Every year from June 1 to November 30, South Florida businesses face the Atlantic hurricane season. Most owners focus on boarding windows and protecting inventory, but your doors are just as vulnerable. A compromised entrance becomes an open invitation for water damage, wind, and theft after evacuation orders go out.
Your business security depends on functional locks and reinforced doors. Having a business hurricane plan means thinking beyond the storm itself and preparing for what comes after.
Your Doors Take More of a Beating Than You’d Expect
Business districts like Clematis Street and industrial areas across Palm Beach County deal with a mix of saltwater exposure, high winds, and mandatory evacuations. Your property sits empty while everyone waits out the storm. Power outages knock out electronic security systems. Damaged doors give opportunistic thieves easy access.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration keeps predicting more intense hurricane seasons. Waiting until you hear a storm warning leaves you scrambling. Securing business doors for hurricane season takes planning and hardware that meets Florida Building Code standards.
What You Should Check Before Hurricane Season Hits
Start With a Walk-Around of Your Exterior Doors
Look at every door that leads outside. Check frames for rust, rot, or cracks. High winds will find weak spots and turn small problems into major failures. Pay attention to gaps, loose hinges, and worn weather stripping. Saltwater eats through metal faster than you’d expect in coastal areas.
Test Every Single Lock
Locks need to work under stress, not just on calm days. Test your deadbolts to see if they engage fully. Turn your keys and feel for resistance or grinding. Locks that stick now will fail completely during a storm.
If you’re dealing with older hardware or you’re not confident about what you’re looking at, getting a professional evaluation from a commercial locksmith can catch problems before hurricane season starts. It’s one of those things that feels unnecessary until you really need it.
Think About Whether Your Hardware Is Up to Code
Florida Building Code sets specific requirements for commercial properties in hurricane zones. High-impact commercial door locks Florida businesses rely on the need to handle wind pressure, flying debris, and forced entry attempts. Grade 1 deadbolts provide strong security for most commercial applications.
If your locks were installed before recent code updates, an upgrade might be overdue. Quality hardware costs less than storm damage and insurance headaches. The installation process matters as much as the hardware itself. What goes into storm-rated lock installation includes proper reinforcement plates, strike boxes, and frame preparation that keeps everything functional when winds hit triple digits.
Double Doors and Side Entrances Need Love Too
Double doors need astragals and flush bolts that work. Test them now, not during a storm warning. Glass doors might need reinforcement or temporary boarding based on their rating.
Loading docks, service entrances, and back doors get less attention than your main entrance. Thieves count on that during evacuations. Give every access point the same security treatment.
Don’t Forget About Your Electronic Systems
Keycard readers and keypad systems go offline during power outages unless you have battery backup. Test those batteries and verify that waterproof housings are sealed. An access control system that dies during evacuation leaves you completely exposed.
Keep copies of all access codes and override procedures in multiple locations, including somewhere off-site. You’ll need immediate access once power comes back to assess what happened.
What Happens After the Storm Passes
Check Everything Before You Assume It Still Works
Saltwater corrodes metal fast. Debris can bend frames or crack reinforcement plates. Just because a door looks fine doesn’t mean the lock still functions internally. Check every door and lock before you assume your security is intact.
Storm damage creates vulnerabilities that need immediate attention. Getting emergency lock service after a hurricane prevents unauthorized entry during the chaotic days when everyone’s dealing with cleanup and law enforcement is stretched thin across the county.
You Might Need Temporary Security for a While
The hours right after a hurricane create opportunities for theft. Even if your locks survived, consider adding temporary barriers or extra monitoring until operations return to normal. Unsecured facilities become obvious targets when everyone knows businesses are closed.
Putting Together a Hurricane Checklist That Gets Used
A solid commercial hurricane preparedness checklist Florida businesses can follow needs to cover both storm survival and getting back to work afterward. Door security is just one piece, but it’s the piece that determines whether you can secure everything else.
| Task | Timeline | Why It Matters |
| Schedule security assessment | March or April | Gives you time to complete upgrades before season starts |
| Order storm-rated hardware | Early spring | Supply chains slow down as storms approach |
| Test backup power systems | May | Batteries and generators need verification before you depend on them |
| Train staff on emergency procedures | Before June 1 | Everyone needs to know evacuation and access protocols |
| Document asset locations | Ongoing | Insurance claims and recovery depend on accurate records |
Start early. Waiting until storm season is already underway limits your options and increases costs. The difference between May planning and July scrambling shows up in both your budget and your ability to protect your property.
Hurricane season happens every year in South Florida, which means preparation should be routine, not reactive. Your doors and locks are the first line of defense for everything inside your business. Take the time to check them properly, upgrade what needs upgrading, and have a plan for both the storm and what comes after.