Hurricane Preparedness 101

Shutters should be a planned element of any vulnerable home. Permanent fasteners should be installed long before storm warnings, so panels can be put in place quickly and time can be spent focusing on the needs of your family and pets.

Why you need to protect windows and doors:

Keeping wind and water out is critical to home survival.
Protective barriers keep glass from breaking and possibly injuring occupants,
More importantly, they keep wind-driven rain from soaking the home’s interior, and reduces the chance wind pressure will build up inside, looking for a way out.
Breached windows and doors often = loss of roof.

Available products:

Plywood (this should be a last-minute alternative, properly fastened)
Screens
Panels

Fabric
Corrugated plastic
Aluminum or shatterproof plastic
Roll-down
Accordian
Colonial/Bahama

What are approval ratings and what should I look for?
Approval ratings are important, because they tell you what a product is designed for and what forces it can withstand. Some products are being marketed as “hurricane tested.” This does NOT mean they have been approved or passed the large-missile impact test.

Florida Building Code
Miami-Dade
ASTM E 1996-03

How do I decide what to use?
Choose a product that fits your lifestyle. Ask questions such as:

Should it be permanent, like impact-resistant glass, because I don’t live there year-round or can’t physically install shutters myself?
Can I physically handle screens or lightweight corrugated plastic, but not aluminum or other shutters?
Will I be comfortable with the look of roll-down or accordian on my home (visible storage “boxes” on exterior when not in use)?