Southwest Florida Hurricane Guide · Pool cages

Pool Cage Hurricane Prep in Southwest Florida: A Homeowner’s Guide

How to inspect and prepare a pool cage, pool and yard before a hurricane in Southwest Florida, what to leave to a licensed contractor, and what to do after the storm.

Pool cages are common across Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Estero, Bonita Springs and Naples, and they take a beating in hurricanes. Hurricane Ian in 2022 damaged or destroyed many enclosures across Lee and Collier counties. You can’t make a cage storm-proof, but you can find problems early, clear hazards around it, and know what to leave to a professional. This guide covers the enclosure, the pool and equipment, the yard, and what to do after the storm. It’s part of our Southwest Florida Hurricane Preparedness Guide.

Key Takeaways

Walk the cage before the season and look for rust, missing screws, loose anchors, slack cables and torn screens. Have a licensed enclosure contractor repair what you find.
Don’t remove screen panels unless the enclosure’s design or the manufacturer’s instructions call for it.
Don’t drain the pool, even partway. Keep it at its normal level until the storm passes.
Trim trees and clear yard debris early in the season, while yard waste pickup runs normally.
After a storm, photograph damage, stay away from bent framing, and keep the pool closed off with a secure temporary barrier if the cage was its safety barrier.

Inspecting Your Pool Cage

Do this walk-through early in the season, from the ground:

Look for rusted or missing screws and fasteners, especially where the frame meets the deck and the house.
Look for visibly loose or missing anchors and for cables or braces that look slack or damaged.
Look for torn screens and spline pulling out of the frame. Small tears can spread in strong wind.
Note any bent or cracked members.

Have a licensed enclosure contractor handle repairs. Fasteners, anchors and cables need to match the enclosure’s design, and structural repairs or replacement may need a permit from your city or county. If your community has an HOA, it may need to approve a replacement.

Pool cage photo labeled with four inspection points: fasteners, cables or braces, screens and base anchors — Walk the enclosure early in the season, from the ground, and have a licensed enclosure contractor handle repairs.

Should You Remove Screen Panels?

Only if the enclosure was designed for it. Some enclosures are engineered to have certain panels removed before a storm, and others are designed to keep every screen in place. Follow the manufacturer’s or engineer’s instructions for your cage, and do any screen work early, never on a ladder in rising wind. If you don’t know how your enclosure was designed, ask a licensed enclosure contractor before the season.

Clearing Around the Cage

Trim branches that touch or hang over the cage, and remove vines growing on the frame.
Bring in patio furniture, cushions, toys, umbrellas and planters from inside and around the cage. Anything loose can be blown into the screens or the house.
Move or secure the grill. Close the propane tank’s valve and secure the tank upright outdoors, away from the cage, doors and anything that could ignite it. Never store propane tanks inside the home, garage or an enclosed shed.

Preparing the Pool and Equipment

Keep the pool at its normal level. UF/IFAS Extension advises against draining or partially draining a pool before a hurricane. Saturated ground around a partly drained pool can crack the shell or damage plumbing and decking. After the storm, have excess water lowered to the proper level once the surrounding ground has drained and conditions are safe.
Ask about the equipment. Pool guidance differs on whether to keep the pump running while the power is on or shut off the breakers ahead of the storm, so follow your pool professional’s or the manufacturer’s instructions. Never work on electrical equipment that’s wet or once the storm arrives.
Protect the equipment. Follow the manufacturer’s storm instructions for pumps and heaters. A loose cover or tarp can blow off and become debris.
Ask about pre-storm treatment. UF/IFAS notes that shocking the pool before the storm can help limit algae and bacteria if floodwater or debris gets in.

Yard and Landscaping

Schedule tree trimming early in the season with a certified arborist. Lee County asks residents to avoid major yard work once a storm watch or warning is issued, because yard waste pickup often stops before a storm.
Remove dead fronds, coconuts and seed pods. Leave healthy green palm fronds in place, since removing them can weaken the tree.
Clear gutters, downspouts and yard drains so water can drain away from the pool deck and house.

After the Storm

Stay out of the cage if the frame is bent or leaning, and keep everyone away from damaged sections.
When it’s safe, photograph and video all damage before you clean up, make only the temporary repairs needed to prevent more damage, and keep receipts. See our hurricane documents guide.
If the enclosure was part of the pool’s safety barrier, keep the pool closed off with a secure temporary barrier until it’s repaired. Caution tape or furniture isn’t enough.
Don’t turn the equipment back on if it was flooded until an electrician or pool professional checks it.
Clear debris, test the water and treat it before swimming. If storm surge or floodwater got into the pool, keep everyone out and ask a pool professional how to deal with possible sewage or chemical contamination, since chlorine doesn’t remove fuel, pesticides or other chemicals.
Hire a licensed enclosure contractor for repairs, and check whether your insurance policy covers screen enclosures. Many policies limit or exclude them.

Selling a Home With a Pool Cage

Buyers and inspectors often look closely at the enclosure. Keep the permits for any replacement or repair, the contractor’s invoices and any warranty together. Our Seller FAQs cover what else to have on hand.

Buying or selling in Southwest Florida?

Questions about how storms affect a home you own or want to buy?

Our agents can walk you through permits, insurance records, disclosures and what buyers look for after hurricane season.

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FAQs About Pool Cage Hurricane Prep

How do I prepare my pool cage before hurricane season?

Walk the enclosure and look for rusted or missing fasteners, loose anchors, slack cables and torn screens. Clear branches, vines and loose items around it, and have a licensed enclosure contractor repair what you find.

Should I remove my pool cage screens before a hurricane?

Only if your enclosure was designed for it. Follow the manufacturer’s or engineer’s instructions, and ask a licensed enclosure contractor if you’re not sure how yours was built.

Do I need to drain my pool before a hurricane?

No. Keep the pool at its normal level until the storm passes. UF/IFAS Extension advises against draining or partially draining a pool before a storm.

What fasteners should I use on a pool cage?

Use what the enclosure’s design calls for. A licensed enclosure contractor can match replacement hardware to your cage.

What should I do if my pool cage is damaged?

Stay away from bent or unstable framing, photograph the damage for your insurer, keep the pool closed off with a secure temporary barrier if the cage was its barrier, and contact a licensed enclosure contractor.

Does insurance cover pool cage damage?

It depends on your policy. Many policies limit or exclude screen enclosures, so check your coverage before the season.

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