The hurricane pool checklist — and the one mistake that costs thousands

North Carolina averages a landfalling tropical cyclone about once every four years, and this stretch of coast has taken three memorable hits recently — Florence in 2018, Isaias making landfall at Ocean Isle Beach in August 2020, and Debby in August 2024.

The mistake: do not drain the pool

This is the expensive one. An empty or part-drained pool can float out of the ground when heavy rain lifts the water table — hydrostatic pressure pushes up against an empty shell with nothing inside to hold it down. A full pool is a heavy pool, and heavy is what you want.

Rain overflow is a minor, fixable problem. A shell that has lifted is a five-figure one.

Before the storm

• Leave the water in. If anything, only lower it a few inches.
• Turn off power to the pump and equipment at the breaker.
• Bring in furniture, toys, and anything else that can become airborne.
• Do not cover the pool. A cover catches debris and tears.
• Balance the chemistry and shock beforehand so the water starts in good condition.

After the storm

Clear debris before it sinks and stains. Do not switch flooded equipment back on until it has been checked — a pump that has been underwater needs inspecting first.

Expect the water to be green if there was significant organic debris and rainfall. That is normal, and it is a recovery job rather than a disaster.