2025 Hurricane Preparedness Guide for Puerto Rico Homes & Businesses

If you live or run a business in Puerto Rico, you know hurricanes are a yearly reality, not just a possibility.

We’ve been through it too. We’ve stood in line for hours for gas, gone weeks without power, and watched storms unravel our lives overnight. That’s why we take hurricane preparation seriously.

Every year brings the risk of long outages, damaged homes, lost inventory, and stalled business operations. And whether you’re protecting your family or your livelihood, you can’t afford to be caught off guard. Getting ready ahead of time makes all the difference.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through the steps you can take now to stay safe, minimize damage, and recover faster.

You’ll learn how to build your emergency plan, stock the right supplies, secure your home or facility, and ensure your team or loved ones are ready. We’ve also included local insights for Puerto Rico’s unique challenges.

Let’s break it down together and help you build a plan that protects what matters most.

How To Prepare Your Home

Create a Family Emergency Plan

• Identify different evacuation routes and destinations, including backup options.
• Choose a safe meeting spot in case your family gets separated during or after the storm.
• Set up reliable ways to communicate, such as texting apps, emergency contact cards, or walkie-talkies.
• Include detailed plans for seniors, infants, and anyone who requires special medical care.
• Make arrangements for pets, including carriers, food, and medications.
• Practice your plan regularly with everyone in the household to stay familiar.

Build a Hurricane Emergency Kit (10-Day Minimum)

Water

• Store at least 1 gallon of water per person per day for drinking and basic hygiene.
• Keep water purification tablets or a filtration device for backup.

Food

• Stock up on canned foods, granola bars, dry cereal, and nut butters.
• Don’t forget a manual can opener.

First Aid Kit

• Include prescription and over-the-counter medications, antiseptics, bandages, gloves, scissors, thermometer, and a basic first aid manual.

Tools & Supplies

• Flashlights, extra batteries, crank or battery-operated radios, fire extinguisher, duct tape, and a multi-tool.
• Hygiene and sanitation supplies (soap, hand sanitizer, wipes, toilet paper, trash bags).
• Keep cash in small bills in case ATMs are down.

Clothing & Bedding

• Pack waterproof clothing, sturdy shoes, light jackets, extra socks, blankets, and sleeping bags.

Important Documents

• Store copies of IDs, insurance papers, property documents, and bank info in waterproof containers and also back them up digitally.

Power Backup

• Have portable power banks and solar chargers for phones and flashlights.
• Rechargeable batteries for medical or accessibility devices.

Strengthen Your Home

• Inspect your roof, doors, and windows for any weak spots; repair as needed.
• Install storm shutters or board up windows with sturdy plywood.
• Reinforce garage doors to prevent structural collapse.
• Secure or bring indoors outdoor furniture, planters, and loose objects.
• Trim trees and remove dead branches.
• Clean gutters, drains, and downspouts to reduce flooding risk.

Safety and Utilities

• Learn how and when to safely shut off power, gas, and water.
• Use flood maps to determine your flood risk and consider adding flood insurance.
• Choose a safe room inside your home—preferably an interior room with no windows.
• Own a reliable generator and test it monthly.
• Store fuel safely in approved containers and in well-ventilated areas away from the house.

How To Prepare Your Business

Build a Business Continuity Plan

• List your essential operations and assign responsibility for each.
• Set up reliable communication systems for staff, customers, and vendors.
• Protect both physical and digital business assets through strong protocols.
• Conduct emergency drills and train staff on response and recovery steps.

Protect Your Building

• Inspect buildings for structural issues and repair them before the season.
• Remove or secure signs, furniture, and other items that may fly during a storm.
• Install water barriers if your location is flood-prone.
• Check that generators are fully functional and fuel is stocked and safe.

Secure Technology & Data

• Automate backups of your business data to off-site or cloud locations.
• Place valuable tech equipment above flood levels and unplug when not in use.
• Use surge protectors and reinforce your cybersecurity plan.

Check Insurance & Financial Readiness

• Make sure your policies cover wind, flooding, and business interruption.
• Store copies of legal and financial documents digitally and securely.
• Allocate emergency funds for operations, repairs, or staff support.
• Prepare payroll systems for post-storm disruptions.

Manage Inventory and Vendors

• Talk to suppliers in advance about your storm plans.
• Adjust inventory levels based on possible delivery delays or supply shortages.

Prepare Your Team

• Keep an updated employee contact list.
• Share storm preparation checklists and reporting protocols.
• Offer clear instructions for returning to work and handling post-storm recovery.

Fuel Strategy

• Arrange fuel delivery ahead of time for generators and company vehicles.
• DEV Builders Group offers 24/7 diesel fuel and potable water services, ensuring your business stays powered and supported during the storm.

Special Considerations For Puerto Rico

Local Challenges

• Electricity may take days or even weeks to restore.
• Stores and gas stations may run out of supplies quickly.
• Damaged roads can delay emergency services and aid.

Local Resources

• Sign up for emergency alerts through NMEAD and FEMA.
• Download the FEMA App for notifications and updates.

Act Early

• Don’t wait until a hurricane is close. Supplies like water, batteries, and gas sell out fast.
• Start preparing in late spring so you’re ready before June.
  

How DEV Builders Group Helps

At DEV Builders Group, we design and construct hurricane-resilient buildings—but our role doesn’t stop at construction. We remain available before, during, and after storms to help our clients stay safe and operational.

Our services include:

• Emergency Diesel Fuel Delivery to keep generators running at homes and businesses.
• Potable Water Delivery for clean drinking water during outages.
• Post-Storm Inspections and Repairs to assess and fix property damage fast.

We take care of logistics and coordination for you. Our white-glove service ensures fast, professional response when you need it most.

Conclusion

Preparing for hurricanes in Puerto Rico is not just important—it’s necessary. Early planning saves lives, protects property, and makes recovery faster and less stressful.

Start now:

• Make a family or business emergency plan.
• Build a storm kit with essentials.
• Inspect and protect your home or office.
• Coordinate with your team and vendors.

Preparedness builds confidence. Be ready, stay safe, and trust DEV Builders Group to support you through the storm and beyond.

Sources:

• FEMA: https://www.fema.gov/
• NMEAD: https://manejodeemergencias.pr.gov/ 
• Ready.gov Hurricane Guide: https://www.ready.gov/hurricanes
• CDC Emergency Kits: https://www.cdc.gov/disability-emergency-preparedness/people-with-disabilities/build-a-kit.html

Frequently Asked Questions