A garage door is not shelter. The National Weather Service says to go to a basement, safe room or interior room away from windows. A garage door is also a weak point in strong wind, so keep yours in good repair, ask about reinforcement and stop using it if it is bent or damaged.
Where to be when a tornado warning is issued
The National Weather Service tells people at home to go to a basement, a safe room or an interior room away from windows. It also says sheds and storage buildings are not safe, and a vehicle is not safe either. A garage with a door on the front is open to the same wind as a shed.
That means the garage is not the place to wait out a storm, and the door is not a protective barrier. Treat the door as a part of the house you protect, not a place you hide behind.
Why the garage door matters in strong wind
A DASMA article cites a 1980 damage study that found 51% of the home damage or destruction began when wind got in through the garage door. Its typical failure sequence is that wind hits the door, the door gives way, the garage pressurizes and the roof can be pushed off. Doors that meet or exceed code can limit damage from many strong winds, but the article says no garage door withstands a direct hit from a severe tornado.
The article is from 2003, so ask your door dealer for current ratings. It names two test standards, ANSI/DASMA 108 for wind resistance and ANSI/DASMA 115 for debris impact. A rating label on the door or the manual tells you what your door was tested for.
Do and do not
Do
- Go to the basement, a safe room or an interior room, away from windows
- Keep tracks, rollers, hinges and brackets in good repair
- Ask what wind rating your door has
- Photograph the door when it is in good shape, for later claims
Do not
- Shelter in the garage, in a car or in a shed
- Use a bent, crooked or off-track door
- Adjust a spring, a cable or a bracket yourself
- Assume a new door makes the garage a shelter
Before the season: five checks
Look at the door from the outside
Check for dents, cracked windows, gaps and worn bottom seals.
Look at the track and brackets
Both tracks should be straight and firmly fastened to the wall and ceiling. Loose bolts are a sign to call.
Test by hand
Pull the red release cord with the door closed, lift the door by hand and let go partway. A balanced door stays put. Reconnect it afterwards.
Check the opener mounting
The rail and header bracket should not wobble. Do not climb on a door to check.
Ask about reinforcement
Ask a technician whether your model can be reinforced or whether a stronger door is worth it. See new garage doors.
After a storm
A door that is bowed, off its rollers or hanging crooked puts extra strain on the springs and cables. Disconnect the opener and keep people clear. Do not lift or lower the door and do not touch springs or cables. See garage door repair.
For what damage looks like and how to check it, see wind damage after an Illinois storm. The Illinois Attorney General also advises getting written estimates from more than one contractor and never paying in cash after a storm.
When to call a technician
Call for any door that has a bent section, a gap along a side, a loose track, a sagging corner or a broken spring or cable. Call before the season if the door is old, if you are not sure of its wind rating or if you want it reinforced.
Emil Garage Doors repairs garage doors, springs, cables and openers and installs new doors in Illinois, including Belleville, Moline and Quincy. Call or send your details and we book the soonest visit.
Questions people ask
Is a garage safe during a tornado?
No. The National Weather Service says to go to a basement, a safe room or an interior room away from windows, and that sheds and storage buildings are not safe.
Is the garage door the weakest part of a house in strong wind?
It is often a weak point. A DASMA article says damage to a home often begins when wind gets in through the garage door. A door that meets code can limit damage from many strong winds.
Can a garage door be made tornado proof?
No. DASMA says no garage door withstands a direct hit from a severe tornado, but a door that meets or exceeds code can limit damage from many strong winds.
What should I do if my garage door is damaged by wind?
Disconnect the opener, keep people clear and do not use the door. Photograph the damage and call a technician.