Secure the Yard Before a Storm So Nothing Becomes a Projectile

In a serious Florida storm, damage rarely comes from the wind itself — it comes from the patio chair, trampoline, and empty flowerpots the wind picks up. A pre-storm yard walk is pure prevention.

The walk

• Bring in or lay down patio furniture, umbrellas, grills, bird feeders, and anything else that can sail.
• Move garbage cans and recycling bins into the garage. Empty ones fly best.
• Check trees for dead limbs hanging over the roof and driveway — dead wood comes down first. Big tree work is a pro's job with a bucket truck, not a ladder job.
• Make sure pool equipment, toys, and tools are stored, and secure the shed door.

Do this walk when a storm enters the forecast cone, not when the rain starts. And take one photo of each side of the house — handy for any insurance conversation later.