Rule One: Do Not Drain the Pool
Every hurricane season someone drains a pool to "make room for the rain" and finds their shell floating out of the ground the next morning. A pool full of water is heavy. That weight is what holds it down when the water table rises. Drain it, and the ground pushes the empty shell up. That's a structural failure that costs more than the rest of the storm combined.
Leave the water in. If you're worried about overflow, the pool was designed with an overflow path, and a few inches of extra water on the deck is a cleanup problem, not a damage problem.
Before the Storm
Most of this takes an hour. Do it the day before landfall, not as the wind picks up.
- 1Lower the water a few inches, only if you need to. If your pool has no overflow drain and heavy rain is expected, drop the level to the bottom of the skimmer. Never lower it more than that. Many Florida pools don't need this at all.
- 2Shock the pool. Heavy chlorination before the storm gives you a head start against the debris, rain dilution, and runoff that's about to hit the water.
- 3Balance the water. Get pH and alkalinity in range so the chlorine holds.
- 4Turn off power to all pool equipment at the breaker. Pump, heater, lights, chlorinator, automation. A power surge or a flooded equipment pad with live power is the real danger.
- 5Cover the equipment with a tarp if it's exposed, or wrap the motor and control panel in plastic. If flooding is likely, some homeowners unbolt the pump motor and bring it inside.
- 6Remove loose items. Skimmer lids, ladders, handrails if they lift out, pool toys, cleaning tools, and the robotic cleaner.
- 7Store patio furniture indoors or in the garage.
- 8Check the screen enclosure for loose panels. Many Florida pool owners remove a few screen panels on each side to let wind pass through instead of loading the frame. Follow your enclosure manufacturer's guidance.
The Furniture-in-the-Pool Myth
You'll hear it every year: throw the patio furniture in the pool so it doesn't blow away. Don't. Metal furniture scratches plaster and tears liners, rusts, and leaves stains that need acid washing to remove. Plastic furniture floats and ends up in the neighbor's yard anyway. Put it in the garage.
After the Storm
Don't rush to turn everything back on. Work through it in order.
- 1Inspect before restoring power. Check the equipment pad for standing water, debris in the pump, and damaged wiring. If the motor was submerged, do not run it. It needs to dry out and be checked, or replaced.
- 2Remove large debris by hand or with a leaf rake. Running the pump with branches and roof shingles in the skimmer burns it out.
- 3Restore power and run the pump once the pad is dry and clear. Clean the skimmer and pump baskets several times the first day.
- 4Clean the filter early and often. A storm-loaded pool can clog a cartridge in hours. Watch the pressure gauge.
- 5Shock again and test. Rain and runoff dilute chlorine and raise pH. Expect to rebalance over a few days.
- 6Brush and vacuum once the water clears enough to see the floor.
- 7Lower the water back to normal level if the rain overfilled it.
What a Storm Cleanup Costs
| Service | Typical Price (2026) |
|---|---|
| Post-storm debris cleanup and chemical reset | $150–$400 |
| Green or black pool recovery after a storm | $300–$800+ |
| Pump motor replacement (flooded motor) | $350–$800 |
| Drain, clean, and refill (mud or saltwater intrusion) | $600–$1,500 |
Weekly service customers usually get the basic cleanup as part of the next visit, with a surcharge for heavy debris. One-time customers pay the full rate, and after a major storm the good companies are booked for weeks.
When to Call a Pool Service Company
- The equipment pad flooded or the motor went under
- The water turned green or brown and you can't see the bottom
- You suspect a leak (the level keeps dropping after the rain stops)
- Mud, saltwater, or sewage got into the pool
- The screen enclosure is damaged and shedding debris into the water
If you have weekly service, call them before the storm to confirm their post-storm schedule. If you don't, see Why Is My Pool Green? How to Fix It for the recovery steps.
Pool Service Companies in Hurricane Markets
Florida and Gulf Coast cities on Pool Service Scout:
- Sarasota, FL · Naples, FL · Fort Myers, FL · Tampa, FL · Ocala, FL
- Corpus Christi, TX · San Antonio, TX · Fort Worth, TX
Other most-searched markets:
- Sarasota, FL · Naples, FL · Fort Myers, FL · Tampa, FL · Ocala, FL
- Lake Havasu City, AZ · Corpus Christi, TX · Fort Worth, TX · San Antonio, TX
- Bakersfield, CA · Fresno, CA · Oklahoma City, OK · Tulsa, OK
Or by state: Florida, Texas, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina.
Bottom Line
Leave the water in, kill the power, shock before, inspect before you restart after. Find a pool service company near you now, before the storm, so you're on their list when the cleanup calls start.