Guide · South Shore storms
Storms, Floods and Your Garage Door
Nor'easters, summer thunderstorms and the occasional hurricane are part of life on the South Shore. Homes near Reynolds Channel, Baldwin Harbor and the Mill River know it best. Here is how to protect the garage door and what to check afterwards.
- Before the storm
- After the water
- Power outages
Guide
By the Rockville Centre Garage Door team · over 20 years of garage door work · Updated October 2026
Before a Storm
- Close the garage door and lock it by hand if the opener allows.
- Move anything you can off the floor near the door.
- Know where the opener's red release cord is and how to lift the door by hand.
- If you have a battery-backup opener, check that the battery holds a charge.
- Look at the bottom seal — a torn seal lets wind-driven rain straight in.
After Water Reaches the Garage
When Hurricane Sandy flooded southern Oceanside in 2012, power stayed out for nearly two weeks. Garages that took salt water showed the damage for months: cables fraying at the brackets, rollers seizing, sensors failing. If water reached your garage floor:
- Do not run the opener until the outlet and opener are dry and safe.
- Rinse the bottom brackets, cable ends, rollers and sensors with fresh water.
- Let everything dry, then lubricate the moving parts.
- Watch the cables over the next weeks for broken strands.
- Have the door checked once things settle — a tune-up starts at $119.
Wind and Wide Doors
A 16-foot door is a large panel facing the weather. In strong gusts it flexes in the middle, which cracks center hinges and pulls rollers in the track. Keep hinge bolts tight, replace cracked hinges (from $45), and consider a stiffer insulated door when replacing.
Power Outages
An opener without power is dead weight on the door. The LiftMaster 84505R has a battery backup built in (from $555 installed) and keeps working through an outage for a number of cycles.
Hardware That Holds Up Near the Water
Galvanized cable, coated brackets and hinges, sealed-bearing nylon rollers and a heavy vinyl bottom seal all last longer in salt air. On a new door near the water, ask about the finish and the hardware, not only the style.
Typical Repairs After a Storm
| Work | Starting at |
|---|---|
| Lift cables, pair | $189 |
| Bottom bracket | $60 |
| Full set of nylon rollers | $179 |
| Safety sensors, realign | $85 |
| Logic board / receiver | $179 |
| Bottom weather seal | $120 |
Storm and Flood Questions
Answers as of October 2026. Still unsure? Call (516) 442-8171 and describe what the door is doing.
What should I check on my garage door after a flood?
Before running it: the bottom brackets and cable ends for rust or fraying, the bottom rollers, the photo-eye sensors and their wiring, and the opener's outlet. Rinse salt water off with fresh water and let everything dry.
Can a garage door be damaged by wind?
Yes. Wide doors flex inward in strong wind, cracking hinges and pushing rollers out of the track. Reinforcing struts on the top sections and keeping hardware tight help.
How do I open my garage door when the power is out?
Pull the red release cord with the door closed and lift it by hand — a balanced door lifts easily. If it will not move, the springs may be broken; do not force it. A battery-backup opener avoids the problem.