Be Prepared

Be Prepared!

With custom made hurricane shutters requiring weeks or months for delivery, orders and backlogs will rise when a storm approaches. The time to choose your protection if you haven't already, is now. If you plan to have shutters installed, call today.

Planning and preparation may save your life and property. Don't fall into the trap of thinking it won't happen here, that somehow that dangerous winds and rains will steer clear at the last moment. "People in South Florida thought the same thing before Hurricane Andrew: 'It can't happen to me.' That's a fact of life that indeed it is going to happen someday," said Bob Sheets, retired director of the National Hurricane Center in Coral Gables. "You may be one who's not affected. But the consequences of not preparing for it can be catastrophic."

Residents of South Florida and coastal South Carolina know full well the destructive power of a hurricane after Andrew in 1992 and Hugo in 1989. Residents living on the outskirts of those areas might not fully appreciate what such massive storms can do. Preparation is the key to getting yourself and your family safely through a dangerous.

Inspect your Shutters Before a Hurricane.

Usually, during Hurricane Watches and Warnings, frantic South Floridians are busy putting Storm Panels on their homes. Quite a few people found out that the panels did not fit or that they were short a few panels. Some people did not even know how to install the panels.

It would be advisable to check out your storm protection now, while you have time. When purchasing Accordions Shutters or Storm Panels, be sure to have the installer show you how to open and close each shutter and/or install the panels. It is also a good idea to number each panel and opening.

Protect your Home!

You can be prepared by having your home and business protected by shutters now prior to a hurricane. Or you can "shutter" later, after the storm. Often, when a hurricane heads towards your area is when you realize that you haven't made any plans to secure your home and business.

Take the necessary steps ahead of the hurricane's arrival to protect your home and its contents. That will help people get back in their homes as soon as possible. All homeowners should make individual disaster plans; steps they'd follow in the event of an impending storm, including determining if you live in an evacuation zone.

Residents must secure their homes and yards against the impending storm. The more protection you have, the faster you can return to normal conditions. If a storm comes and your windows are blown out and you have flooding, you'll now have to live somewhere else and find housing post-hurricane.

All windows and doors must be protected from breakage. Wind entering a house through a broken window or garage door will weaken the integrity of the structure. When a window blows and wind enters the house, it has no place to go but up. The goal is to keep the wind out. Garage doors are one of the most overlooked and weakest areas of a home. Then, wind that enters the home forces the roof to blow out. Proper attachment to the structure is the key to whatever hurricane protection product is used to protect your home.

Before the Storm:

• Listen for weather updates on local radio and television stations and Weather Stations. 
• Check your survival kit. Obtain any needed items. 
• Refill prescriptions. Maintain at least a one-month supply during hurricane season. 
• Check all insurance information and important documents. Secure them in waterproof containers. 
• Clear yard of all loose objects, such as potted plants, bicycles and trash cans. 
• Protect your windows and glass doors. Brace double entry and garage doors at the top and bottom. 
• Fill your car's gas tank and check oil, water and tires. Gas pumps don't operate without electricity. 
• Secure your boat early. Drawbridges will be closed to boat traffic after an evacuation order is issued. 
• Leave the swimming pool filled and well-chlorinated. Cover the filtration system. 
• Get cash. Banks and ATMs won't be in operation without electricity and few stores will be able to accept credit cards. 
• Clean containers for drinking water and your bath tub for storing clean water. Plan on three gallons per person, per day, for all uses. 
• Obtain at least a two-week supply of non-perishable foods, including a non-electric can opener. Don't forget your pets. 
• During the storm, stay inside and away from windows, skylights and glass doors. Find a safe area in your home - an interior, reinforced room, closet or bathroom on the lower floor. Wait for official word that the danger is over. 
• If flooding threatens your home, turn off electricity at the main breaker. 
• If you lose power, turn off major appliances, such as the air conditioner and water heater to reduce damage.

For additional information please refer to FEMA and the Red Cross .