Montgomery Storm-Season Storage Checklist: What to Photograph, Protect, and Keep at Home

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October 30th, 2026

A good storm-season storage checklist for Montgomery has three parts: photograph and inventory what you store, protect belongings from water and humidity inside the unit, and keep irreplaceable items at home. Ala-Stor Self Storage offers fenced, gated, ground-floor units with 24-hour security cameras on the east side of Montgomery.

Why does storm season change how you use storage in Montgomery?

Central Alabama gets severe weather, including spring tornado season, a second round of storms in the fall, heavy rain, and remnants of tropical systems. Wind, flooding, and power outages can damage homes and the belongings inside, so many families use storage to hold extra furniture, seasonal items, and keepsakes away from home.

Storage helps, but it is not storm-proof. No facility can promise protection from every event, so your plan should assume that something might get wet, damaged, or hard to reach. A short checklist before storm season starts makes recovery much easier.

What should you photograph before storm season?

Documentation is the first step. Take clear photos or a short video of every item of value, including furniture, electronics, appliances, tools, and collectibles, and capture serial numbers and labels when you can. Photograph the inside of your unit once you have packed it, and take a picture of the closed door with your unit number visible.

Make a simple inventory list with item descriptions, approximate values, and where each item sits in the unit. Save the photos and list in cloud storage and email a copy to yourself or a family member, so you can reach them even if your phone is lost or damaged. Update the photos whenever you add or remove items, since a current record also helps if you ever need to make an insurance claim.

What should you protect inside your unit?

Packing makes the biggest difference. Keep everything off the floor on pallets, shelves, or sturdy boards, since ground-floor units can see moisture if water ever gets in. Use sealed plastic bins instead of cardboard, which can absorb water, and place the heaviest boxes on the bottom.

Wrap furniture in breathable covers instead of plastic, which can trap moisture, and stand mattresses on edge. Keep fragile and sentimental items on higher shelves or on top of sturdy furniture. Leave a small gap between items and walls for airflow, and avoid storing food, plants, or anything damp.

What should you keep at home?

Some things should never go in storage, especially before severe weather. Keep important documents, such as IDs, insurance policies, deeds, titles, and tax records, in a waterproof container at home or in a safe place you can grab quickly. Keep medications, jewelry, cash, and any item you cannot replace with you.

Also keep your emergency supplies handy. Water, flashlights, batteries, chargers, a first aid kit, and copies of important phone numbers belong at home, not in a unit that may be hard to reach after a storm.

What should you ask about insurance and the facility?

Insurance is the main question. Check whether your homeowners or renters policy covers items in storage, what the limits are, and whether flood damage is covered, since flood coverage is often separate. Ask the facility whether it offers or requires its own coverage, and keep a copy of your rental agreement.

Because this facility is unmanned and fully digital, also confirm how to reach someone by phone after a storm, and ask what to expect if a severe weather event affects the property.

What does Ala-Stor Self Storage offer in Montgomery?

The facility has drive-up access, a fully fenced and gated property, 24-hour security cameras, and 100 percent ground-floor and interior units. It offers touchless online rentals, month-to-month leases, and online bill pay, and it serves East Montgomery. You can browse more tips on its blog.

Making your storm-season plan easier

A storm-season plan is simple: photograph what you store, protect it from water and humidity, and keep what matters most at home. Do it before the spring and fall storm seasons, not during them.

If you are preparing your belongings for storm season in Montgomery, Ala-Stor Self Storage can help you find a unit that fits. Contact Us to ask about available units.