Your garage door before and after a hurricane

Why it is worth the trouble

26 tropical storms and hurricanes have passed within 60 miles of downtown Orlando since 1950, 11 of them since 2000 (NOAA HURDAT2). In 2004, three storms came within that distance in six weeks, two of them still at hurricane strength. IBHS says a garage door that gives way lets pressure build inside the house and push up on the roof, so the door is part of the roof's defense, not only the garage's.

Strongest wind gusts at Orlando International Airport since 1997

Before the season

• Find the label. Look for the design pressure label inside the door. No label on an older door usually means no rating. Reading the label.
• Fix what is broken. A broken spring, a frayed cable or a door that won't close all the way are hurricane problems, not only annoyances. A door stuck open is an open wall.
• Look at the hardware. Tracks should be tight to the jamb, brackets should have every bolt, and rollers should sit in the track. IBHS lists weak tracks and poor attachment among the ways doors fail.
• Ask about reinforcement. If replacing the door isn't in the budget, ask a company whether a reinforcement made for your door's make and model exists. Wind-rated doors and bracing.
• Get a battery backup on the opener, or practice using the manual release with the door closed so you know how.

When a storm is coming

• Close the door all the way and leave it closed. Park the cars inside if you can; the weight doesn't brace the door, but it keeps the cars out of the debris.
• If the door has a slide lock, engage it once the door is closed. Unplug the opener if you expect surges.
• Bring in anything that could become debris near the door: bins, chairs, potted plants.
• Improvised props, like a board or a shelf pushed against the inside of the door, are not a substitute for a rated door or reinforcement made for it. Leave space between the door and anything parked behind it.
• If the door won't close, call now and mention the storm. That is the call a company can still act on.

After it passes

• Look before you press the button. If a section is pushed in or a track is bent, leave the opener off. The same goes for a roller out of its track.
• Photograph both sides of the door before anything is moved, including the label and any debris that hit it. Your insurer will want them.
• Check the power before blaming the opener. Reset tripped GFCI outlets. A dead board after a surge is a common repair.
• Run the reverse test once it works again: the door should reverse on a 2x4 laid flat under it. Garage door safety.
• Expect the queue. The days after a storm are the busiest of the year for door companies. Send a photo with your request so the right parts come on the first trip.

Florida's Construction Industry Licensing Board certifies garage door installation specialty contractors (Rule 61G4-15.100(1)(k), in effect since May 5, 2024). You can look up any company's license at myfloridalicense.com.