As 2025 wraps up, you're probably thinking about next year’s routine home tasks—cleaning gutters, changing filters, and maybe finally fixing that leaky faucet. But one task deserves a higher spot on your list: preparing for severe weather.
Wildfires, hurricanes, and other dangerous weather events are becoming more common. In fact, 84% of homeowners experienced more weather-related challenges in 2024, including flood or wildfire risks, hail storms, or hurricanes, according to our 2024 Housepower Report.
Yet, at the same time, only 33% of homeowners made home improvements to reduce severe weather risks in the last year, down from 39% in 2024, according to our 2025 Extreme Weather Survey.
This guide explains how extreme weather affects homes in different U.S. regions, how homeowners can prepare, and the steps to take after a storm.
Key takeaways
- In 2025, 33% of homeowners said they made home improvements in the last year to reduce severe weather risks, down from 39% in 2024.
- Western homeowners were the most likely to prepare for severe weather. 37% took steps to mitigate potential weather damage in the last year.
- 46% of homeowners spent more than $5,000 out of pocket on unexpected home repairs in 2024, up from 36% in 2023.
- More than 1 in 5 homeowners say cost is the main barrier to weather-proofing their home.
Western homeowners lead in extreme weather protection
While outliers exist, extreme weather events affect some areas of the U.S. more than others. And according to our Extreme Weather Survey, most U.S. homeowners say they have taken at least one action to prepare, like contributing to an emergency fund.
Overall, 82% of homeowners say they feel somewhat or very confident their home is prepared to withstand a natural disaster, according to our Disaster Preparedness Survey:
Preventive maintenance is typically more affordable than major repairs. While home repairs can cost $5,000 or more, per our Housepower Report, most homeowners spent less than $1,000 on all seasonal maintenance tasks. Still, 21% of homeowners say budget constraints keep them from making proactive updates that would better protect their homes from extreme weather.
