Preparing your home for a Hurricane!

All Hazards Guide in Web Format!

Hurricane: It's NOT just another storm!

The best time to plan for the protection of buildings is probably during the construction process.  Through careful design of buildings, stresses can be reduced and damage minimized.  Roof pitch, structural fasteners, window size and placement all can have a dramatic effect on the amount of damage done by a storm.

You can also plan, and build in anchors for shutters or boards.  They may be hidden in many ways, yet are easy to find and use when a storm threatens.  Most of us are not dealing with construction plans.  We are looking at protecting buildings we already have from storm damage.  Here are a few things to do as early as possible, even before the hurricane season.

• Install shutters.  Test them and make repairs before hurricane season starts.
• As an alternative to shutters, purchase plywood to cover large windows.  A minimum thickness of 5/8 inch is recommended.  Prepare the boards with reinforcement where necessary, and plan which boards will go where.  If you install permanent anchors, prepare and mark each board for a specific location.  Store boards in a cool, dry place.  Have fasteners on hand!
• Masking or duct tape will control window shattering somewhat, but will not prevent the breakage of glass, or the damage that then follows.  If you do tape your windows:
• Start at one corner, using 2 inch tape.
• Place a strip of tape DIAGONALLY in the corner, then every 2 inches diagonally down the glass, until the entire glass is striped.
• Place strips every two inches diagonally across the glass perpendicular to the first set, every two inches, until the entire glass is criss-crossed.
• Remove the tape as soon as possible after the storm.  If the sun bakes the adhesive, it will be almost impossible to remove.
•  Do NOT tape glass covered with solar film!
• Locate a safe place to store gas grills and propane or LP gas tanks.  If damaged in a storm they can become a leaking, potential BOMB!  They must be tied down in areas subject to flooding to prevent them from becoming floating bombs.
• Cut back vegetation, removed dead coconuts from trees.  Keep outside areas as free of loose objects as possible throughout the season.  Any object outside should be secured during a storm threat: either tie it down, or find another way to secure it.
• Make repairs to your building where necessary.  Replace worn or rotted wood, seal cracks in concrete block, and otherwise block potential openings caused by wear.
• Become familiar with removable equipment such as window air conditioners and roof turbines, so they may be removed quickly, and the opening secured.
• Know where electric lines enter your home so you can avoid the area after a storm.  Know how to turn off all electricity an the main panel, as well as water, natural and bottled gas.
• Complete your disaster survival kit and the disaster supply calendar.
• Stock other supplies such as: masking tape, duct tape, battery powered lighting, bleach, rope caulk, canned heat such as Sterno, and plastic sheeting for protection against rain and immediate repairs.  keep you car's gas tank full in case evacuation is necessary.
• Gather important documents (birth certificates, insurance policies, health records, mortgages, deeds, titles, financial documents) in one place, ready to take with you.  Any documents you may need after a storm or flood should be gathered now, and kept in a protected place.
• Make your own checklist of things you'll want or need to do under a watch or warning.  If you are in a highly vulnerable flood zone, plan your evacuation route and time table.  Stay familiar with your plan.
• If you plan to evacuate the area, plan to stay away AT LEAST 2-3 weeks.  It could take that long, or longer, for Public Safety personnel to make the area safe for re-entry.
• If you have questions about your situation and your plan ASK NOW!  Don't wait until the storm is nearly here...or it could be too late to get an answer!

Contact your local builders supply store or your local emergency management office for information on these retrofits.  These systems can be constructed by a handy homeowner, or licensed professional contractor, but cannot be started just before a hurricane hits!

• Brace garage doors: there are ways to brace garage doors which are less expensive than replacing old garage doors.
• Brace trusses and gable ends: proper bracing of your roof trusses or rafters allows the individual members to work together as a system and resists the collapse of the framing members at weak points.
• Straps and Clips: Most houses constructed in the past 20 years have some sort of straps or clips attaching the trusses or rafters to the top part of the house.  Adding proper strapping where it does not exist, or verifying that existing straps or clips are properly installed can make a significant difference during a hurricane.
• Window protection:  There are several systems available, ranging from roll downs to plywood.  windows are extremely vulnerable and this is an important way to protect your home and family.
• Re-roofing:  If you must replace your roof due to normal wear, make sure the contractor replaces any deteriorated plywood sheathing and re-nails all of the existing sheathing to comply with the current standard nailing patterns.  This is relatively inexpensive, and makes a big difference in improving the structural stability of older roof systems in high wind conditions.

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