Why locks and doors belong on the hurricane list
Most hurricane checklists focus on water, food, fuel, medication and documents. Doors and locks appear near the bottom, if at all. Yet the entry doors are among the most important parts of a home in a storm, because wind pressure acts on them hard, and a door that fails lets wind and water into the house. A lock that sticks, a latch that does not seat or a key that nobody can find in the dark can turn a manageable situation into a frightening one.
In Broward and Palm Beach counties, residents live with this risk each year, and many have a routine. Others are new, or have moved from places with different weather, and learn by doing. This page is meant for both groups. It explains what to check, in what order, with an emphasis on actions a homeowner can safely take, and it points out where the job belongs to a qualified professional.
Nothing here describes how to defeat a lock. A hurricane is not the time for improvisation with tools on a door, and the safest approach is to inspect, tidy, test and ask for help early. If you are in an evacuation zone or have been told to leave, follow official guidance first. A locksmith is a help in the weeks before a storm and in the days after, but not during the storm itself.
Start early: the pre-season door inspection
Pick a calm, dry day in spring, and walk every exterior door. Open it, close it, lock and unlock it. Watch how it moves. A door that has dropped on its hinges, rubs the frame or needs a shoulder to close is already under stress, and wind will make it worse. Look for daylight around the edges when the door is closed, which indicates a poor seal or a warped frame.
Examine the hinges. The screws should be tight and long enough to reach the framing, not just the thin jamb. Loose hinge screws are a simple fix with longer screws. Check the strike plate, the metal plate on the frame where the bolt lands, and make sure its screws are secure. A deadbolt that is not fully aligned with its strike will not engage properly. Our page on strike plates and door reinforcement explains the part in more detail.
Note anything that needs work, and decide what you can do and what to hand to a professional. Tightening a screw is a reasonable task for a homeowner. Re-hanging a door, replacing a frame or adjusting a lock on an impact-rated door should be done by someone who understands the product. Impact doors have particular installation requirements, and an improvised repair can reduce their performance.
- Open, close, lock and unlock each exterior door and note any binding.
- Look for daylight around the closed door.
- Check hinge and strike plate screws for tightness.
- List jobs for a carpenter, door installer or locksmith.
Locks that fail in humid, salty air
South Florida's humidity and, near the coast, salt in the air are hard on lock hardware. Brass tarnishes, steel parts rust, springs weaken and lubricants gum up. A lock that was smooth in winter may be stiff in the heat of summer. Check each lock for stiffness and for any sign of corrosion on the cylinder, the latch bolt and the keyway. A key that sticks or needs wiggling is telling you something.
A light, dry lubricant made for locks is suitable for routine care. Avoid heavy oils, which attract grit, and avoid spraying anything into a lock whose condition you do not understand. Our page on lock lubricant and maintenance basics describes what is sensible. For deeper trouble, see salt air and lock corrosion in South Florida.
If a lock is badly corroded, do not wait for the storm. Have it replaced or serviced beforehand, when there is time to choose the right hardware and schedule the work. A technician will check whether a lock can be rekeyed, whether it should be replaced and whether the door and frame are fit to hold it. Quotes are by phone, complicated jobs require an on-site visit and a service call charge applies, explained before dispatch.
Shutters, panels and the keys or handles that operate them
If you have accordion shutters, roll-down shutters or panels, the question is not only whether they work but how they are operated. Some have key-operated locks, some have pins, some have crank handles and some are motorized. Find out what yours need, and make sure the necessary key or handle is stored where every adult in the household can reach it, and where it cannot be lost in a move or a clean-out.
Test them before the season. Close them completely, lock them and open them again. A shutter that jams in the closed position can trap you inside, which is a safety problem during a fire. A shutter that will not close leaves a window unprotected. If a motor is slow or a track is gummed, ask the installer or manufacturer for service. Do not oil a motorized system without instructions.
Impact windows and doors typically have their own latch hardware. Do not replace it with generic parts. If a handle or latch is loose, contact the installer or manufacturer. For sliding glass doors, check the track, the rollers and the latch, and consider a security bar or pin. Our page on sliding door locks and security bars explains common options.
Key access: where the keys are when you need them
A hurricane plan should say where the keys are. Gather the keys to every exterior door, the garage entry, any gate, shutters, the car and any storage. Put them in a single, known location in the home, ideally in a waterproof pouch inside your go-bag if you will evacuate. Everyone who might need them should know where they are.
If you will leave the home, think about who might need access while you are away. A neighbor who will check for damage, an insurance adjuster, a contractor or a relative could all need a key. Decide who and write it down. Avoid hiding a key outside, because storms move objects and because it weakens your security year-round. If you leave a key with a person, tell them what it opens and note the date.
Consider also the practical risks of an extended power outage. A keypad or smart lock runs on batteries, and many electronic garage openers and gates stop working without power. Check batteries ahead of the season, learn how to open a garage door manually using the maker's instructions, and make sure the key backup for a smart lock is accessible. Our page on lock batteries and power failures goes through this.
- Gather keys for every exterior door, gate, shutter and vehicle.
- Store a set in a waterproof pouch with your evacuation items.
- Decide which trusted person may need access and tell them.
- Replace batteries in keypads and smart locks before the season.
- Read the manual for the manual release on your garage opener.
Securing the house before a storm without making it worse
When a storm is approaching, resist the temptation to take shortcuts with locks. Make sure every door is latched and locked, and every window closed and latched. Engage the deadbolt fully. A bolt that is thrown only halfway, or a door that is simply pulled shut without latching, is a door that wind can open.
Do not block exits. Do not nail, screw or wedge a door shut from the inside unless you are sure you will not need it as an escape route, and never in a way that traps you if you shelter at home. Whether to evacuate is a matter for official guidance; follow it. Do not remove locks or hardware before a storm in the belief that it helps. It does not, and it leaves the house open.
Take photographs of the doors, locks, windows and shutters before the storm, with the date visible. These photographs help with insurance and show what was in place. Move small valuables and documents to a safe place, and keep a list of the people you have given keys to. If you have a gate with a remote system, consider what will happen if the power fails, and who can open it.
Renters, condos and shared doors
If you rent, your landlord controls much of the hardware, and the association or manager may control the shutters, the common doors and the garage. Ask now what the storm procedure is, who closes the shutters, who has the keys and how you will be told. Do not wait until a warning is issued, because everyone will be asking the same questions at once.
In condo buildings, a storm can also affect lobby doors, stairwell doors and garage gates. These are the association's responsibility, and the best thing a unit owner can do is to know the plan and keep contact details handy. If you own a unit, check that your keys, your entry credential and your parking remote are all accounted for. Our page on HOA and condo common door locks explains how shared doors are typically managed.
If you are a tenant and you notice a lock or door that is unsafe, report it in writing early. A landlord who is asked in April has time to arrange a repair. A landlord who is asked on the day a storm is named does not.
Authorization and the pre-storm locksmith call
Locksmiths are busy before a storm, since many people remember their doors at the same time. If you know that a lock is failing, call early. The technician will ask who you are and how you are connected to the property, and will expect photo ID and something that ties you to the address. If you rent, the landlord's approval will be needed. That process is explained on our page about proof of ownership.
Be careful about unsolicited offers after a storm announcement. People sometimes knock on doors or put flyers on cars offering lock or door work. Verify any provider before letting them in, and never hand over payment up front for work that has not been explained. Our guide on how to avoid locksmith scams lists red flags.
Quotes are given by phone. Complicated jobs need an on-site visit, and the service call charge is explained before anyone is dispatched. The brand concept is 24-hour service, which is not a promise that a technician can reach every address at every hour, particularly when conditions are dangerous or roads are closed.
Your short pre-season list and when to call
Here is the whole thing in a nutshell. In spring, inspect every exterior door for fit, hinges and strike plates. Test locks for smoothness and corrosion. Check shutters, handles and the keys that operate them. Replace batteries in electronic locks and garage keypads. Gather and label keys, decide who may need access, and photograph the house. Ask your landlord or association about their plan.
If something seems wrong, ask for help early. A stiff lock that still works today may fail in July. A door that rubs may jam after rain. A cracked frame may give way in wind. These are jobs for a qualified person, and the sooner the better.
If a storm has already passed, see our page on inspecting locks and doors after a storm. And if you find yourself locked out during hurricane season, read locked out in hurricane season. When you want to talk through a lock, a door or a key plan for your home, call, describe what you have, and the technician will explain the next steps.
Questions people ask
When should I check my locks and doors for hurricane season?
Early, before the season starts in June if possible, since repair and installation work becomes harder to schedule once a storm is forecast. Walk every exterior door, test each lock and latch, and note what needs work. A spring inspection gives you time to choose hardware and schedule a professional without pressure.
Should I put extra locks or bars on my doors for a storm?
Be cautious. Add-on devices that block an exit can be dangerous if you need to leave quickly. A properly installed deadbolt in a sound frame, with strong strike plate screws, does more than improvised bars. For storm protection of openings, rely on shutters or impact products installed by qualified people.
Where should I keep my keys during an evacuation?
Keep a set with you, in a waterproof pouch with your documents, and decide who else may need access to the home. Do not hide a key outside. Tell any trusted person what the key opens and note the date you gave it. Gate remotes and garage openers should also go with you.
What if my smart lock or garage opener fails in a power outage?
Most smart locks have a backup key or a way to attach a battery, and most garage openers have a manual release. Learn these before the season by reading the manual. Keep spare batteries on hand, and keep the backup key where you can reach it. If you are unsure, ask the maker or a technician.
Can a locksmith come out during a storm?
Safety comes first, and no one should be sent into dangerous conditions. During a hurricane, call 911 for emergencies. Locksmith work usually resumes once conditions are safe and roads are open. The service is built around a 24-hour concept, which does not mean a technician can reach every place at every hour.
What proof will I need to have a lock changed before a storm?
Photo ID and something connecting you to the address, such as closing papers, a lease or a recent bill. Renters need the landlord's approval, and condo owners may need the association's. Having these ready before you call speeds things up, and a technician will explain the process before anyone is sent.
Describe the situation by phone and we will tell you what the job involves. Quotes are given by phone. Jobs that cannot be quoted without seeing them need a technician on site, and the service call charge is explained on the phone before anyone is dispatched.
Related pages
Looking at the parts around the lock before the wind arrives
A lock is only as strong as the door and frame holding it, and storm preparation is a good time to look at the surroundings. Open and close each exterior door and watch how it meets the frame. Look for daylight around the edges, gaps that have grown, or screws that spin without biting. The strike plate, which receives the bolt, is a frequent weak point, particularly when its screws are short. Tightening loose hardware is simple, but if wood is soft or cracked, a technician can explain whether reinforcement or replacement makes sense and what the tradeoffs are.
Think about the types of doors you have. Sliding glass doors, French doors and side doors each behave differently under wind and pressure. A slider may rattle in its track, a double door may rely on small flush bolts, and a back door might have had its lock changed last decade and never inspected since. Make a short note of which doors worry you most, and prioritize those. The goal is not to turn the house into a fortress but to remove obvious weaknesses while there is still time and calm.
Be realistic about timing. Demand grows as a storm approaches, and everyone remembers their doors at the same moment. Starting early, well before an advisory, gives you room to schedule work thoughtfully. Call us to confirm availability, and remember that ownership or authority is checked before any lock is opened or changed. If you rent, talk to the landlord or association first, because they may control the hardware. A measured approach in a quiet week beats a frantic one the day before landfall. Nothing here replaces looking at the actual piece in person, which is where the real answers appear.