Construction Corps urges Tampa Bay homeowners to prep despite quieter hurricane forecast

Construction Corps is warning Tampa Bay homeowners not to let NOAA’s below-normal 2026 hurricane outlook reduce preparedness ahead of peak season. The Clearwater contractor is sharing six readiness steps based on its Helene and Milton recovery work in Pinellas County.

Why it matters: - Tampa Bay homeowners still face serious risk even in a below-normal forecast year, especially from storm surge, flooding and wind damage. - Peak hurricane season runs from mid-August through October, so prep time is short. - Faster documentation, insurance review and flood-zone planning can shape both safety and recovery costs after a storm.

What happened: - Construction Corps, Inc. is urging homeowners across the Tampa Bay area not to treat NOAA’s 2026 Atlantic hurricane outlook as a reason to delay preparation. - NOAA’s 2026 outlook calls for 8 to 14 named storms as El Nino conditions develop. - Matt Thompson, owner of Construction Corps, said a quiet forecast is not the same as a landfall forecast. - Thompson said homeowners who document their homes and know their flood zone before a storm recover faster. - Construction Corps based its guidance on recovery work after Hurricanes Helene and Milton in 2024. - The company helped Clearwater Beach residents with water damage mitigation, care kits and more than $20,000 in loaned emergency equipment.

The details: - Construction Corps recommends photographing and videoing every room, the roof, the exterior and major systems now, then storing copies in the cloud. - The company says homeowners should review insurance before a storm has a name. - Standard homeowners policies do not cover flood damage. - Federal flood insurance typically carries a 30-day waiting period. - Wind deductibles are often set as a percentage of dwelling value rather than a flat fee. - FEMA flood zone designations affect what happens after damage. - Under the substantial improvement rule, if repair or improvement costs exceed 50% of a structure’s market value, the building generally must be brought into compliance with current floodplain rules, which can include elevation. - Some local governments use even stricter thresholds. - Construction Corps says homeowners should inspect roofs and openings for aging coverings, loose flashing, degraded seals around windows and doors, and unbraced garage doors. - The company advises planning for water as well as wind. - Much of the damage from Helene and Milton came from storm surge and flooding rather than wind. - Homeowners should know how to shut off power and water. - Fast professional drying in the first days after water intrusion helps limit mold growth. - Construction Corps says homeowners should line up licensed help before they need it. - Florida penalties for unlicensed contracting increase during a declared state of emergency. - Homeowners can verify contractors at Florida’s official license portal. - NOAA will update its seasonal outlook in early August. - Construction Corps holds six in-house Florida licenses: certified general contracting (CGC1530192), registered engineering firm (39242), electrical (EC13013956), plumbing (CFC1432954), mold remediation (MRSR5676) and mold assessment (MRSA5772). - The company says that license mix lets it handle storm recovery from emergency mitigation and drying through engineered, FEMA-compliant reconstruction under one roof. - Construction Corps is a veteran-owned design-build general contractor headquartered in Clearwater and serves the Tampa Bay area. - The company is a certified Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business that handles residential and commercial construction, custom homes, additions, ADUs, remodels and storm recovery services. - More information is available at constructioncorps.com. - The company also maintains social accounts on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and X.

Between the lines: - The message is less about this year’s storm count and more about using the calm stretch before peak season to reduce avoidable damage and insurance friction. - Construction Corps is positioning its multi-license setup as a one-stop recovery option, which may matter most after a major storm when contractors and regulators get stretched thin. - The emphasis on flood zones, documentation and licensed contractors reflects a shift from emergency response to pre-storm planning.

What's next: - NOAA is expected to revise its seasonal outlook in early August, just before the historical peak of hurricane season. - Homeowners in Tampa Bay will likely see more preparation reminders as the season moves into its most active months. - Construction Corps’ guidance suggests the most useful prep happens before a storm is on the radar, not after warnings begin.