Living and working out of Robbie's Marina in Islamorada, I've weathered quite a few storm seasons with our glass-bottom boat operation. We learned quickly that anything not secured becomes a projectile when winds hit 40+ mph. For lightweight items like cushions, small chairs, and decorative pieces, bring them inside--period. We stack all our dock furniture in our storage area at least 48 hours before predicted landfall. Heavier pieces like metal tables or loungers get flipped upside down and strapped together with ratchet straps to dock cleats or heavy anchor points. The key is creating a low profile so wind passes over rather than catching underneath. One trick from our marina neighbors: if you can't bring something inside, put it in your pool. Seriously. Submerged furniture can't blow away, and chlorinated water is easier on materials than saltwater or flying debris impacts. Just weigh down anything that floats with cinder blocks. The biggest mistake I see tourists and even some locals make is waiting until the last minute. By the time the county issues evacuation orders, you're racing against time and empty hardware store shelves. We prep our boat and facility when storms are still three days out in the Atlantic.
I'm Doug Smyth, founder of Smyth Painting Co. in coastal RI, and after years of exterior revivals (we literally soft-wash salt/mildew off Newport shoreline homes before painting), I treat storm prep like surface prep: remove what can fail, and reduce what the wind can grab. Bring indoors anything with "sail area" or anything that absorbs water: cushions, umbrellas/canopies, wicker/resin pieces, lightweight dining chairs, side tables, planters, grill covers, and outdoor rugs. If it can wick water, it'll mildew fast after the storm and stain decks/patios--same moisture issue we see when decks stop beading and start absorbing. For stuff staying out, the move is to take it apart and make it boring: remove umbrella poles, drop table leaves, and store hardware in a zip bag taped to the underside. For stacking chairs, interlock them and wrap once around the whole stack with a 1" cam-buckle strap (Nite Ize CamJam is a solid one) to a fixed anchor like a deck post or ground screw, and keep legs on pavers/wood blocks so they're not sitting in runoff. Material-specific tip: teak/wood furniture should be clean and dry before you cover it--covering wet wood is how you get black mildew freckles that then need a wash/sand to fix. Metal furniture is less picky about moisture but hates abrasion, so avoid flapping tarps; if you must cover, pad sharp corners with an old towel so the cover doesn't sand through the finish in 30-50 mph gusts.
I learned my lesson about storm prep the hard way. A grill cover I left outside got torn up by the wind and landed in my neighbor's yard. After managing enough properties to see this happen repeatedly, I now bring in anything loose or tie it down. It's a few minutes of work that saves you from a huge cleanup and potential damage later. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to my personal email
When a big storm's coming, I stack the smaller furniture in the garage and tie down the heavy stuff with rope. I learned the hard way to always bring the cushions inside, or they'll blow away for good. My advice is to get it done early. Even that expensive, heavy patio set can get tossed around if the wind picks up enough. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to my personal email
Owning property in Michigan, you learn quick about storms. The second you hear a forecast, start moving. Seriously, just bring everything that isn't nailed down into the garage or basement. For heavy stuff, use good tie-downs or push it right up against the house. Tarps help a little, but getting things inside is the only move that prevents real damage. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to my personal email
The first thing I do is bring any lightweight chairs or cushions inside. Trust me, they become projectiles in strong winds. I've seen them fly across yards and smash windows. For bigger items you can't move, group them tightly in a sheltered corner or anchor them down. Then check the local weather for any last-minute tips. It saves a lot of headaches later. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to my personal email
I learned this the hard way in home care. A client didn't bring in his patio chairs, and we spent the next morning chasing them down the street. Now I always tell people to just bring the lightweight stuff inside before a storm. Chairs and cushions go in the garage. You can tie down heavier things, but honestly, it's easier to just move it all. And definitely grab the umbrellas and planters. They go first. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to my personal email
When a storm's coming, bring the light stuff inside. I mean umbrellas, garden chairs, anything that can fly. I've seen a small chair go through a window before. Push heavier items against your house and secure them with rope or bungee cords. Honestly, I do this at my own place every time. Better safe than sorry. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to my personal email
Listen, if you have outdoor furniture, get the light stuff inside before a storm hits. I'm talking chairs, cushions, umbrellas. Last hurricane season, that move saved us from chasing our stuff halfway down the block. For the heavier pieces, use tie-down straps or sandbags and push everything close to the house. A little prep keeps your yard and your neighbor's yard safe. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to my personal email
If you can move it, bring it inside. For the stuff that's too big or heavy, use bungee cords and tie them to something solid. I've prepped dozens of properties for storms, and a good tarp weighed down properly saves you from a huge mess. Don't wait until the last minute, because that's when things get missed or broken. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to my personal email
When a big storm's coming, I bring all the light stuff, like small tables and chairs, inside. For the bigger items I can't move, furniture covers and extra tie-down straps work best. You should also check for loose cushions or decorations. Those things go flying and always create a bigger mess than you think they will. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to my personal email
Here's my storm prep routine. If it's light enough to carry, it comes inside. I learned that the hard way after finding my favorite chair in the neighbor's yard. Anything heavy, like the big planters, gets bunched up against the house and tied down with bungee cords. Less cleanup, guaranteed. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to my personal email
Hi Martha, I’m Silvia Lupone, owner of Stingray Villa. I oversaw construction, furniture selection and guest operations for our oceanfront villa and handle the insurance and risk checks for the property, so I have hands-on experience preparing outdoor furnishings for storms. I can walk you through which items we bring indoors, how we secure remaining pieces, and the insurance and risk issues I review before bad weather. I can also share brief examples from Stingray Villa if that would help your story. Best, Silvia Lupone
Living in Florida, storms are part of our rhythm--and I always treat backyard furniture like dresses on a windy runway: if it's not secured, it's going to fly. I bring in anything lightweight or small: cushions, umbrellas, side tables. Heavier pieces like metal chairs or loungers, I stack or tie down tight against a wall or fence using bungee cords or sandbags. It's not just about protecting the furniture--it's about preventing it from becoming dangerous. If you can't move it, wrap it. I've seen people use shrink wrap or heavy tarps to protect fabrics and finishes, especially for wooden pieces or anything woven. After the storm passes, I always wipe everything down--not just to clean, but to reconnect with the space and soothe the disruption. It's a small ritual of calm after chaos.
We've weathered our share of Colorado storms, and one lesson stuck: don't assume anything is too heavy to fly. I've seen wooden benches slam into fences and planters tip over like toys. Before big winds or hail, we bring in all cushions, umbrellas, stools, and smaller decor. The big stuff--like our spa barrels--gets strapped down with ratchet ties. We learned to anchor even the outdoor beer taps after a storm once snapped a hose clean off. If you can't bring it inside, flip tables upside down, cluster furniture together, and wedge it in a corner or against a wall. Our guests don't always notice storm prep, but behind the scenes, it's a system. One of our team members calls it "furniture triage"--secure the stuff that hurts most to lose, then move fast.
1 / Any lightweight, high-profile items should be brought indoors--this includes chairs, umbrellas, cushions, and small tables. If it can shift in moderate wind, it can become a hazard in storm conditions. 2 / Heavier items like metal or solid wood furniture might stay outside if they're stable, but we've found it effective to group them tightly together and use ratchet straps or bungee cords to secure them to structural elements like deck railings or anchored posts. Always avoid trying to tie them to weaker furniture items. 3 / Cushion storage is easy to overlook, but important--not just to prevent mold, but also because wet cushions can saturate and damage other materials. We recommend storing them in waterproof bins or indoor closets during storm warnings. 4 / If your area gets frequent storms, investing in stackable or foldable outdoor pieces makes the prep process less stressful. Our team has seen how simple design decisions--like choosing rust-resistant hardware or perforated tabletops for drainage--can significantly reduce long-term maintenance burdens after repeated bad weather.