Hurricane backup power in Florida

How should I plan backup power for hurricane season in Florida?

Decide three things in advance: which circuits you actually need, how many days you are planning for, and whether cooling is on the list. Those answers determine whether you need a small essential-loads battery, a large multi-unit system, a generator, or a battery paired with solar so it can recharge each day. Solar alone provides nothing during an outage.

Solar alone in an outage
Produces nothing without storage and backup switching
Decides what runs
Continuous output (kW)
Decides how long
Usable capacity (kWh), extended by solar recharge

Start with the honest list

Most backup disappointment comes from a mismatch between what someone imagined and what they bought. Before comparing products, write down what you need running when the grid is down for three days in August, and separate genuine needs from preferences.

For most Florida households the genuine list is short: refrigeration so food and medication survive, connectivity so you can reach family and information, some lighting, and any medical equipment. The expensive item is cooling, and it deserves an explicit decision rather than an assumption.

How long are you planning for?

Outage duration after a major Florida storm varies enormously by where you are and how badly the local distribution network was hit. Planning for a day is a very different purchase from planning for a week. Rather than guess an average, decide the level of disruption you are willing to accept and size to that.

Battery, generator, or both

Home batteryStandby generator
RuntimeBounded by capacity; extended by solar rechargeBounded by fuel supply
Starts automaticallyYes, typically fast enough that devices stay upYes, usually after a short delay
NoiseSilentAudible, continuously
Fuel logisticsNoneNeeds propane, natural gas or diesel, which can be scarce after a storm
Value outside outagesCan shift consumption and support daily useNone; it sits idle
MaintenanceMinimalRegular servicing and test runs
Whole-home coolingRequires substantial output, often multiple unitsGenerally achievable with an appropriately sized unit

These are not mutually exclusive. Some Florida households sensibly run a battery for the frequent short outages and daily benefit, and keep a generator for the rare multi-day event.

What to do before the season, not during it

  1. Get a load calculation done on the circuits you want backed up, so you know your real output requirement rather than an estimate.
  2. Confirm your electrical panel can accommodate the equipment, since panel upgrades are a common hidden cost and a common delay.
  3. Start permitting and interconnection early. Both take time, and neither compresses because a storm is forecast.
  4. If you are also considering re-roofing, do the roof first. Removing and reinstalling an array later is pure avoidable cost.
  5. Tell your insurer, and get the coverage position in writing.

Work out what your home actually needs

Enter the loads you want to keep running and see what output and capacity that implies, with every assumption shown.

Open the backup calculator

Common questions

Can I buy a battery once a storm is forecast?

Realistically no. Installation requires permitting, interconnection and scheduling, all of which take longer than a storm’s notice period, and demand spikes exactly when everyone else has the same idea. Backup is an off-season purchase.

Will my solar panels charge the battery during the outage?

They can, if the system is configured for backup. Expect reduced output around the storm itself, since heavy cloud precedes and follows landfall, then better production as the weather clears.

Is a portable battery or generator enough?

For phones, a fan and a small fridge, a portable unit can genuinely help and costs far less. It will not run central air conditioning or a well pump, and it needs manual management. It is a reasonable minimum, not a substitute for a permanent system.

Sources

What each source supports on this page, and when we last verified it. Every source we use, with its freshness policy, is listed in the source register.

  1. Powerwall 3 Datasheet

    Tesla

    Powerwall 3 energy capacity, continuous output, and warranty term.

    Verified August 16, 2026

  2. IQ Battery 5P data sheet

    Enphase Energy

    IQ Battery 5P usable capacity, continuous and peak output, chemistry and warranty.

    Verified August 16, 2026

  3. Florida Building Code — high-velocity hurricane zone and wind-borne debris provisions

    Florida Building Commission

    Wind-load and permitting requirements applying to rooftop solar installations in Florida, including the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone in Miami-Dade and Broward counties.

    Verified August 16, 2026

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