Batten Down the Smart Hatches: Fortifying Your Connected Home for Hurricane Season

As hurricane season ramps up and the forecast darkens, the peace of mind offered by your smart home can quickly turn into a source of anxiety if not properly prepared. While your connected devices offer convenience and security on sunny days, they can become liabilities when a major storm threatens to unleash its fury.

It's time to transform your smart home from a potential victim into a resilient fortress. Here's how to ensure your high-tech haven weathers the storm.

Powering Through the Peril: Maintaining Connectivity

The first casualty of a hurricane is often power. When the lights go out, your Wi-Fi router, modem, and many smart devices go silent.

This isn't just an inconvenience; it can cripple your security system. Invest in a good Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) for your internet modem and Wi-Fi router. Even a small UPS can keep your network alive for crucial hours, allowing your security cameras to continue streaming and your smart sensors to report.

Remember to fully charge all your critical smart devices – phones, tablets, smart speakers with batteries, and especially any security cameras with rechargeable power packs. For extended outages, consider a portable generator or a whole-home battery backup system, ensuring they are safely and correctly installed away from your home.

Staying Alert: Communication is Key

Beyond power, maintaining communication is vital.

If your smart security system relies solely on Wi-Fi, it's vulnerable. Many modern security systems offer cellular backup, which allows them to continue sending alerts even if your internet is down. Confirm that your system has this feature and that it's active. This ensures that you'll still receive notifications about unusual activity, such as a triggered motion sensor or a door opening, even if you've evacuated or the power is out.

Have alternative communication methods ready, like fully charged cell phones and a car charger.

Battling the Elements: Water and Wind Defense

Hurricanes bring more than just power outages; they bring torrential rain and destructive winds. Review your outdoor smart devices – cameras, smart lighting, and sensors.

Are they securely mounted? Can they withstand high winds, or should they be temporarily brought indoors? For indoor devices, especially those on lower floors, consider elevating them to protect against potential flooding. Smart plugs and surge protectors can offer a layer of defense against power surges when electricity is restored, but during the storm itself, it's often best to unplug non-essential electronics to prevent damage.

Pre-Storm Checklist: Your Smart Home Action Plan

A proactive approach is your best defense.

Before the storm hits, perform these crucial checks:

• Charge Everything: Phones, tablets, laptops, portable power banks, and especially any smart devices with internal batteries.
• Test Backups: Ensure your UPS systems are working, and if you have a generator, give it a test run.
• Secure Outdoor Gear: Bring in or strongly secure any outdoor smart cameras, sensors, or lighting fixtures that could become projectiles.
• Elevate Electronics: Move valuable electronics and smart hubs off the floor to protect against potential water intrusion.
• Check Your Security System: Confirm cellular backup is enabled.

  Arm and disarm it to ensure it's fully functional.

• Review Alerts: Make sure your security system's alert settings are configured to notify essential contacts.
• Manual Overrides: Understand how to manually operate smart locks, garage doors, and other critical systems if power or internet is lost.

By taking these essential steps, you're not just preparing your smart home for a hurricane; you're investing in your peace of mind.

When the storm passes, you'll be thankful you took the time to secure your connected fortress, allowing you to focus on recovery with confidence, knowing your smart devices did their part to keep you safe and informed.