Electrical Safety During Florida Storm Season — A Sarasota Electrician's Advice
Published January 25, 2026 • 6 min read • By Donny McGuire
Florida storm season runs from June through November, and if you have lived here for any length of time, you know it is not a matter of "if" but "when" a big storm hits your neighborhood. Lightning strikes, power surges, downed lines, flooding — all of it can affect your home's electrical system.
Here is what I want every homeowner in Sarasota and Bradenton to know about keeping their home and family safe before, during, and after a storm.
Whole-House Surge Protection Is Your First Line of Defense
Florida is the lightning capital of the country. Sarasota County alone gets hit with thousands of lightning strikes every summer. A single lightning strike near your home can send a massive surge through the power lines and into everything plugged in — your AC unit, refrigerator, TV, computer, pool pump.
Those little power strips you buy at the hardware store offer some protection for individual devices, but they are not designed to handle a major surge. A whole-house surge protector installs at your electrical panel and intercepts surges before they reach any circuit in your home. It is the single best investment you can make to protect your electronics and appliances from lightning damage.
A whole-house surge protector typically costs $300 to $500 installed. Compare that to replacing an AC compressor ($3,000+), a refrigerator ($1,500+), or a pool pump ($800+) after a surge, and it pays for itself fast.
I recommend combining a whole-house surge protector at the panel with point-of-use surge protectors at your most expensive electronics. Belt and suspenders.
Generator Safety — The Right Way and the Wrong Way
After a hurricane or tropical storm, power can be out for days or even weeks. A generator keeps your refrigerator running, your lights on, and your AC working. But generators are one of the most dangerous things in a home if they are not set up properly.
Here are the rules I give every homeowner:
- Never run a portable generator inside your home, garage, or enclosed space. Carbon monoxide from generator exhaust is odorless and deadly. Every storm season, people die from running generators in closed garages. Keep the generator outside, at least 20 feet from any window or door, with the exhaust pointed away from the house.
- Never backfeed your panel. "Backfeeding" means plugging a generator into a wall outlet to power your house. This is extremely dangerous. It sends power backward through your panel and out to the utility lines, which can electrocute FPL lineworkers trying to restore power. It can also start a fire in your wiring.
- Use a transfer switch. If you want a generator to power circuits in your house, you need a transfer switch installed by a licensed electrician. It isolates your home from the utility grid so you can run your generator safely. It is code, and it is the only safe way to do it.
If you are thinking about a generator for hurricane season, read my complete generator guide for more details on standby vs portable options.
What to Do During a Power Outage
When the power goes out during a storm, here is what I recommend:
- Turn off your AC at the thermostat. When power comes back on, the surge of your AC compressor starting up can damage the unit. Wait 5 to 10 minutes after power is restored before turning it back on.
- Unplug sensitive electronics. TVs, computers, gaming systems — unplug them during the outage. When power is restored, there is often a surge that can damage electronics even through a basic power strip.
- Leave one light on. Keep a single light switched on so you know when power is restored.
- Do not open the fridge or freezer unless necessary. A closed refrigerator will keep food cold for about 4 hours. A full freezer holds its temperature for about 48 hours. Opening the door lets cold air escape.
- Use flashlights, not candles. After a storm, gas leaks can go unnoticed. Candles are a fire hazard. Battery-powered flashlights and lanterns are safer.
Water and Electricity — The Deadly Combination
Florida floods. Tropical storms and even heavy summer thunderstorms can put standing water in garages, lanais, and low-lying areas of your property. If there is any standing water near electrical outlets, panels, pool equipment, or downed power lines, stay far away from it.
Water conducts electricity. Stepping into a flooded garage where a live outlet is submerged can kill you. If your home has taken on water, do not enter until the power has been shut off at the meter — either by you if you can safely reach the meter, or by FPL.
After flooding, your electrical system needs to be inspected before the power is turned back on. Wiring, outlets, and panels that have been submerged may be damaged even if they look fine.
Post-Storm Electrical Inspection
After a major storm, I recommend having your electrical system inspected if any of the following apply:
- Your home took on any water, even just in the garage
- Lightning struck your home or nearby (within a couple hundred feet)
- You notice lights flickering, outlets not working, or breakers that will not reset after power is restored
- You smell burning or see scorching around your panel or outlets
- Your AC, pool pump, or other major appliances are not working normally after the storm
A post-storm electrical inspection can catch damage that is not visible — like a surge that weakened wiring insulation or a connection that loosened from wind vibration. Finding these issues early prevents bigger problems down the road.
Get Ready Before Storm Season Starts
The best time to prepare your home's electrical system for storm season is before the first storm hits. That means installing whole-house surge protection, getting a generator set up with a proper transfer switch, and having an inspection if your home has not had one recently.
If you are in Sarasota, Bradenton, or anywhere along the Suncoast and want to get your home ready for storm season, call me at (941) 539-8892. I would rather help you prepare than deal with the aftermath.
