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Make emergency plans while the sun shines so you won't be caught unprepared when the storm comes.

Prepare for Hurricane Season

Hurricane Awareness Week from May 20- May 27 urges Florida's residents and all coastal homeowners to prepare for hurricane season, which runs from June 1st to November 30th. Homeowners should review their tie-downs, shutters, any lingering repairs or debris from past seasons, and emergency kits, preparedness measures, and evacuation plans. Consider a backup generator to keep the home running and hold moisture and humidity at bay. If remodeling, look at solutions that will combat mold, beat back wind, and keep your roof in place. Now is the time to prepare to face the storm.

Emergency Backup Generators
Whether a power outage in your home is caused by grid failure or severe weather, you can take the following steps to prepare and respond.

Anchor Your Fuel Tank
Storm-Ready Roof Decking and Underlayment
Bring Outdoor Items In

Protecting Your Doors and Windows

Protecting the home's openings from winds and wind blown objects is the single most important step a homeowner can take in protecting the structure from serious damage. If you can keep the wind outside, you and your possessions will be safe inside.

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Storm Ready Design

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	Storm-Ready Pool Cage The pool cage is being constructed at the Punta Gorda home. This screened, aluminum structure is rated to withstand a wind load of 130 miles per hour. A construction blueprint ... Watch video and view full description
	Pool Filtration, Sanitation, and Lighting Bob Reeves from Blue Haven Pools joins Bob to review the advanced pool cleaning and filtration systems. The 450 square foot microban filtration system has four paper cartridges for a ... Watch video and view full description
	Removable Pool-Safety Fencing Bill Jasper from the Baby Barrier Pool Fence Company joins Bob for the installation of the removable Baby Barrier that will add a layer of protection for young children around ... Watch video and view full description
	Hurricane Protection for Porches, Windows, and Doors Ted Gower from Armor Screen is installing the hurricane-protection fabric that will make the lanai a hurricane shelter in case of a storm. There are bolts and clips at the ... Watch video and view full description
	Backup Generator for Storm-Ready Home Ron Ford from Kohler shows Bob the 12 killiwatt backup generator that has been installed at the Punta Gorda, Florida, home. Backup power is essential in a hurricane to prevent ... Watch video and view full description
	Fiberglass-Faced Wallboard Combats Mold and Moisture Bob meets Thad Goodman from Georgia-Pacific who is on site to install DensArmor Plus fiberglass-faced wallboard in the storm-ready house. The four-by-ten sheets are drilled into furring strips installed against ... Watch video and view full description

Emergency Board Up
If your home is not protected by impact-resistant windows and doors; or impact resistant shutters or panels; consider building your own temporary emergency panels.

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'Shiners' in the attic make your roof vulnerable to high winds.

Yikes! ‘Shiners’ in the Attic

If you live in a windstorm-prone area, you should find out if your home's attic contains shiners— and I don't mean the frisky baitfish used to catch large-mouth bass. In homebuilding, shiner is a term used for exposed nails along the wood structure of the roof. If you have them, chances are the roof above them is improperly attached. How do you find shiners? If you have safe attic access, use a flashlight to look along the framing members in your attic. If you see shiny objects along the edges of the framing members, you've got shiners. That's bad news because the nails should be hidden inside the wood supports of the roof. If they are exposed, it may mean that your roof is more likely to come off in high winds. The good news is that a roof with shiners can be strengthened—so check for them now before it's too late. What if you don't live in an area prone to high winds? Homes nationwide are vulnerable to windstorms, whether from hurricanes, Nor'easters, straight-line winds, downslope winds, or tornadoes. Don't assume that because you don't live on the coast your home is immune from windstorms or shiners. Do a quick check now to avoid damage later.

Author: Sue Ellen Smith
Posted: August 3rd, 2007
More Info: Do-It-Yourself Home Wind Inspection
Credit: 7 Steps to a Wind-Resistant Home
Categories: Roofing, Special Features

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