Hurricane Prep & Cleanup Guide for Polk County Homes, Before and After

Before the storm

Start a few days out. Bottled water and plywood disappear fast once a storm turns toward Central Florida.

• Clear the yard and lanai: patio furniture, planters, grills and decor.
• Clean gutters and drains so they don't overflow into the house.
• Trim dead limbs and branches near the roof or power lines, the most common source of storm damage in our neighborhoods.
• Clear walkways and the garage so you can move valuables or leave quickly.
• Video each room for insurance.
• Get documents, electronics and keepsakes off the floor and into waterproof bins.
• Stock up and fuel up: water, non-perishable food, medications, flashlights, batteries and a full gas tank, before the pumps run dry.

Before you start cleanup

• Walk the outside for downed power lines, a gas smell or structural damage. If you find any, stay out and call the utility or a professional.
• Don't enter standing water if the power may be on.
• Wear gloves and closed shoes, and treat all floodwater as contaminated with sewage or chemicals.
• Never run a generator in a garage or near windows.

Cleanup order

1. Get the water out. Wet-vac standing water, then run fans and a dehumidifier. In Florida humidity, mold can start within 24–48 hours.
2. Pull soaked porous materials. Wet carpet pad, drywall and insulation usually can't be saved.
3. Clean and disinfect hard surfaces. Anything floodwater touched needs a full deep cleaning and disinfectant pass.
4. Stage the debris away from the house for pickup or removal.
5. Watch for mold for two weeks in closets, baseboards, cabinets and behind furniture.

Keep interior doors open for airflow, and pull baseboards or drywall that stayed wet more than 24 hours. They rarely dry from the inside. Full routine: how to stop mold and mildew in a Florida home.

Storm debris in Polk County

• County and city crews usually run special bulk pickups after a major storm, but they can take weeks to reach every street.
• Keep yard debris (branches, palm fronds) separate from construction debris (drywall, fencing, flooring) and household trash. Mixed piles get skipped.
• A room gutted to the studs becomes a post-construction cleaning job once repairs are done.
• Pile too big to wait on? A hauling crew like the one in our real cleanout cost breakdown can clear it in one visit.