As Florida residents, we’re all aware of the beating our garage door can take during hurricanes, and we tend to spend lots of time reinforcing it before these storms hit — so much that we often forget to prepare the garage itself.

In this article, we’re going to share some tips on garage hurricane preparation in Florida. We’ll show you how to minimize water damage in your garage, both by correctly storing items in the garage and knowing how to prevent the water from entering in the first place.

The Cost of Not Preparing Your Garage for Hurricane Season

If stormwater starts to fill your garage, the flooding can cause headaches — even when the water level is minimal. If there is standing water in your garage, it can destroy belongings and crumble drywall. Furthermore, if that standing water makes it to your foundation, it may threaten your home’s structural integrity.

How to Prepare Your Garage for Hurricane Season in Florida

When making your garage hurricane-safe, read the tips below.

• Declutter your garage: Garages provide lots of space for us to conveniently store all kinds of belongings, which is why they can quickly become disorganized and cluttered. While having an organized, clean space is gratifying in any room of your house, it’s especially crucial when making a garage hurricane-proof, as it will make it easier to spot and fix any areas that are vulnerable to hurricane damage. If you don’t have an organizational system for the items in your garage, now is a great chance to implement one. We recommend using overhead storage racks, labeled totes and shelves, which will keep your possessions separate and — even more importantly — off the floor.
• Relocate essential and sentimental items: Normally, a temperature-controlled garage is a perfect place for storing valuables, including antiques, paperwork and childhood treasures. However, before a hurricane, you should relocate these prized possessions to a safer place, such as in a weatherproof vault or safe deposit box.
• Clean your garage: In addition to organizing the belongings in your garage, you’ll also want to thoroughly clean it. In a hurricane, excessive dirt and debris can become projectiles and damage belongings in your garage. It also creates tripping hazards.
• Repair electrical wiring: Frayed, exposed electrical wires in your garage can lead to fire or electrocution, especially in cases where flooding or structural damage occurs due to a storm. Examine all the wiring in your garage and contact an electrician if you need repairs. Wiring is not something you should attempt to repair yourself.

• Remove explosives and flammables: Remove all explosives and flammable materials from your garage before a storm hits. These include aerosol cans, gasoline, firearms, fireworks and pool chemicals.
• Store items in waterproof containers: When you store your belongings in your garage, put them in sealed waterproof totes covered with lids. You should also keep them off the ground so flooding cannot damage them. For furniture and other bulky items that you have to keep on the ground, wrap them up with plastic and, if possible, put them on floor raisers.
• Bolt shelving securely to walls: Collapsing shelves can be dangerous during natural disasters like hurricanes. When storm-proofing a garage, avoid this hazardous situation by securing the shelves in your garage to walls using brackets.

You should also take steps to prevent water from even entering your garage during a hurricane. Here are some ways to minimize the chance of water intrusion.

• Place sandbags out front: Sandbags are an additional precaution many homeowners take when a hurricane hits. If your home is near the ocean or another body of water, we recommend keeping a few on hand during the hurricane season. Use tarps and pile your sandbags in rows. Stack them like a pyramid, which will help absorb runoff.
• Seal around doors and windows: We also recommend sealing around your garage door and windows to further protect against leaks. Put weatherstripping or sealant tape along the threshold and bottom of your door and around the windows.
• Install hurricane shutters: Another good idea is to install hurricane shutters on your garage door windows. If there are small windows on your garage walls, we recommend outfitting them with shutters before the hurricane hits.
• Create a drainage system: If your home is in a low-lying area or regularly collects lots of runoff during rainstorms, consider installing a drainage system outside your garage in the driveway. It should route water away from your garage during hurricanes.
• Repair holes and cracks: Structurally unsound areas are likely to leak when it rains and are particularly vulnerable to damage caused by strong winds. Take a good look at your garage walls, windows, door and foundation before the hurricane season and have a professional examine and fix any holes and cracks.
• See if your garage meets code: This tip isn’t something you should leave until the last minute, but it’s critical if you have an older home. Periodically call an engineer to examine support beams, walls and various other structural components to ensure your home doesn’t have any flaws or vulnerabilities that could fail if a hurricane strikes.

If you’ve done all you can to minimize water damage in your garage, you should use it to store outdoor items that a hurricane will likely damage or carry away. These items include things like larger toys, outdoor furniture sets and bicycles. Even if a storm isn’t in the weather forecast, you can still prepare by clearing space for these items in your garage. That way, if hurricane conditions develop, you can quickly bring these items into the garage.

How to Protect Your Car During a Hurricane

After your home, the next most valuable item you own is likely your car. If you want to protect your vehicle from hurricane damage, we recommend storing it in your garage if possible — which is one reason decluttering your garage is so crucial. If you lack sufficient space in your garage, try parking your car close to a building, which will at least partially protect it from high, damaging winds. In any case, avoid parking under power lines or trees, which can blow over in a storm, wreaking havoc on your vehicle.

Here are some other tips to protect your car during a hurricane.

• Take photos: For personal and insurance purposes, we recommend having proof of your car’s condition before a hurricane strikes. For this reason, you should consider taking photos of the car’s exterior and interior before the hurricane hits.
• Store essential documents and items: Put copies of your car insurance and registration in a secure, dry place such as zip-close plastic bags. Make extra copies of these documents and your car keys, then give them to all family members with driver’s licenses. That way, if you happen to get separated from your family or vehicle, you or your family members can drive your car.
• Have emergency meeting places: The Red Cross recommends having two emergency meeting places — one near your house, and one farther away if you need to evacuate.
• Fuel up: Before the hurricane strikes, make sure to fill up your tank. A crucial part of preparing for a disaster is the ability to make a quick exit if necessary. With your tank full, you can get where you have to go without needing to stop for gas.

• Inspect your car: Once the hurricane has passed and you’ve accounted for everyone in your family, thoroughly inspect your car to assess its condition. If damage has occurred, take photos of your vehicle and compare “before” and “after” versions, as we advised earlier.
• Keep some emergency supplies in your car: If you have to evacuate, it’s wise to keep some emergency supplies in your vehicle. You don’t have to go over the top here — some dry, nonperishable foods, bottled water and a small overnight bag should suffice.

If you have to drive after the hurricane has passed, consider following this valuable advice:

• Only drive if it’s essential.
• Stay away from flooded streets and washed-out bridges.
• Keep an eye out for fallen objects, downed power lines and weakened walls, roads, sidewalks and bridges.

What to Store in Your Garage During a Hurricane

You’ve probably heard of “hurricane stockpiles” and buying essential items like drinking water, dry food and batteries before a major storm strikes. But where can you store these supplies? If you’re short on space in your pantry, your garage is often an excellent alternative. We recommend dedicating a separate container or shelf to items for use during a hurricane.

Our suggested items for your hurricane stockpile include the following.

• Food and water: When hurricane season begins, we advise stockpiling a minimum of three days’ worth of bottled water and nonperishable foods. Assume each person in your family will use one gallon of water every day, and choose foods that don’t need any cooking or refrigeration. Good examples of these are crackers, peanut butter, granola bars and canned goods such as meat, fruits and vegetables. They’ll give you some variety, but you won’t have to worry about them spoiling. It’s also wise to keep disposable dishes, utensils and cups so you can always have clean utensils, even if washing dishes isn’t an option.
• Sanitation supplies: Before the hurricane, stock up on sufficient quantities of household and personal sanitation supplies. These include soaps, liquid detergents, hand sanitizer, tissues, toilet paper, paper towels, chlorine bleach, disinfectant and heavy-duty garbage bags.
• Clean laundry: It’s hard to predict what conditions will be like following the hurricane, and if the power’s out and your water gets contaminated, washing your clothes may be impossible. If you can spare the time, try to do as much laundry as you can before a hurricane, which will ensure you have enough clean clothing, bedding and towels to last you several days.
• First-aid kit: If a hurricane is coming your way, you need to prepare for all sorts of injuries, include scrapes, cuts, insect bites and sprains. That means having a fully stocked first-aid kit on hand. Crucial items include gauze, adhesive bandages, tweezers, medical tape, antibiotic ointment, alcohol wipes, hydrocortisone cream and burn gel.
• Prescription medicines: If you or someone in your family has a health condition requiring them to take prescription medication daily, ensure there are enough doses to last through the hurricane and up to a week afterward, as the pharmacy may not reopen immediately. You should also check your home medicine cabinet for supplies like pain relievers, antihistamines and asthma inhalers. An adequate supply of these medicines can prevent a minor medical problem from turning into a full-blown emergency during a time when a doctor’s visit may not be possible.
• Severe weather alert radio: Whether a hurricane is approaching, currently over you or recently passed, a severe weather alert radio is an excellent way to stay on top of what’s happening. Keeping track of the latest hurricane information is vital for safety, which is why we suggest equipping your house with an emergency alert radio, which provides weather updates 24/7.
• Flashlights: When you lose power, you’ll immediately want to reach for a flashlight, so it’s crucial to have several available to cover most people in your household. Look for hand-cranked models so you won’t have to rely on batteries. Heavy-duty, waterproof flashlights are also an excellent idea if you live in a flood zone.
• Emergency chargers: It doesn’t matter if land-based phone lines and electricity are down — the one thing you can’t go without during a hurricane is communication. While most of us enjoy the luxury of cellphones, you should ensure the battery in your phone stays strong even when recharging it from an outlet in the wall isn’t an option. Look for battery-powered universal chargers, which can be a lifesaver during a power outage.

Shop for a Beautiful, Sturdy Garage Door at Broten

For more than six decades, Broten Garage Door Sales has been providing communities in South Florida with quality garage doors, garage door openers and repair services. If you would like to outfit your home with a high-quality, solidly built and aesthetically pleasing door, browse our wide selection online.