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Tampa, FL – As the 2001 Hurricane Season gets underway, the Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) encourages residents in hurricane-prone regions to be prepared. Before a storm threatens, take these steps to protect yourself, your home and property:
Install impact-resistant windows or shutters that protect against flying debris.
Make sure doors have at least three hinges and a dead bolt lock at least one inch long. Double doors need special attention because of stress on the center latch. Make sure door frames are securely anchored to house frames.
Garage doors are highly susceptible to wind damage. A qualified inspector can determine if both the door and the track system can resist high winds. Install permanent wood or metal stiffeners.
If you are replacing your roof, make sure your contractor removes coverings down to the bare wood sheathing. Confirm rafters and trusses are securely connected to the walls. Refasten existing sheathing according to proper building code requirements for high-wind regions. Use a heavier felt roofing paper, secured with sufficient fasteners, to increase protection from water damage, and install a roof covering designed to resist high winds.
When a storm approaches, IBHS says the three crucial steps to take are:
Clean your yard, removing anything that will become a flying missile, including lawn furniture, garbage cans, dead tree limbs and broken fencing.
Protect your windows. If you have not installed impact resistant windows or shutters, cover windows with securely fastened plywood storm shutters (minimum of 7/16” thick). Buying needed supplies before hurricane season helps you avoid supply issues and long lines.
Reinforce your garage door. Temporary center supports can be attached when severe weather threatens. Acquire these at the start of hurricane season from home improvement centers or the manufacturer’s technical staff.
Free single copies of the IBHS booklets Is Your Home Protected From Hurricane Disaster? A Homeowner’s Guide to Hurricane Retrofit (available in Spanish and English), and Protect Your Home Against Hurricane Damage, are available by calling IBHS toll-free at 1(866) 657-IBHS (4247), or by visiting the new IBHS hurricane web site www.disastersafety.org.
The Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) is a national, non-profit initiative of the insurance industry, based in Tampa, Florida. The mission of the research and communications organization is to reduce deaths, injuries, property damage, economic losses and human suffering caused by natural disasters.
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