NOAA's 2026 Atlantic outlook forecasts a below-normal season — 8 to 14 named storms, with the historical peak running mid-September through October. Good news, but forecasters attach the same caveat every year: it only takes one storm over your address. A quiet forecast is exactly when prep is cheapest and shelves are full.
Power: the first thing you'll miss
Decide your tier before an outage decides for you: a portable generator for the fridge, sump pump and phones, or a battery power station for quieter, indoor-safe basics. Whichever you choose, buy the transfer cords and fuel cans now — that's what vanishes first when a storm is named. Start with our storm season prep collection.
Water: your basement's worst week
The peak season overlaps with the wettest weeks of fall. Test your sump pump by pouring a bucket of water into the pit — if it doesn't kick on immediately, replace it this month, not in October. A battery backup pump covers the exact scenario (power out + heavy rain) storms create.
The unglamorous three
- Tarps and fasteners: the difference between a damaged roof and a ruined interior is usually a $30 tarp installed fast.
- Surge protection: grid flicker after outages kills more electronics than the outage itself.
- Lighting: one lantern per room beats one flashlight per house.
A 30-minute audit this weekend
- Run the generator 10 minutes under load; stale fuel is the #1 no-start cause.
- Bucket-test the sump pump.
- Photograph your roof and gutters — a before photo simplifies any claim.
- Charge every battery bank in the house.
Everything above ships free across the US from TaskHolt.