FLASH Top Consumer Hurricane Safety Questions #3
April 13, 2006 FLASH News

As the 2006 Hurricane Season approaches, thousands of homeowners seeking information about storm protection are turning to the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes - FLASH for information on safeguarding their homes from hurricanes. During the 2006 National Hurricane Conference, Flash will be releasing daily the top consumer hurricane safety questions. FLASH CEO and President Leslie Chapman-Henderson will be available during the conference to discuss these consumer issues.

Q: What are the best ways to protect my windows when preparing for the upcoming hurricane season?
A: You can protect your home's openings by installing impact-resistant windows, doors and skylights, or installing permanent impact-resistant coverings, such as shutters, over windows and doors.
Windows, doors and skylights are particularly vulnerable components of your home's protective shell, or envelope, because they are easily penetrated by wind-borne projectiles often generated by storms like hurricanes. If that envelope is breached during a storm, high winds can enter your home and exert high pressure on your walls and roof. These internal pressures combined with the external pressure and suction caused by the wind blowing over your home can lead to extreme roof damage and even the loss of your roof.
Even if your roof is not severely damaged, failure of your home's windows and doors allows wind, wind-driven rain, and debris to enter your home, further damaging to the interior and your belongings.

Window Protection Options
Impact resistant windows usually consist of a clear plastic-like film sandwiched between two specially-treated pieces of glass, giving the window greater strength than glass alone.
Equally important as the strength of the glass is the strength of the window's frame. An impact-resistant window is tested as a unit that includes the glass, the frame, as well as the attachment hardware and the installation method. Impact-resistant windows should always be installed following the manufacturer's recommendations.
Permanent shutter types and styles include Bahamas, electric roll-downs, accordion, and Colonial. Choosing a shutter style can be based on several criteria including home location in relation to the coast, and the cost and ease of operation. Ease of operation is critical. If shutters cover windows on upper floors or hard-to-reach locations, they should be operable from the inside. Roll down shutters are often the easiest to operate in these conditions.
Newer options for window protection include fabric screen and see through plastic products. Again, whatever you choose, always use products that have been tested to one of these standards and have been designated as such through a recognized product approval system or evaluation report: SBCCI SSTD 12; ASTM E 1886 and ASTM E 1996; or Miami-Dade Protocols PA 201, PA 202, and PA 203

The nonprofit Federal Alliance for Safe Homes, Inc. (FLASH) is an award-winning coalition of government agencies, professional associations and private industry committed to strengthening homes, safeguarding families, and protecting economic well-being by promoting disaster preparedness and mitigation. Based in Tallahassee, Fla., FLASH, is the nation's fastest-growing disaster-preparedness education organization. To learn more about FLASH and access free resources and referrals please visit www.flash.org to view our interactive shutter tool or call toll-free 877-221-SAFE.