Home Weather Prep
Garage Storm Safety Guide: Doors, Tools, Fuel, Cars, and Wind
How garages become vulnerable during storms, including garage doors, stored fuel, tools, vehicles, flooding, and using garages safely during outages.
Quick answer: Garages are useful for storage and vehicle protection, but they are not automatically safe shelters during tornadoes, flooding, high wind, or generator use.
Wind and doors
Garage doors are large weak points during high wind. A failed door can let wind pressure into the structure.
Keep doors closed during storms and consider reinforcement in wind-prone areas.
Storage hazards
Secure tools, chemicals, fuel, and sharp objects before storm season.
Store hazardous materials above flood-prone floors when safe and appropriate.
Generator warning
Never run a generator in a garage, even with the door open.
Carbon monoxide can move into the home quickly.