Wind damage usually starts with one failure: a broken window, a lifted edge, a garage door that gives way. Once wind gets inside, pressure lifts the roof from underneath. The goal is to keep the building closed.
Priority order
- Garage doors first. They are the largest and weakest opening in most Florida homes. If yours is not rated for high wind, brace it or plan to reinforce it.
- Windows and sliding doors. Permanent shutters are best. Otherwise use tested panels or plywood, installed before the storm, fixed to the frame rather than taped. Tape does not stop a window from breaking and it does not hold glass together in any useful way.
- Entry doors. Check that they seat properly and add a deadbolt or bracing if they are not wind-rated.
- Roof. You cannot retrofit a roof in a day. What you can do: clear gutters and drains so water cannot back up, check for loose flashing, and photograph the roof from the ground for your claim record.
- Outside. Everything loose becomes a projectile — furniture, grills, propane tanks, planters, bins, trampolines, decorations.
Do not
- Do not go on the roof in the days before a storm. Emergency rooms fill with exactly this injury, and a fall costs more than any damage you would have prevented.
- Do not drill into a window frame without knowing what is behind it.
- Do not leave ladders, tools or materials outside once you are done.
General information. Wind-rated products must be installed to their manufacturer's specification to perform; confirm requirements with your county building department and your insurer, which may offer premium credits for verified wind mitigation.