Hurricane season officially is here.

The first named tropical storm of the year, Arlene, is expected to make landfall tomorrow on the eastern shores of Mexico, the National Hurricane Center said. And while forecasters say Arlene is not likely to threaten the U.S. coast, it’s an opportune reminder to homeowners in hurricane prone regions to prepare in advance to make sure your home is secure if a storm hits.

The garage door is the largest moving part on your home and may pose a major threat to your property if you live in a hurricane prone region.

According to the Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA), the loss of a garage door during a hurricane can cause an uncontrolled buildup of internal pressure resulting in a blowout of the roof and supporting walls.

"Code-compliant garage doors are critical to preserving a home’s structural integrity during a hurricane," says Mark Westerfield P.E., Director of Product Development for residential garage door manufacturer Clopay. "Because of their size, garage doors are more susceptible to wind damage than other exterior openings – especially two-car garage doors. Unless you have a tested, hurricane resistant door installed, high winds can force it out of the opening."

To meet the International Building Code, garage doors must have additional bracing, heavier gauge tracking and other necessary hardware to help keep them in place under extreme winds.

Homeowners with an older garage door may not even realize that it poses a threat. A reinforced door is a small investment that can minimize major damage and property loss. And, if your door has weathered a previous storm, it needs to be inspected for hidden damage or vulnerabilities.

Here are the things to look for when selecting a hurricane reinforced garage door:

• Determine the wind load requirements for your geographic region and make sure your garage door meets them. The local building code authority can provide code information and a professional garage door technician can perform an on-site inspection.

• Understand “storm ready” vs. "add-on" reinforcement. Two kinds of reinforced garage doors are available. With the “add-on” system, a homeowner has to install long posts in the floor and ceiling to reinforce the door before the storm hits, and then remove them again afterwards to resume normal operation.
  
  "Storm-ready" models require no advance set-up. Reinforcement is built into the structure of the door and is engaged by simply locking it, a timesaving convenience in the event of a sudden evacuation notice. This type of door is particularly beneficial to vacation home and rental property owners because they have peace of mind knowing that the garage door is secure as long as it’s locked.

• Choose a door that has heavy-duty rollers, hinges, springs and track to provide additional strength and help keep the door in place.

• Retrofitting an older door with new hardware will not provide the structural support needed for the current building codes. It is important to have a trained garage door professional install the appropriate door for your area.

For more information and to view a video about Clopay storm-ready reinforced garage doors, visit http://www.clopaydoor.com/wind-code-about.aspx.

To find a Clopay garage door service professional in your area, visit http://www.clopaydoor.com/where-to-buy.aspx?type=res.

A windblown garage door following a hurricane.

A monster snow storm barreling through the Midwest promises to bring with it a hodge-podge of brutal winter weather and possible power outages. While you may not want to go out, you certainly don’t want to be locked in. Here’s how to open your garage door manually.

1. Disconnect the garage door opener when the garage door is in the closed position, not when it’s open.
2. Pull the emergency cord to disconnect the door from the garage door opener. The cord usually has a red handle and will hang down from the center rail of the garage door mechanism.
3. Lift the garage door straight up until the door is fully open. Make sure the door will remain fully open before leaving it unattended.
4. If the springs are properly balanced, the door will open easily with the lift handles and stay in place. If it is difficult to open, have a professional garage door service technician check the door as soon as possible to avoid further damage or safety risks.
5. Close the door manually until it reaches the floor.
6. Lock the door. When the automatic opener is disconnected the door is not securely shut until you manually slide the lock bar.
7. Reconnect the opener when the power comes back on. Make sure the door is unlocked when the opener is reconnected. Electrically opening the garage door with the lock bar in place can cause major damage.

One way to avoid the inconvenience of manually operating your garage door is to invest in an automatic garage door opener that includes a battery backup feature. That way, when the power goes out, the garage door will still function using the opener, as will the entry keypad and the safety sensors, and the garage door will be locked and secured. The LiftMaster® Evercharge® is a popular model. Contact your Clopay dealer for details.

Hurricane Earl is barreling toward the Eastern Seaboard Thursday with winds swirling at around 145 mph. Forecasters issued watches and warnings along the Atlantic coast for most of North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island and part of Massachusetts, alerting residents that hurricane and tropical storm conditions were possible within 36 to 48 hours.

Evacuations continued early Thursday on the North Carolina coast, with residents and visitors leaving a barrier island in Carteret County. Officials in Dare County, N.C., expanded evacuations Thursday, issuing a mandatory evacuation order for all visitors in the county, NBC News reported.

Many people are taking a wait-and-see approach, making simple preparations like stocking up on food or attaching hurricane shutters to their houses. But with the likelihood that the storm's ultimate path will become clear on Thursday, officials expect planning to shift into high gear.

Disaster prevention includes modifying your home to strengthen it against storms so that you can be as safe as possible. It also includes having the supplies on hand to weather the storm. The National Hurricane Preparedness web site provides more details on the at http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/HAW2/english/disaster_prevention.shtml

According to the site, disaster prevention should include:

• DEVELOPING A FAMILY PLAN - Your family's plan should be based on your vulnerability to the Hurricane Hazards.
• CREATING A DISASTER SUPPLY KIT - There are certain items you need to have when you evacuate as well as making you as safe as possible in your home.
• SECURING YOUR HOME - There are specific steps you can do to make your home more secure and able to withstand stronger storms.

Special Considerations for Securing Garage Doors in a Storm

Because of their size, garage doors are more susceptible to wind damage than other exterior openings – especially two-car garage doors. Unless you have a tested, hurricane resistant door installed, high winds can force it out of the roller track.

According to FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Association), the loss of a garage door during a hurricane can lead to an uncontrolled buildup of internal pressure resulting in a blowout of the roof and supporting walls.

If you have a Clopay WindCode garage door installed it does not require additional supports (i.e. posts) to secure the door. Reinforcement is contained within the structure of the door and is engaged by simply locking it, a timesaving convenience in the event of a sudden evacuation notice.

Plan Ahead to Avoid Garage Door Lock-In During a Power Outage

Most people do not even think about their garage door opener not working during a power outage. We just expect it to faithfully go up and down when we press the button. If the power goes out, you may need to disconnect the electric opener to manually open the garage door. Here’s how:

1. Disconnect the garage door opener when the garage is in the closed position, not when it’s open. Otherwise, if the springs aren’t balanced, the door could suddenly drop to the ground and cause injury.
2. If the springs are properly balanced, the door will open easily with the lift handles. If it is difficult to open, have a professional garage door service technician check the door as soon as possible to avoid further damage or safety risks.
3. Lock the door. When the automatic opener is disconnected the door is not securely shut until you manually slide the lock bar.
4. Reconnect the opener when the power comes back on. Make sure the door is unlocked when the opener is reconnected. Electrically opening the garage door with the lock bar in place can cause major damage.

For more information on Hurricane Earl and storm preparedness visit:

http://www.clopaydoor.com/wind-code-about.aspx

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/HAW2/english/intro.shtml

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/36740125/vp/34328514#34328514?from=en-us_msnhp&gt1=43006

http://www.weather.com/

The International Door Association (IDA) created “Garage Door Safety” Month to remind homeowners and their families about garage door safety and maintenance.
Safety plays an increasingly important role in garage door design. All new garage doors incorporate photoelectric eyes that stop and reverse the door if a child, an animal or an object passes in front of them.
To test a garage door opener, place a roll of paper towels under the door, and lower it. When the door hits the towels, it should reverse. If it doesn't, have it checked.
A professional should inspect and make any repairs, but here are a few tips on other things to watch for:

• Check that the door opens and closes smoothly. If not, the springing system may need to be adjusted or replaced.
• Look for loose brackets on the garage door. Because they are under tension, they can cause serious injury if loosened or removed.
• Gauge the age of your garage door springs. They, too, are tightly wound and can cause damage or injury if they wear out and break.
• Check for any frayed or worn cables.
• Teach children about garage door safety. Place the control switch for the garage door opener at least 5' above the floor so that small children can't reach it; remind them that the garage door opener is not a toy.
• Use the red emergency cord to release the garage door locking mechanism if the power is out.

An annual visit from a trained garage door technician can keep your door operating safely and smoothly. For more safety and maintenance advice visit www.clopaydoor.com.