1596 Motor Inn Drive
Girard, Ohio 44420-2496
Protection From Florida’s Storms and Hurricanes
Being proactive in safeguarding your home from storms and hurricanes is one of the smartest decisions you can make. By taking the time to make sure your home is fully “storm proof,” you are not only securing your investment, but more importantly, protecting your family. Here’s the lowdown on some basic storm protection methods, and other safety items:
Waterproof Your Home
Caulk: Caulk around openings for phone wires, cable wires, and other utilities, as these are all entry points for water to seep between your walls, and cause mold – a major health hazard for you and your family.
Soffits: This is the material that covers the bottom of the roof overhang. When wind is so powerful that it makes rain fall on angle, it forces the rain up under the overhang, and into your house. Make sure that the soffit is securely attached to the roof overhang, and is sealed against the house.
Protect Your Roof
Shingles: Examine your roof carefully for any loose shingles, as they are a disaster waiting to happen. When the wind catches a loose shingle, it rips it off the roof, and other shingles usually follow. Secure the shingles, and have any leaks repaired, as well.
Roof reinforcements: Apply hurricane straps and clips to your roof to secure its connection to the rest of the house - preventing it from blowing off in the high winds of a severe storm or hurricane. Also, you can use a roof harness that straps over the roof and attaches to your house’s foundation.
Protect Your Door and Windows
Storm/hurricane shutters: Use storm shutters to cover all garage doors, patio windows, house windows and doors.
Impact resistant windows: Replacing your old windows with impact resistant windows is a great way to protect them in a storm.
Polyurethane film: This is a relatively cost efficient alternative, that protects your windows against harsh winds.
Protect Your Landscaping
Inspection: Inspect all foliage and trees around your home to make sure that they are healthy, and that there are no loose branches that can fly off and hurt someone, or damage property.
Wrapping: If you know far in advance that a storm is approaching, wrap all of your bushes and flowers with landscaping cloth, so that they will not be torn apart by the high winds. This will make them more aerodynamic, as the wind will go around them, not through them.
Aluminum screen enclosures
Swimming pool: If have you have a screen enclosure around your pool, inspect it, and replace any rusty screws. Reinforce the anchorage of the columns to the concrete deck, and install diagonal bracing to help the structure withstand the force of high winds.
Other Concerns…
Carports
- Free standing carports are less likely to be damaged (and cause damage to the rest of the home) than attached carports.
- Make sure the roof of the carport is heavily anchored
Storage Sheds
- Build on a concrete slab for better support
- In case of a storm, tie the shed down with heavy screw anchors at all corners, and place a rope harness over the building.
Outdoor Equipment
Anchor all outdoor equipment (air compressors, air conditioners, water heaters, pool equipment) securely to the house or the ground using metal brackets, screw anchors, or straps.
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