Never drain your pool before a hurricane — an empty pool can pop out of the ground due to hydrostatic pressure from rising groundwater. Instead, lower the water level 12–18 inches below the skimmer, super-chlorinate, turn off all electrical equipment at the breaker, and remove everything from the pool deck. Gunite pools are extremely hurricane-resilient; screen enclosures and automation panels are the most vulnerable components. With proper preparation, most Florida pools are swimmable again within 3–7 days after a storm.
Never drain your pool before a hurricane. That is the single most important rule for Florida pool owners during storm season. According to the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA), an empty pool can float out of the ground due to hydrostatic pressure from saturated soil and rising groundwater — a risk that is especially high in Southwest Florida's sandy, low-elevation terrain. Here's the complete preparation and recovery plan we give every client.
Important: Never drain your pool before a hurricane. An empty pool can pop out of the ground due to hydrostatic pressure from rising groundwater. Keep the water in.
How Do You Prepare a Pool for a Hurricane?
Pool Water
- Lower the water level 12–18 inches below the skimmer to give room for rainwater. Don't drain it completely.
- Super-chlorinate (shock) the pool. The CDC recommends maintaining proper disinfectant levels in recreational water to prevent waterborne illness, and storm debris introduces bacteria, algae, and contaminants that can overwhelm normal chlorine levels. A heavy shock dose beforehand gives you a head start on recovery.
- Turn off the salt chlorine generator but leave the pump running until you lose power or evacuate. Circulation helps distribute the shock treatment.
Equipment
- Turn off all electrical power to pool equipment at the breaker — pump, heater, automation, lights. Surge protection helps, but the breaker is your best defense.
- Do NOT disconnect the pump, filter, or heater. They're plumbed in and designed to stay. Disconnecting creates more risk of damage.
- Cover the equipment pad with a tarp if it's not protected by a structure. Secure the tarp with sandbags, not rope tied to the equipment.
- Remove the automation panel's faceplate if possible and store it indoors. Water intrusion is the #1 killer of Hayward OmniPL and similar systems.
Deck & Surroundings
- Remove everything from the deck — furniture, umbrellas, planters, pool toys, floats, cleaning equipment. These become projectiles in high wind.
- Do NOT throw patio furniture into the pool. This is an old myth. Furniture can damage the interior finish, scratch pebble or quartz surfaces, and stain plaster. Store it in your garage.
- Trim any overhanging branches near the pool area. Falling limbs are the most common source of pool and screen damage in hurricanes.
Screen Enclosure
This is the most vulnerable part of your pool setup in a hurricane. Unfortunately, there isn't much you can do to "hurricane-proof" a screen enclosure. Here's the reality:
- Standard screen enclosures are not rated for hurricane winds. The Florida Building Code (FBC) requires screen enclosures to meet wind-load ratings for their specific wind zone, but these ratings are designed for normal weather events — not Category 3+ hurricanes with 100+ mph gusts.
- Open any screen doors or panels that can be secured open to reduce wind load. Some newer enclosures have removable screen panels — take those out.
- Document everything with photos before the storm for insurance purposes.
- Budget for replacement. Screen enclosure damage is the most common pool-related insurance claim in Florida. If you have a $6,000–$12,000 enclosure, make sure your homeowner's policy covers it. For more on enclosure types and costs, see our screen enclosure guide.
Should You Check Your Pool During a Hurricane?
Stay inside. Don't try to check on your pool during the storm. There's nothing you can do that's worth the risk.
How to Clean Your Pool After a Hurricane
- Do NOT turn on any electrical equipment until you've visually inspected for damage. Look for standing water near the equipment pad, displaced components, and damaged wiring.
- Remove all debris from the pool by hand or with a leaf net — branches, leaves, dirt, anything that blew in. The longer debris sits, the worse the staining.
- Check the water level. If the pool overflowed, you'll need to lower it back to the skimmer line. If it's too low (unlikely after a hurricane), add water.
- Test the water chemistry. Storm water is acidic and full of contaminants. University of Florida IFAS Extension recommends testing pH, alkalinity, and free chlorine levels before allowing anyone to swim after a storm event. You'll likely need to shock again, balance pH, and adjust alkalinity. Our water chemistry guide covers the full process.
- Run the pump and filter once you've confirmed no electrical damage. Run it continuously for 24–48 hours to clear the water.
- Backwash or clean the filter after the initial cleanup. It will be working overtime.
- Inspect the deck and coping for cracks or lifted pavers. Address these before they become trip hazards.
- Document all damage with photos and video for your insurance claim. Call your adjuster early — the queue gets long fast.
Do Gunite Pools Survive Hurricanes?
Good news: gunite (concrete) pools are extremely resilient in hurricanes. The Florida Building Code requires in-ground pool shells to be engineered with steel reinforcement patterns that withstand both lateral earth pressure and hydrostatic uplift forces. The National Swimming Pool Foundation (NSPF) notes that properly constructed gunite shells have one of the highest structural survival rates among all pool types during major weather events. The pool structure itself is almost never the issue.
What does get damaged:
- Screen enclosures — the most common casualty
- Automation panels and electrical components — from water intrusion and surge
- Interior finish staining — from debris sitting in the water too long
- Deck pavers — from settling or flooding
The pool itself? It'll be there long after the storm passes. That's one of the reasons we build exclusively with gunite in Southwest Florida. For a full comparison of pool types and how they handle storms, read our gunite vs fiberglass comparison.
Does Homeowner's Insurance Cover Pool Hurricane Damage?
Your standard homeowner's policy typically covers the pool structure as part of "other structures" on your property. According to the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation, hurricane deductibles in Florida are percentage-based (typically 2–5% of insured value) rather than flat dollar amounts, which significantly affects out-of-pocket costs for pool damage claims. Here's what to confirm with your agent:
- Is the screen enclosure covered? What's the limit?
- Is pool equipment (pump, heater, automation) covered under the policy or requires a rider?
- Does your policy cover debris removal and water restoration costs?
- What's your hurricane deductible? In Florida, it's typically 2–5% of the insured value of your home — not a flat dollar amount.
"We've built pools through multiple hurricane seasons. The ones that recover fastest are the ones where the owner prepped early and documented everything. It's not about preventing damage — it's about recovering quickly."
Building a Storm-Ready Pool?
We build hurricane-rated gunite pools with proper engineering for SW Florida soil and weather.
Get Your Free Design →Frequently Asked Questions
Should I drain my pool before a hurricane?
No. Never drain your pool before a hurricane. An empty pool can pop out of the ground due to hydrostatic pressure from rising groundwater. Lower the water level 12–18 inches below the skimmer to make room for rainwater, but keep the water in.
Should I throw patio furniture in the pool during a hurricane?
No. This is an old myth. Furniture can scratch pebble and quartz surfaces, damage the interior finish, and stain plaster. Store all deck furniture, planters, and pool toys in your garage instead.
How long does it take to recover a pool after a hurricane?
With proper prep, most pools in the Bradenton and Sarasota area can be swimmable again within 3–7 days after a storm. The key is removing debris quickly, running the pump continuously for 24–48 hours, and rebalancing the water chemistry.
Will my homeowner's insurance cover pool hurricane damage?
Your standard homeowner's policy typically covers the pool structure under "other structures." However, screen enclosures, equipment, and debris removal coverage varies by policy. Confirm your hurricane deductible with your agent — in Florida, it's typically 2–5% of your home's insured value.