How to Secure Your Garage Door for Hurricane Season

Why Your Garage Door Is the First Line of Defense

Most garage doors use lightweight panels designed for daily use rather than extreme weather. During hurricanes, standard doors face pressure from both the wind and your roof. This pressure creates perfect conditions for failure. If your door gives way, wind can enter and force its way through your roof, windows or walls.

When garage doors remain intact during hurricanes, homes are far more likely to avoid the subsequent potential structural failures that make properties uninhabitable. The difference between a door that holds and one that fails often determines whether families can stay home during repairs or face months of disruption.

Start With These Essential Garage Safety Tips

Before hurricane season, complete these steps to protect your garage:

• Address weatherstripping immediately: Compromised seals create entry points for water and wind-driven rain that can damage everything inside.
• Install flood barriers if needed: Properties in flood-prone areas benefit from temporary barriers in front of garage doors to redirect storm surge.
• Clear drainage systems thoroughly: Blocked gutters cause water to cascade down your garage door, potentially infiltrating through any gaps.
• Remove hazards nearby: Any object left in your yard can become a projectile, potentially puncturing garage door panels during a hurricane.