Questions people actually ask
And honest answers. If yours isn't here, email hello@gocheckmystorm.com.
Is the readiness check really free? What's the catch?
Really free: no account, no phone number, no email, nothing. Your score appears immediately, and you can download it as a PDF made on your own device. The site is funded by affiliate links: if a result points you to something useful (storm supplies, a generator installer, an insurance review) and you use our link, we may earn a commission at no cost to you. The scoring logic is the same for everyone and can't be influenced by partners.
What happens to my answers?
You don't need an account, a phone number, or an email to use the readiness check. There's no sign-up or login anywhere on the site, and your score and PDF are generated on your own device.
Will this site tell me whether to evacuate?
No, never. Watches, warnings, and evacuation orders belong to your local emergency management officials and the National Weather Service, and their word outranks anything on this site. What we help with is the part you own in advance: knowing your evacuation zone, having a destination and route in mind, and having the supplies and papers ready so that following an order is logistics, not chaos.
How is the 0 to 100 score calculated?
Eleven scored checks with fixed, published weights: roof, window protection, garage door, flood zone knowledge, water, food and medicines, backup power, alerts and communication, documents and photos, insurance readiness, and the evacuation plan. Every answer maps to points, the same for everyone, and the weights are documented on how our recommendations work. Not-applicable answers (no garage, a renter's roof) award full credit rather than punishing you.
A storm might actually be coming. Should I still take the quiz?
Tell the first question a storm may be on the way and the whole result compresses to a next-48-hours pace: what's still fixable (water, food, medicines, papers, photos, charging, fuel) and honest words about what isn't (contractor work, and new flood insurance typically has a waiting period). Or skip the quiz entirely and go straight to the 48-Hour Checklist, which is printable and built for exactly this.
Is this insurance advice?
No. We flag the two questions worth asking (what's the wind deductible in real terms, and is flood covered at all, since flood is generally a separate policy), and then we send you to your agent or a licensed professional. We never recommend specific coverage, limits, or carriers.
Do I really need to board up windows? Doesn't tape work?
Tape does not strengthen glass; that one is a long-debunked myth, and taped glass still breaks, just in bigger pieces. Real answers are impact-rated glass, rated shutters, or measured plywood panels prepared before a storm is on the map. The readiness check scores which tier you're on.
How often should I redo the check?
Every June, before the Atlantic season peaks, and after any change to the house or household: a move, a renovation, a new family member, new medical needs. Supplies age quietly: batteries drain, water and food stores expire, and insurance policies change at renewal.