folded into a larger pool renovation, but a standalone screen claim goes through your insurance and a screen specialist.
Protect Your Pool This Season. We Are Here to Help.
Whether you're getting ready for the next hurricane season or still dealing with damage from the last one, Pool Perfection is the team Tampa Bay homeowners trust. With 22 years of experience, more than 1,800 custom concrete pools built, and 200+ five-star reviews, we know what Florida pools need to weather a storm and come out looking great on the other side.
Questions about protecting your pool, or damage you need assessed? Call us at (727) 518-7665. If your pool took a hit this season, our renovation team can evaluate it and build a plan to get you back to swimming. Request your free estimate today or visit our Largo showroom at 9310 Ulmerton Rd, Suite 600, Largo, FL 33771.
Pool Perfection is BBB accredited, an FSPA member, and licensed and insured in the State of Florida (FL License #CPC 1461120).
