The 2026 Atlantic hurricane season has been unusually quiet. As of September 8, five named storms have formed and none have reached hurricane strength, while overall tropical cyclone activity has remained well below normal.
That is encouraging news for the Gulf Coast, especially as the Atlantic reaches its climatological peak around September 10. Hurricane season still runs through November 30, however, leaving nearly three months in which conditions can change.
With the weather still quiet, homeowners have time to check how their security system is expected to perform if power or internet service is interrupted, or if an evacuation takes them away from the property. At ABC Fire & Burglar Alarm, we help Greater New Orleans homeowners understand how the equipment already in their homes is set up to perform and where an update may be worthwhile before severe weather enters the forecast.
Know How Your Security System Handles an Outage
Most hurricane preparation naturally focuses on securing the home, gathering supplies, and making plans for generators or evacuation. The security system belongs in that preparation as well because severe weather can affect both the power it relies on and the way it communicates.
Battery backup and cellular communication address different parts of that problem. Battery power can keep compatible security equipment operating for a period of time after utility power is lost. A cellular communication path can allow the alarm panel to communicate without relying solely on the home’s internet connection, as long as cellular service remains available.
ABC’s residential alarm and monitoring systems can incorporate professional monitoring and connected capabilities alongside the alarm equipment in the home. If you are unsure how your system communicates or what backup power it has, checking now gives you time to address a problem before severe weather is in the Gulf.
Not sure how your security system is set up to handle a power or internet outage? Call ABC Fire & Burglar Alarm at 504-889-9795 or request a free residential security consultation.
Stay Connected When an Evacuation Takes You Away
An evacuation can put significant distance between you and your property, making remote access particularly valuable when communication service remains available.
Connected security can allow homeowners to check system status, receive alerts, and manage compatible devices without being at the house. ABC’s smart home systems can also provide remote control of compatible locks, garage doors, and other connected equipment, giving homeowners another way to manage parts of the property after they have left.
Cameras can provide additional visibility when the equipment, power, and communication services remain operational. ABC’s residential security camera systems offer remote viewing and recorded video, which can help homeowners check activity around the property without returning home.
Knowing which of these capabilities your system supports before an evacuation makes them much easier to rely on when you need them.
Keep Monitoring Information Current
Professional monitoring provides another layer of protection when an alarm signal successfully reaches the monitoring center, which can be especially important when you are away from the property for an extended period.
Monitoring response depends on the type of signal and the way the account is set up, so hurricane preparation is also a good time to make sure your contact information and emergency contacts are current. Phone numbers, authorized users, and other account details can easily become outdated as households change.
Those updates are simple compared with replacing equipment, but they can affect how smoothly communication works if an alarm occurs while you are away.
Start With the Equipment Already in Your Home
If your home already has an alarm system, storm preparation can begin with understanding what that equipment is capable of.
ABC Fire & Burglar Alarm can evaluate an existing panel, sensors, and other installed components to determine what remains compatible and where an update could improve communication, monitoring, or remote access. This is particularly helpful for homeowners who inherited a system when they purchased the property or have been using the same equipment for years.
In many homes, compatible equipment can continue to be used while specific parts of the system are updated. That gives homeowners a way to improve the capabilities they care about without assuming the entire installation needs to be replaced.
For hurricane season, the questions are practical: Does the system have backup power? How does it communicate if the home internet goes down? Is it professionally monitored? Can you access the features you expect to use while away?
Knowing those answers before a storm approaches can make evacuation planning a little easier.
Use the Quiet Weather to Get Ready
Homes across New Orleans, Metairie, Kenner, Slidell, Covington, and surrounding communities still have nearly three months of hurricane season ahead. While the Atlantic remains quiet, there is time to find out how your security system is expected to perform during an outage or evacuation and address anything that needs attention.
ABC Fire & Burglar Alarm has served Greater New Orleans homeowners for more than 20 years. If your system has been in place for years or you are unsure how it is configured, our team can evaluate the equipment already in your home and explain which options fit your needs.
Call ABC Fire & Burglar Alarm at 504-889-9795 or request your free residential security consultation to prepare your home security system for the rest of hurricane season.
