Mark as a general rule, you are suppose to use the awnings over the slides when the slides are out. They will keep water, leaves and things falling from the sky, from getting on top of your slides and gumming up the works when you pull the slides in.

The awnings should retract if the wind picks up too much, or if you know you have a storm coming, retract the awnings ahead of time. The slide awnings don't hang out in the breeze too far any way so you shouldn't have a problem with them.

Gary S.