In Tallahassee, we don’t just get rain; we get tropical deluges. During hurricane season, it isn’t uncommon for our area to receive 5 to 10 inches of rain in a single afternoon.

For many homeowners, the focus is on plywood for the windows and gas for the generator. However, the most significant long-term damage from a Florida storm often happens where you can’t see it: in your crawl space. When thousands of gallons of water hit your roof, that water has to go somewhere. If your crawl space isn’t ready, it will go under your house.

Use this simple checklist to ensure your home’s “hidden half” survives the next big storm.

1. The 10-Foot Downspout Rule

Your gutters are your first line of defense. If your downspouts drop water right at the edge of your foundation, you are essentially “injecting” hurricane runoff directly into your crawl space.

• The Goal: Extend all downspouts at least 10 feet away from the foundation.
• The Check: Ensure extensions are securely attached. High winds can often blow away flimsy plastic extenders, leaving your foundation vulnerable during the worst of the rain.

2. Inspect the “Positive Grade”

Walk around your home and look at the soil. Does it slope away from the house, or toward it?

• The Danger: Over time, flower beds and landscaping can create a “bowl” effect that traps water against your foundation walls.
• The Fix: Ensure the ground slopes downward at least 6 inches over the first 10 feet away from the home. This “positive grade” ensures that torrential rain keeps moving past your house rather than under it.

3. Sump Pump “Stress Test”

If you have a sump pump, it is the heart of your flood prevention system. You do not want to find out it’s broken in the middle of a tropical storm.

• The Test: Pour a five-gallon bucket of water into the sump pit to ensure the float switch activates and the pump clears the water quickly.
• The Backup: Power outages are a guarantee during Tallahassee storms. Does your sump pump have a battery backup? If not, the moment the lights go out, your crawl space begins to fill.

4. Clear the Perimeter Drains

If you have French drains or a perimeter drainage system, check the exit points.

• The Issue: Pine needles, mulch, and debris from our Tallahassee oaks can easily clog drain exits.
• The Fix: Clear any blockages now so that when the storm hits, the water has an unobstructed path to the street or drainage ditch.

5. Vapor Barrier and Vent Check

High humidity follows every Florida storm. If your vapor barrier is torn or pushed aside, the damp earth will turn your crawl space into a sauna, leading to rapid mold growth.

• The Check: Ensure your vapor barrier is flat and covering the ground completely.
• The Decision: If you still have open crawl space vents, consider Crawl Space Encapsulation. Sealing those vents is the only way to prevent the massive influx of humid, “heavy” storm air from rotting your floor joists.

Don’t Wait for the Clouds to Darken

Hurricane preparedness is about winning the battle before it starts. By the time a tropical storm warning is issued for Leon County, it is often too late to make structural drainage improvements.

Is your crawl space the weak link in your hurricane plan?

At Crawlspace Tallahassee, we specialize in “storm-proofing” foundations. Whether you need a sump pump upgrade, a drainage overhaul, or a full encapsulation to keep the Florida humidity out, we are here to help. Protect your home from the ground up.