Preparing your pool for a hurricane isn’t difficult, but it’s also important to protect your property. The safest approach for both homeowners and commercial properties in Brevard County is to lower the pool water level by 12–18 inches, shut off all pool electrical equipment at the breaker, secure or store loose accessories, and inspect the pool for cracks and leaks once it’s safe to return. This guide walks through every step before, during, and after the storm.
Should You Drain Your Pool Before a Hurricane?
No. Draining a pool before a hurricane does far more harm than good, and it’s one of the most persistent myths in Florida hurricane prep. Brevard County sits on a high water table, and an empty pool shell has nothing to counteract the upward pressure that builds in saturated ground during heavy rain. Pools that are drained before or after a storm are at real risk of popping out of the ground, cracking, or shifting on their foundation.
The University of Florida/IFAS Extension office for Indian River County advises against draining a residential pool before a major rain event for exactly this reason: it’s better to keep the pool full and let excess rainwater drain safely across the deck than to remove the water that’s holding the shell in place. The Florida Swimming Pool Association gives the same guidance and adds that outdoor furniture and pool accessories should never be tossed into the pool for “safekeeping” — they can scratch or puncture the surface and interior finish.
The one exception to the no-drain rule: if your pool already has visible cracks, a failing structure, or your pool contractor has specifically advised draining for a documented reason, follow that professional guidance rather than a general rule. Otherwise, plan to keep water in the pool through the entire storm.
How Much Should You Lower the Water Level Before a Storm?
Lower the water level by 12 to 18 inches. This gives the pool room to absorb heavy rainfall without overflowing into the yard, while leaving enough water in the shell to keep it weighted down. If your property has strong perimeter drainage and functioning skimmers, you may not need to lower the level at all — just make sure the drains aren’t clogged with leaves or debris before the storm arrives.
Commercial properties and HOAs with multiple pools should check drainage capacity at each pool individually. A pool with a slow or partially blocked main drain will overflow faster than one with clear drainage, even at the same starting water level. If your property has had drainage or overflow problems in past storms, that’s worth noting and addressing before hurricane season peaks.
How Do I Protect Pool Equipment Before a Hurricane?
Shut off the circuit breakers that power your pump, filter, heater, and pool lighting before the storm arrives, and leave them off until the power is confirmed safe afterward. Submerged or flooded electrical equipment is a shock and fire hazard, and running a pump without water will burn out the motor.
Beyond the Breaker, Walk Through This Equipment Checklist:
| Equipment | What To Do Before the Storm |
| Pump and filter | Turn off at the breaker; if portable, disconnect and store indoors |
| Gas heater | Shut off the gas supply at the valve |
| Pool cleaner (robotic or suction-side) | Remove from the pool and store indoors |
| Chlorinator or salt system | Turn off; add a floating chlorinator if you need sanitation while the pump is off |
| Pool lights | Confirm breaker is off; do not operate if any water intrusion is suspected |
| Automation/control panels | Power down and, if possible, cover to limit rain exposure |
For commercial properties, this is also the point to notify residents or guests that the pool will be closed and equipment de-energized, and to document the pre-storm condition with photos for insurance purposes.
What Should You Do With Pool Furniture, Toys, and Accessories?
Move everything that isn’t bolted down into a garage, shed, or other enclosed space. Never place objects into the pool itself. Loose furniture, umbrellas, planters, floats, and pool toys become airborne debris in hurricane-force winds, and they can also puncture a vinyl liner or chip a fiberglass or gunite surface if tossed in “for safekeeping.” Prune any overhanging branches near the pool that could snap and land in the water, and clear the pool and deck of leaves and debris right before the storm so they don’t clog drains or skimmers during heavy rain.
For commercial and multi-family properties, this is also the time to secure pool furniture across the entire amenity deck, not just around the water’s edge, since umbrellas and lounge chairs at scale represent a much larger liability if they become projectiles.
How Do You Prepare Your Pool for Storm Surge in Brevard County’s Evacuation Zones?
If your property sits in one of Brevard County’s storm surge evacuation zones, hurricane pool prep is secondary to evacuating safely, but it still matters for what you come home to. Brevard uses a five-tier zone system (A through E), with Zone A covering the barrier islands including Cocoa Beach, Cape Canaveral, Melbourne Beach, Satellite Beach, and Indialantic. This is where evacuation orders are typically issued first. Homes and commercial properties near US-1 and the Indian River Lagoon can also fall within a storm surge zone even on the mainland side.
Before you evacuate, complete your pool shutdown as early as possible. Barrier island causeways typically close to traffic once sustained winds reach 40 mph, so waiting until the last minute isn’t an option if you live or manage property east of the Indian River.
Confirm your zone using the Brevard County Emergency Management “Know Your Zone” tool, and follow the weather for storm surge forecasts specific to the Space Coast.
If your pool sits in a flood-prone area or you’ve had drainage issues in past storms, it’s worth having it looked at before hurricane season peaks — contact our Brevard County team for an inspection while you still have time to schedule it.
What Should You Do With Your Pool Immediately After the Storm?
After the storm, wait until it’s safe, then check for damage before you touch anything electrical. Don’t reconnect breakers until you’re sure no water intruded into the electrical panel, conduit, or pump housing. If there’s any doubt, have a licensed electrician or pool professional check it first. Clear leaves, branches, and mud from the pool and deck as soon as it’s safe to do so, since organic debris left sitting in warm Florida water will stain plaster and feed algae blooms within days.
Once debris is cleared, test and balance the water chemistry, then shock the pool. Storms can wash bacteria, fertilizer runoff, and organic matter into the water, and a pool that sat closed for several days will need a stronger-than-usual chlorine treatment to come back into balance. If your property lost power for an extended stretch, plan on the pool needing a full water test and likely a shock treatment before it’s swim-ready again, regardless of how clear it looks.
How Do You Know If the Storm Caused a Pool Leak?
Watch for a faster-than-normal drop in water level over the days following the storm — that’s the clearest sign of a new leak. Hurricanes stress a pool shell in ways everyday use doesn’t. The shifting, saturated ground can crack gunite or shift a fiberglass shell, storm surge and flooding can compromise plumbing lines and equipment pads, and flying debris can chip tile or crack a skimmer housing below the waterline.
A simple way to check for rapid water loss is to conduct a bucket test.
How To Get Your Pool Checked After a Hurricane
If your water level is dropping faster than it should, or you noticed cracking, shifting decking, or equipment that sat underwater during the storm, the next step is a professional leak inspection.
Aquaman Leak Detection has served Brevard and Indian River County homeowners, property managers, hotels, and HOAs for more than 20 years, using patented equipment that pinpoints leaks in pools, spas, and slabs without tearing up your deck to find them.
If you manage a commercial or multi-family property, storm season is also a good time to have every pool on the property checked on a set schedule rather than waiting for a resident complaint — a small leak found in October is a lot cheaper to fix than one that’s been running since June. See our full swimming pool leak repair process or contact our Brevard County office to schedule an inspection before or after the next storm.