Hurricane Season Lockouts: What Changes

Why lockouts look different during hurricane season

In a normal week, a lockout is a single person, a single door and a single phone call. During hurricane season, especially when a storm is approaching or has just passed, many people are handling doors, locks and keys at the same time. Households are boarding up, installing shutters, moving vehicles, packing and leaving. In that rush, keys get misplaced, doors get locked behind people, and spare keys go into a bag that is already in the car.

The weeks after a storm bring a second wave. Residents return to homes that may have lost power, taken on water, or suffered wind damage. Doors can swell, frames can shift, and locks can corrode after a drenching. Smart locks and keypad deadbolts can lose power. A key that worked before may feel stiff or fail to turn. People who have been away may find that they cannot get in with the keys they have, or that a door that was properly secured now sticks.

All of this tends to raise the number of access calls at the same moment that roads are slow, utilities are strained and some businesses are closed. That is why no honest company can promise a fixed arrival time during a storm period. Planning ahead gives you options that do not depend on a technician being able to reach you quickly. The goal of this page is to help you plan, and to explain what is safe to do when something goes wrong.

Preparing your doors and keys before a storm

Preparation begins before the forecast cone appears. Know where your keys are. Keep a spare set for each exterior door, each vehicle and any storage, shed or gate. Leave a set with a relative, a neighbor, or a friend outside the immediate area who could meet someone if needed. Keep copies of the keys for any shutter, panel or garage access that has its own lock. A small, clearly labeled key bag that goes with you when you evacuate prevents the common problem of leaving the one important key inside.

Check your locks and doors in the weeks before a storm. A door that sticks, a deadbolt that needs force to turn, or a frame that has shifted should be fixed before the pressure of an approaching storm. A technician can adjust a strike plate, clean and lubricate hardware, and check that doors latch fully. The pages on hurricane season lock and door prep and strike plates and door reinforcement describe what to look at.

Make a list of the key-related tasks for your home: gates, garage, side doors, lanai doors, shutters, a hidden spare, a smart lock's backup key, and car keys. Photograph the list and your documents and store them somewhere safe. If you rent or live in a condo, know the building's rules for storm preparation and who holds keys during an evacuation. Prepare early. When a storm is a day or two away, supplies, services and people are all stretched thin.

• Gather spare keys for every door, gate, vehicle and storage space before the storm.
• Leave a spare set with a trusted person who is not in the same evacuation zone.
• Check for sticking doors, loose strike plates and stiff deadbolts early.
• Keep a key bag with you when you leave, and note what is inside it.
• Know whether your smart locks and keypads have a physical key backup.

Shuttered doors, panels and the key problem

Many South Florida homes use accordion shutters, roll-down shutters or panels over windows and some doors. Some doors have a shutter that locks or secures from the inside, and others from the outside. If you leave in a hurry and secure an outside shutter with a lock, you need the key or tool to open it again. If you lock yourself out of a boarded home, you have two problems: the shutter and the door.

A locksmith typically works on locks and keys, not on removing storm panels. If a shutter is padlocked, a technician may be able to help with the lock, but the removal of panels is a separate job, and a contractor, a shutter company or a handy relative may be the right person. Do not cut, pry or force shutter hardware yourself, particularly in windy conditions. Metal edges are sharp, panels are heavy and a fall from a ladder in wind is serious.

If you are planning to shutter, think about access. Keep the key to the shutter lock with your other keys. If a door must remain accessible during the storm for emergency exit, make sure you can open it from the inside without a key, in line with local fire and safety rules. Never lock a door from the inside in a way that traps you without a way out. If anything about your plan is unclear, ask your local building department or a qualified contractor what is allowed.

Returning home after an evacuation

After an evacuation, many people arrive at their homes in the dark, in humid heat and with limited services. Before you try the door, take a look around. Check the outside for downed wires, standing water, loose debris or anything that suggests the building is unsafe. If you smell gas or see damage that worries you, stay away and call the proper authorities. A lockout is a minor problem compared to a structural or electrical hazard.

If the door will not open, try the key gently. A door that has swollen in humidity may stick, and a lock that has been wet may feel stiff. Do not force a key that does not want to turn; keys snap. The page on broken keys in a lock explains why you should stop and not keep turning. If your smart lock or keypad has lost power, use the physical backup key if it has one.

If you have been away and a property manager or neighbor has been watching the house, call them. A condo office may have a log of who has access. If you rent, the landlord may have a spare key. If you need a locksmith, remember that authorization still applies after a storm. A technician will still ask for identification and proof of a connection to the property, and in an area affected by storm damage, that check is as important as ever. Be prepared with a lease, a utility bill, or other documents. If those are in a flooded or inaccessible home, a property manager's or owner's confirmation helps.

Why access calls get busy and what that means for you

In the hours and days around a storm, locksmiths, like other trades, are in demand. Roads may be closed, traffic lights may be out, and fuel and supplies may be scarce. Technicians may have to prioritize urgent safety situations and cannot be everywhere at once. This is why you should not rely on a technician arriving on a particular schedule, and why a plan that does not depend on one is the safer plan.

Beware of anyone who promises to be there in a fixed number of minutes during a storm period. The same goes for any company that quotes a firm price on the phone without learning anything about your door. Prices are given by phone after the dispatcher understands the job, and a complicated job requires an on-site visit. A service call charge is explained before dispatch. A call surge also attracts scammers who exploit stressed residents, which is why the guide to avoiding locksmith scams matters more after a storm.

If you are in a real emergency, such as a person trapped or in danger, call 911 first. A locksmith can help with access afterward. If your situation is a lockout where everyone is safe, expect that you may wait longer than usual and arrange a safe place to wait. Do not wait at a damaged building, in standing water, or beside a door in wind. A dispatcher can tell you honestly what to expect, and will not make promises they cannot keep.

Condos, apartments and managed buildings in hurricane season

Multi-unit buildings often have their own procedures during a storm. Some require residents to evacuate and may lock common doors, elevators and parking areas. Some association offices close and then reopen with limited hours. Before a storm, learn how your building handles keys, spare access cards and lockouts. After a storm, check for notices from the association or the property manager about restoration of services, because they may control when and how residents re-enter.

Associations also usually control who is allowed to perform lock work. A technician called to a condo may need to check in with the management office and may need approval before changing or opening a lock. During the aftermath of a storm, offices can be hard to reach. Call early, leave a message, and keep a record of when you called. The page on condo lockouts explains how owner identification and association records interact.

If you rent, remember that you may need the landlord's permission for any lock change. A lockout where you are the tenant with a valid lease is usually a solvable problem, but the landlord holds a key in many cases and should be called first. Document any storm damage to the door or lock with photos before anyone does work, because an insurance claim may depend on it. Take your time with documents; stress leads to missed details.

Vehicles, gas lines and keys during a storm

Cars are part of storm planning. People move vehicles to higher ground or to garages and keep them fueled. In the shuffle, keys get left in a pocket, a bag, or the car itself. A car lockout in a storm period is hard because roads are busy and parking is tight. If you are locked out of a car and need to leave, call someone with a spare key first. A phone app may be able to unlock your vehicle.

A technician who is called for a car lockout will ask for registration and identification before starting. In storm conditions, those documents may be in the vehicle or in a bag that is inaccessible. Think about alternatives, such as a photo of the registration on your phone, an insurance card, or a family member who can confirm. The page on proof of ownership for locksmith service covers the main options.

Do not attempt to force a door or window on your vehicle. Modern vehicles contain electronics, wiring and airbags in the door panels, and damage can be expensive. If you are evacuating and a car problem threatens your plan, call 911 only if there is a safety emergency. Otherwise, decide whether to wait for a locksmith or arrange a different ride. Evacuation safety matters more than any single vehicle.

After the storm: inspect, repair and rekey if needed

Once the immediate danger passes, look at your doors and locks. Check that every exterior door closes, latches and locks smoothly. Look for cracks in frames, loose hinges, bent strike plates and swollen wood. If a door was struck by debris or forced by someone, it may no longer protect your home. The page on after the storm lock and door inspection gives a more complete walkthrough.

If keys went missing in the chaos, or you suspect that someone had access to your home during the evacuation, consider rekeying. Rekeying changes the internal pins so old keys no longer work, which can give peace of mind. A technician can explain whether rekeying or replacement makes more sense for your hardware, and the options and the service call charge are explained on the phone before dispatch.

Finally, write down what you learned. Which keys were hard to find, which doors stuck, which supplies you wished you had? Next year, you will be better prepared. If you are facing a lockout right now, or you need help with a door that was damaged in a storm, pick up the phone and call. A dispatcher will explain the service call charge, ask about your door and your situation, and tell you what the technician will need to see on arrival.

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