After strong winds have blown through your neighborhood, it's always a good idea to check around your home for damages. Gusts can easily strip away shingles, bring down branches, or send loose items flying to some remote corner of the yard.

Fences are particularly vulnerable to gales. These barriers present a large surface area for wind to push against, and an entire panel might come crashing down if it's unable to withstand this force. A fence is also more likely to blow over if it has been compromised by rotted posts, loose connections, or other weaknesses.

If your fence has been a victim of a recent storm, you'll likely be able to repair it without too much trouble. You can also assess your fence ahead of any nasty weather to complete some preventative maintenance.

You might need to start by letting a neighbor know if you need to access the fence from their property. A-1 Fence, a company in Mequon, Wisc., says your repairs will be more effective if you're able to access both sides of the fence. The neighbor may even be willing to lend a hand for what will almost certainly be a two-person job. And if the fence serves as a property boundary, they're obligated to help with the costs and work of maintaining it.

If the wind has blown a fence panel off the posts, you should be able to reuse it as long as it hasn't been too badly damaged. Lisa Salmon, writing for BT Lifestyle, says you should first remove any nails that have become bent or broken. You then simply need to lift the panel back into place, replacing any lost fasteners.

Broken slats in fence panels can be repaired without too much trouble. Laura Agadoni, writing for SFGate, says you can use a crowbar to pry out the slats, then cut new boards to size and secure them to the fence rails to plug the gaps.

A fallen fence post is usually a sign of a more serious problem. Wooden posts will rot over time due to moisture or inadequate drainage. If the post is rotten or broken, it shouldn't be reused.

When replacing a compromised fence post, start by digging out any remnants of the post out of the ground. Roger Cook, writing for This Old House, says you can then use a post hole digger to enlarge the post hole.

Measure the height of the fence posts so you'll know how tall the new post should be. By stretching a string between posts on either side of the fallen post, you'll have a visual indicator of where the top of the new post should be. The new post should be tall enough to allow a substantial portion of it to be rooted in the ground.

Pressure-treated lumber is a costlier option, but is the best choice for fence posts. Agadoni says this type of wood is better able to withstand elements and resist rot.

Filling the fence post hole with a couple of inches of gravel is a good way to improve drainage. Cook says you can backfill the hole with gravel and then a mixture of gravel and stone dust after ensuring that the new post is level.

Concrete can also be helpful in creating a sturdy base for the new fence post. A-1 Fence says you should make sure you use concrete which is rated for this purpose. Mix the concrete according to instructions, pour it into the hole around the new post, and let it set before refilling the hole.

A leaning fence can be more vulnerable to collapse, but can also be shored up. Dig down around the base of the post, then use a rope to pull the fence post until it is level. The rope can be tied to a stake in the ground, while propping up the fence with two-by-fours will create additional stability while you work.

Inexpensive fence menders can be hammered in around the fence posts. Once the post is straightened against this device, you can secure it to the fence mender using deck screws. Concrete can be poured in afterward to help keep the fence post from leaning.

If a fence post is particularly unsteady due to rot, you can remove it and replace it without taking down a large section of the fence. Cook says you'll need to use a circular saw to cut away the sections of the post around the fence rails, then remove any screws attaching the post to the rails.

Keep any fence panels propped up using two-by-fours while removing and replacing the post. Once the panels have been reconnected to the new post, you can reattach the screws to finish the job.