Hurricane season · Guide
Who Closes Your Storm Shutters on 30A When You Are Not in Town
Insured Florida LLC · Watersound Origins · Alys · Rosemary · Scenic 30A
Roll-downs, accordions, Bermudas or bolt-on panels, the shutters only help if someone is at the house to close them before the wind arrives. Here is how that works for 30A owners who live somewhere else.
By Ryder Schilling, owner of Coastal Home Management 30A · Updated September 27, 2026
The short answer
On Scenic 30A, storm shutters on a second home are closed by whoever the owner has lined up in advance: a home watch company, a property manager, or a neighbor. Most HOAs in Watersound, Alys Beach and Rosemary Beach do not close them for owners. Coastal Home Management 30A closes every shutter type, including roll-down, accordion, Bermuda and bolt-on storm panels, through its Storm Check service: $100 per storm, or $50 for plan clients, with photos of the home after the storm passes. Owners sign up once before the season and nothing is charged until a storm is coming.
Why the timing is tighter than most owners think
The National Hurricane Center issues a hurricane watch about 48 hours before tropical-storm-force winds are expected, and a warning about 36 hours before. Once winds pass roughly 40 mph, climbing a ladder or wrestling a panel is not safe. That leaves a one to two day window, and every contractor and handyman on 30A is booked inside it.
Owners who try to arrange shutter help once the cone points at the Panhandle usually find nobody free. The ones whose shutters get closed are the ones who had someone on a list before June.
The shutter types on 30A, and what each one takes
Coastal architecture on 30A means a mix. Newer homes in Watersound Origins and Naturewalk often have roll-downs or impact glass. Rosemary Beach and Alys Beach lean on hinged Bermuda and colonial styles that also have to be latched down for a storm. Older homes along the corridor still use bolt-on panels.
| Type | What closing it takes | Set up before the season |
|---|---|---|
| Motorized roll-down | Switch or remote, minutes per opening | Test every motor, know where the manual crank is if power drops |
| Crank roll-down | A crank rod at each opening | Leave the rod at the house in a known spot |
| Accordion | Slide closed and lock at each opening | Lubricate tracks, confirm every lock and key |
| Bermuda / Bahama and colonial | Lower or swing closed and secure the hardware | Check hinges and fasteners, some are decorative only |
| Bolt-on storm panels | Carry, match and fasten each panel to its opening | Label every panel by opening, store the wingnuts and a drill with them |
| Impact windows | Nothing to close | Confirm every door and slider is the rated glass too |
What to set up now, while nothing is coming
Ten minutes of setup in the off-season is what makes a storm-day visit fast and safe.
- Put your home on a storm list with someone local, in writing, before June 1
- Label bolt-on panels by window or door, and keep the hardware and a drill with the panels
- Make sure whoever is closing them has a key or code, the alarm code, and the garage opener
- Test roll-down motors once a year and leave the manual crank at the house
- Tell them what to bring inside: patio furniture, grills, planters, kayaks, anything the wind can pick up
- Ask for photos after the storm, so you know what the house looks like before you fly back
How Storm Check works
When a named storm is headed for 30A, Ryder confirms with every owner on the list by text or email, then goes house to house: shutters closed, outdoor items in or tied down, doors, windows and the garage latched, and a dated photo of the outside. After the storm passes and the roads are safe, he walks the home inside and out and emails photos with a short written note.
Storm Check does not install or repair shutters. If a shutter is broken or missing hardware, you get photos and a referral to a licensed contractor.
Put your home on the storm list.
Sign up once. Nothing is charged until a storm is coming.
Questions
Asked plainly.
Does my HOA close my storm shutters on 30A?
Usually not. Most HOAs in Watersound, Alys Beach and Rosemary Beach maintain common areas and leave shutters to each owner. Some communities also have rules about when shutters can go down and how long they can stay closed, so check your HOA's guidelines before the season.
When should shutters go down before a hurricane?
Once a hurricane watch covers the 30A coast, roughly 48 hours before tropical-storm-force winds, and before winds reach about 40 mph. Waiting for the warning leaves very little working time.
Will you close bolt-on storm panels?
Yes, Coastal Home Management 30A closes every type, including bolt-on panels, as long as the panels are at the house, labeled by opening, and the hardware is with them. Unlabeled panels on a large house can take hours to match, so labeling them before the season matters.
What does it cost to have my shutters closed?
Storm Check is $100 per storm for owners not on a plan and $50 per storm for plan clients. That covers the prep visit before the storm and the photo check after. Nothing is charged to sign up.
Who opens the shutters after the storm?
Tell whoever closed them whether to leave them down until you arrive or open them once the storm has passed. Leaving them closed for weeks in the heat traps humidity, so most owners have them opened after the photo check.