Hawaii families are being pushed to inspect and reinforce their homes after heavy rains, a warning aimed at avoiding bigger repair bills later in hurricane season.

• Heavy rain has already hit the islands, and damage often shows up slowly in a home's structure.
• Homeowners are told to act fast, because small leaks and weak spots get worse once the next storm arrives.
• Structural work, from foundations to roofing, is the main line of defense for families riding out the season.
• Waiting until damage is obvious usually means paying far more to fix it.

Outlook: With hurricane season still running, more storms are likely and homes left unchecked face the highest risk.