Summer is lazy. Autumn is aggressive. The first real storm of the season usually catches people off guard. They leave the umbrella open. They leave the furniture covers loose.

By the time you hear the wind howling, it’s too late to go outside. The damage happens in seconds. A table flips. An umbrella snaps a rib. A cover blows into the next county.

The time to audit your anchors is a calm September Saturday. Check the tension on your guy ropes. Refill the sandbags if they have leaked. Tighten the bolts on the gazebo frame. Think of it as winterizing your boat, even if your boat is just a patio table.