Storm prep for a beach house in Oregon isn't a one-time chore. It's a season. From November through March, the north coast takes hits with 60 to 90 mph gusts, sideways rain, king tides, and the occasional power outage that lasts a day. A rental home has to come through all of that with guests inside and a five-star review at the end. Here's the checklist we use for Puffin Lane in Manzanita and The Weekender in Neskowin, and what we recommend for any owner on the coast.
October: the outside walk
Before the first real storm, we do a slow lap around the house with a notepad. Things we're looking for:
- Roof: lifted shingles, loose flashing around vents and chimneys, moss buildup. Salt air ages roofing faster than inland.
- Gutters and downspouts: clear them, then confirm water actually leaves the foundation. Coast gutters fill with needles and sand.
- Siding and trim: soft spots, peeling paint, gaps where wind-driven rain gets in. Cedar homes need attention on the weather side.
- Windows and doors: seals, weatherstripping, and locks. A door that rattles in August will bang all night in December.
- Trees: dead limbs over the roof, driveway, or hot tub. Shore pines shed branches in wind.
- Deck: loose boards, corroded fasteners, railing wobble. Stainless hardware is worth the cost this close to the ocean.
Secure everything that can fly
Wind is the storm hazard that surprises new coast owners. Patio furniture, umbrellas, grill covers, planters, and trash cans all become projectiles. Our approach: anything light gets stored or strapped from November on. Heavy Adirondack chairs get flipped and tucked against the house. Hot tub covers get locking straps, and we check them at every turnover. A cover that blows off in a storm means a cold tub, a big cleaning job, and a disappointed guest.
Power outages: plan for one a winter
Tillamook County loses power a few times most winters, sometimes for hours, occasionally longer. The house needs to be fine without electricity:
- Flashlights or lanterns in a labeled spot, with fresh batteries, and a note in the welcome book saying where.
- A gas or wood stove is a real asset. Keep a starter supply of dry wood inside, not just on the porch.
- Smart locks need a backup: a mechanical key in a lockbox, or a battery-backed lock you've tested.
- Sump pumps or well pumps? Talk to us about a battery backup or a small generator with clear instructions.
- A short outage plan in the welcome book: what to do, who to call, and reassurance that it's normal here.
Water: the slow damage
Wind makes the news, but water does the expensive work. Check that crawl space vents aren't letting driven rain in, that the ground slopes away from the foundation, and that the hot tub deck drains. Inside, look for staining around windows on the west and southwest walls after the first big storm; that's where leaks show up first. A dehumidifier in the crawl space or a bathroom fan on a timer helps with the constant damp.
Guest safety and communication
Guests book winter on purpose for the drama; see our post on storm season in Manzanita. Our job is to keep it fun and safe. Before a forecast storm, we message arriving guests with a heads-up: bring a rain shell, stay off the beach during high surf advisories, watch for logs in the surf, and here's where the flashlights live. After a storm, we ask them to let us know about anything odd: a new drip, a breaker that tripped, a fence panel down.
After the storm: the second walk
Within a day or two of any major blow, someone should walk the property again. We're checking the roof from the ground, the gutters, the fences, the hot tub cover, downed limbs, and any new water intrusion inside. Small fixes done that week stay small. This is where having a manager within driving distance pays off. If you own from Portland or Seattle, your alternative is a text from a guest and a lot of hope.
Insurance and paperwork
Confirm your policy actually covers short-term rental use and wind damage; some coast policies exclude or limit it. Photograph the exterior each October so you have a dated baseline. Keep your roofer's and arborist's numbers current. None of this is exciting. All of it is cheaper than a claim.
We include storm prep and post-storm inspections in our 20% management fee management fee, with no maintenance reserve held and no surprise add-ons. If you own on the north coast and want a straight assessment of what your home needs before winter, start with a earnings review and we'll talk through the property while we're at it. More on how we work in Manzanita is on our Manzanita owners page.