Preparing Your Home for a Hurricane

Hurricanes can inflict quite a bit of property damage.  The combination of raging winds and heavy rains can make your home crumble, destroying a life's worth of treasured possessions.

You must strengthen your home to withstand hurricane conditions.   In preparing your house you should first protect its structure: exterior walls, doors, windows, and the roof.  If you spend time reinforcing each part of the structure, you've take the first step in protecting your family and possessions.  

First, check to make sure that your roof is suited to withstand hurricane conditions.  Flat or hip roofs handle storm winds best while gable end roofs are the least flexible.  In either case, securing the roof to the exterior walls is a priority.  Rafters and roof trusses should be securely tied to walls with metal hurricane connectors to withstand the lifting effect of high winds.  Special connectors are available for securing roofs to masonry exterior walls. Check with construction professionals or building officials for guidance on which materials are best for your roof.  Arrange for an inspection if you think your roof isn't stable enough.

Doors block damaging winds from entering your home; make sure both the hinges and the bolts are securely attached.  If you are uncertain which bolt system is best for your particular door, check with a local building supply store.  Doors with windows need to be secured to prevent shattered glass.  In addition to inspecting bolts and hinges, the windows should be boarded over.  Garage doors are particularly vulnerable to winds because of their width, which is ideal for fitting your vehicle in but is too wide to effectively block hurricane force winds.  Certain types of garage doors may be retrofitted to withstand high winds.  Consult with hardware stores for information and necessary materials.

Windows cannot withstand hurricane conditions; high winds will break the windows and send shards of glass flying everywhere.  Prevent your windows from breaking by boarding them up with 1/2 inch plywood boards or hurricane shutters.  Don't forget to cover your skylights as well, if you have any.

Finally, the exterior of your home needs specific preparations to face a hurricane.  When possible, dismantle any antennas and satellite dishes on the outside of your house and bring them indoors.  Prune and trim dead branches from your trees so you're trees won't resist the wind as much; this reduces the risk of uprooting.  Clear out your yard of such items as trash cans, hanging plants, and lawn furniture.  Hurricane winds will turn these items into deadly missiles.

Mobile homes are extremely susceptible to damage from hurricanes.  The best protection for stabilizing a mobile home is to anchor it with over-the-top ties or braces.   Remove and store all your pictures and mirrors from the walls, and secure your loose possessions within your home. 

Although a hurricane can cause significant damage, you can prepare your home with a little effort.  Make sure the structure of your home is sound and fitted with the appropriate features to withstand hurricane conditions.  By preparing your property in advance, you can rest a little easier when the storm does hit.