Hurricane season fence prep on the Northshore comes down to three moments: fix weak posts, loose boards and sagging gates before June 1, secure gates and loose items when a storm is forecast, and photograph every bit of damage before anything is moved afterward. Most fence failures in a storm start at a post that was already soft or a gate that was already hanging wrong.
Northbound Fences is a licensed and insured Louisiana fence contractor based in Covington, founded by Eric Bankston in 2005, serving St. Tammany, Tangipahoa and Washington Parishes. The crew repairs storm and fallen-tree damage every season, and this guide is the checklist we would hand a neighbor. The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30, and Hurricane Ida in 2021 was a reminder of how many Northshore fences can come down in a single night.
What should you check on your fence before hurricane season starts?
Before June 1
Northbound Fences recommends a slow walk of the whole fence line in spring, looking for anything that is already weak. Wind does not usually break a healthy fence; it finishes off the sections that were halfway gone.
- Push on every post. A post that rocks, leans or feels spongy at the soil line is the first thing to go in high wind. On wood fences, press a screwdriver into the post right at ground level; if it sinks in easily, the post is rotting.
- Look for loose or missing pickets and rails. A single loose board becomes a flying board in a storm, and a gap lets wind work the rest of the panel.
- Swing every gate. A gate that drags, sags or will not latch cleanly is putting strain on its hinge post. That post is often the weak point on the whole line.
- Check vinyl and chain link too. On vinyl, look for cracked rails or panels that have slipped out of their brackets. On chain link, look for missing ties and loose tension bands.
- Clear vines and debris. Heavy vines add weight and catch wind, and trash piled against the fence holds moisture on the boards.
If the walk turns up soft posts or a leaning section, spring is the right time to call. Fence repair from Northbound Fences covers resetting or replacing posts, re-leveling leaning runs and replacing rotted rails and pickets with pressure-treated lumber. For a sense of how quickly wood breaks down in our climate, read how long a wood fence lasts in Louisiana.
Which trees and limbs put a Northshore fence at risk?
Northbound Fences sees more storm fence damage from falling trees and limbs than from wind alone. St. Tammany and Tangipahoa yards are full of tall pines and big oaks, and a limb that hangs over the fence line will eventually end up on it.
- Trim limbs that hang over or lean toward the fence, especially dead ones.
- Have a tree professional look at any dead, hollow or leaning tree within falling distance of the fence or the house.
- Talk to your neighbor about trees on their side. Many fences come down from a tree on the other lot.
Tree removal is a job for a licensed tree service, not a fence crew, but clearing the risk before the season is far cheaper than rebuilding a flattened fence afterward.
What should you do to your fence when a hurricane is forecast?
Storm in the forecast
When a named storm is headed for the Gulf Coast, Northbound Fences suggests a short, practical list. There is no way to storm-proof a fence in a day, but you can keep it from doing extra damage.
- Close and latch every gate. A loose gate swings and slams until it tears its hinges or cracks its post. If the latch is weak, tie the gate shut.
- Move loose items away from the fence. Grills, trash cans, patio furniture and yard decorations become projectiles that punch through pickets and vinyl panels.
- Take “before” photos. Walk the line with your phone and photograph every side of the fence and every gate. These pictures make an insurance claim much easier if damage happens.
- Plan for pets and livestock. Know where dogs will stay if the fence is breached, and for pasture fence, decide where animals will ride out the storm.
Your own safety and your home come first. None of this is worth doing once conditions have turned dangerous.
What should you do about fence damage after the storm passes?
After a storm, Northbound Fences puts safety ahead of the fence. Downed power lines are often tangled in fallen trees and fence wire, and they can be live.
Stay away from any downed power line, and from any fence, tree or standing water touching one. Report it to your electric utility and let them clear it before anyone works on the fence.
Once the area is safe:
- Photograph the damage before moving anything. Take wide shots of the whole run and close-ups of broken posts, snapped boards, bent chain link and damaged gates. Include the tree or debris that caused it.
- Call your insurance company and start the claim early. After a big storm, adjusters get busy fast.
- Make temporary fixes for pets. A leash, a temporary pen, or a section of wire panel tied across a gap will keep dogs in until the fence is rebuilt. Keep receipts for anything you buy.
- Check pasture fence line by line. On farms and acreage, a single tree across a pasture fence is enough for livestock to walk out.
For gates that were twisted, sprung or pulled off their hinges, see gate repair. Northbound Fences re-hangs sagging gates with heavy-duty hardware, replaces damaged hinge posts, and rebuilds storm-damaged gates to match the existing style.
| When | What to do | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Spring, before June 1 | Walk the line, fix soft posts, loose boards and sagging gates; trim limbs | Weak sections are what fail first in high wind |
| Storm forecast | Latch gates, move loose items, take “before” photos | Prevents gate damage and projectiles; creates a record |
| After the storm | Avoid power lines, photograph damage, call insurer, secure pets | Safety first, then a clean claim |
How do you document fence damage for an insurance claim?
Northbound Fences accepts insurance claims along with cash and checks, and provides a detailed written estimate and documentation your adjuster can use. Your part is the photo record and the policy details.
Many standard homeowner policies treat a fence as an “other structure,” and many Louisiana policies carry a separate hurricane or named-storm deductible that is different from your regular deductible. Coverage, limits and deductibles vary, so read your own policy or ask your agent before assuming a fence is covered. Keep your before and after photos together, note the date of the storm, and save receipts for any temporary fencing or materials.
Tip: if a tree from a neighbor’s yard fell on your fence, photograph where it came from. Insurers handle that differently from a tree on your own lot, and the photo answers the question up front.
For a broader look at what goes into a fence estimate, including tear-out and haul-off of a damaged fence, see what a new fence costs in Covington.
Should a storm-damaged fence be repaired or rebuilt?
Northbound Fences repairs a storm-damaged fence when the damage is limited to a few sections and the rest of the line is sound, and recommends a rebuild when most posts are loose or rotting. The estimate visit answers that question on the spot.
A fallen tree that snapped two sections of an otherwise healthy fence is a straightforward repair: the crew removes the debris from the fence line, replaces posts, rails and pickets, and matches the existing fence. A fence that was already leaning and soft before the storm is different. Patching it leaves you with new boards on old, failing posts, and the next storm finds the same weakness.
If you are rebuilding, it is a good moment to rethink the material. Our wood vs. vinyl fence guide compares how each holds up to Louisiana wind, moisture and termites. Most residential fences are completed in one to three days once materials are on site.
Hurricane fence questions
When is hurricane season in Louisiana?
The Atlantic hurricane season officially runs from June 1 to November 30 each year. The most active stretch for the Gulf Coast is usually late summer into fall, so the best time to fix weak fence posts and gates is in spring, before June.
Should I leave my fence gates open or closed during a hurricane?
Close and latch them. A gate left loose swings in the wind and can tear its own hinges or crack the post it hangs on. If a latch is weak, tie the gate shut. Northbound Fences handles gate repair if hardware fails anyway.
Does homeowners insurance cover a fence damaged by a hurricane?
Often, but it depends on your policy. Many homeowner policies treat fences as other structures, and many Louisiana policies carry a separate hurricane or named-storm deductible. Northbound Fences accepts insurance claims and provides a detailed estimate and documentation for your adjuster.
Can Northbound Fences remove a tree that fell on my fence?
Northbound Fences clears storm debris from the fence line and rebuilds the damaged sections. A large tree resting on a house or tangled in power lines is a job for a tree service or the utility first; the fence work follows once the line is safe.
Is it worth replacing a storm-damaged fence with a different material?
Sometimes. If most of an older wood fence came down, a rebuild is a chance to reconsider material. Our wood vs. vinyl comparison covers how each one handles wind, moisture and upkeep in Louisiana.
