Florida homeowners ask about permanent lights and hurricanes before almost anything else. It’s a fair question. Tampa Bay lived through Helene and Milton within two weeks in 2024. This page explains how a JellyFish permanent system sits on a house, what to do (and not do) before and after a storm, and what an electrician checks afterward. One thing up front: we won’t quote a wind rating. JellyFish hasn’t published one we can point you to, and no exterior product is hurricane-proof. What we can explain is where the system sits and why it gives you less to worry about. Keywest Lights & Electric (KWLE) is a woman-owned Florida electrical contractor (EC13014717) based at 6248 Seminole Blvd.
Request a quote
Tell us what you need and where you are. A licensed electrician will call or text you back to set a time. For an emergency, call (727) 476-7079, 24/7.
Storm questions: (727) 476-7079.
The season, by the numbers
The National Hurricane Center lists the Atlantic hurricane season as June 1 through November 30, with a peak around September 10 and most activity between mid-August and mid-October. That overlaps with Halloween decorating and, in a late year, with Thanksgiving, when people traditionally hang Christmas strands. Permanent lights take that overlap off your mind, because there’s nothing to hang or rush to take down.
What 2024 showed us
- Helene, September 26: the National Weather Service measured a record 6.67 feet above MHHW at Clearwater Beach and 6.31 feet at St. Petersburg, both breaking decades-old marks.
- Milton, October 9: Albert Whitted Airport recorded 18.54 inches of rain in a single calendar date, and Pinellas gusts generally ran 80 to 100 mph, peaking at 101 mph at Albert Whitted.
Storms like these damage roofs, soffits and fascia. Any lighting attached to the house is only as secure as the trim it’s fastened to, which is why the inspection before installation matters so much.
Where the system sits
JellyFish track is fastened beneath the soffit along the eaves and along the gable rakes. It doesn’t sit on the roof, and no fastener pierces the roof covering, so it doesn’t add openings to your roof. The overhang above shelters the track and lights from direct rain. The controller and any extra power units are indoors in the garage, plugged into an existing outlet, rather than outside in the weather.
Strands vs. permanent track in storm season
| Clip-on strands | Permanent JellyFish track | |
|---|---|---|
| Before a storm | Often need to come down, usually by ladder | Nothing to remove |
| Loose items | Clips, cords and timers outside | Track fastened to trim; electronics indoors |
| Outdoor plugs | Extension cords and outdoor receptacles | Controller on a garage outlet |
| After a storm | Untangle, rehang, replace | Inspect and test |
Before the storm: a short checklist
- Leave the track in place. Don’t climb up to remove it.
- Turn the lights off in the app if you’re evacuating, or leave your schedule running if you prefer.
- If your garage is in a flood-prone area, note the controller’s height above the floor so you can tell us later whether water reached it.
- Follow official evacuation orders. Pinellas ordered zones A, B and C and all mobile homes to evacuate for Milton.
After the storm: what to look for
- Trim damage: sagging or missing soffit, loose fascia or a displaced gable rake board. If the trim moved, the track did too.
- Water in the garage: if floodwater reached the controller or the outlet it plugs into, don’t plug it back in or reset it. Call a licensed electrician.
- Runs that stay dark: often a connection pulled loose where trim moved.
- Roof repairs: roofers working on the eave edge may need the track removed and reinstalled. Call us so we can coordinate.
Our electricians inspect and repair storm-affected systems, and can also check the garage circuit and panel after flooding.
Flooded garages and the controller
Electronics that have been underwater shouldn’t be trusted until they’re inspected. If floodwater reached the outlet or controller, leave the breaker off and have an electrician check the circuit before you restore power. We’ll test the receptacle, look for corrosion and replace damaged parts. Where JellyFish’s 5-year parts warranty applies, we handle the claim for you.
Why the pre-install inspection matters more in Florida
Track attached to sound trim is far more secure than track on soft fascia. Before installation, we press-test soffit, look behind gutters and check each gable rake, then tell you plainly about anything that needs repair. That inspection is also useful hurricane prep in its own right: weak trim is one of the first things to fail in high wind.
Insurance photos and records
Keep a simple record of your system: the proposal, the installation date and a few daytime photos of each side of the house. After a storm, those photos help show your insurer and your installer what the trim and track looked like before. Keep the written proposal with your home records.
Power outages and the schedule
Long outages are common after a big storm. When the power comes back, check the app to confirm the controller is online and the schedule is correct. If the lights don’t respond after power returns, call us before resetting anything, especially if the garage took on water.
Coastal homes
On beach homes, salt air and storm surge add to the wear. We use fasteners suited to coastal trim and check controller placement against flood risk. Beach-facing runs are also scheduled off during sea turtle nesting season, May 1 through October 31.
Two zones help after storms too
We install one zone by default. A second zone is an extra option from KWLE. If a storm damages trim on one side of the house, the other zone can keep running while repairs wait.
Lights back on for the holidays
Once storm season ends on November 30, the same system is ready for permanent Christmas lights in December and every permanent holiday light scene after that, with no ladder trip needed.
Warranty and service
JellyFish backs the lights, controllers and power supplies with a 5-year parts warranty. KWLE stands behind our installation with a 2-year workmanship warranty, or five years with a Member Care Plan. Storm damage to the house itself is an insurance matter. Ask your insurer how exterior lighting is covered under your policy.
Hurricane FAQ
What wind speed can JellyFish withstand? We don’t quote a number, because we haven’t found an official published JellyFish wind rating. Security depends heavily on the condition of the trim it’s fastened to.
Should I take the lights down before a hurricane? No. The track isn’t meant to be removed by homeowners, and climbing a ladder before a storm isn’t worth the risk.
Will lights left on drain my generator? They’re low-wattage LEDs, but during an outage, turning them off saves power for essentials.
Do the lights need checking every year? A quick look each spring before the season is smart. Walk around the house, confirm every run lights, and look for loose trim. Call us if anything looks off.
Can you inspect a system someone else installed? Yes. We can check the trim, track and garage circuit after a storm.
Is KWLE woman-owned? Yes, KWLE is woman-owned and claims no certification.
Sources: Season dates and peak from the National Hurricane Center (nhc.noaa.gov). Storm records and evacuation orders from the NWS Tampa Bay Helene (weather.gov) and Milton (weather.gov) impact narratives. Nesting season from the FWC (myfwc.com).
Related: sea turtle season rules for beach homes, year-round color ideas and our free design preview. See every city we serve on the JellyFish lighting page, or call (727) 476-7079 for an estimate.