UF/IFAS
Okeechobee County Extension ServiceUF/IFAS
Okeechobee County Extension Service
458 Highway 98 North
Okeechobee, FL 34972-2578
Phone: (863) 763-6469
E- mail: dfculbert@ifas.ufl.edu
June 9, 2004
Feature Article - for release the week of June 13, 2004
Dan Culbert - Extension Horticulture Agent
TOP TEN HOME PREPARATION TIPS FOR HURRICANES
Top hurricane experts say the 2004 Atlantic hurricane
season will likely have an above normal level of activity.
The outlook calls for the potential of 12-15 tropical storms, with 6-8
becoming hurricanes, and 2-4 of these becoming major
(category 3 or higher) hurricanes. Are you ready?
Today’s column will offer ten tips on how to prepare your home from the
punishing winds that can come from these storms. Much of today's column is
adapted from a press release compiled by Wendy Fontaine of the Institute for
Business and Home Safety.
During a hurricane, high winds and rising water may damage or destroy homes.
Debris can break windows and doors, allowing high winds inside the home.
In extreme storms, such as Hurricane Andrew, the force of the wind alone can
cause weak places in your home to fail. After Andrew, experts examined
homes that had failed and ones that had survived. They found four areas
that should be checked for weakness-the roof, windows, doors, and if you have
one, garage door.
1) Reinforce your garage door. This is one of the most
vulnerable areas of a house, and once the garage door goes, the roof could
quickly follow. Install permanent wood or metal stiffeners, or an
impact-resistant door that can withstand strong winds. Double-wide
(two-car) garage doors can pose a problem because they wobble as the high winds
blow and can pull out of their tracks or collapse from wind pressure.
Consider retrofit kits, stronger hardware, or even
replacement with more strongly constructed materials.
2) Glue your roof down. According to the IBHS,
this is an inexpensive way to strengthen your roof. If you have access in
your attic to the underside of your roof, apply construction-grade glue along
where the plywood sheathing sits on the rafters or trusses. Another way is
to inspect your roof trusses to see if hurricane straps have been installed.
These are strips of galvanized metal that are wrapped around the ends of trusses
and securely fastened to the walls; they help keep the roof fastened to the
walls in high winds. They can be
hard to install by yourself , and if they are absent, a contractor will
probably be needed.
3) Connections, coverings and codes count.
If you are replacing your roof, make sure your contractor removes
coverings down to the bare wood (sheathing). Confirm that the rafters and
trusses are securely connected to the walls. Refasten existing wood
according to proper building code requirements. In addition to the traditional felt paper layer, seal roof
joints with a self-stick asphalt tape to protect from water damage.
Choose a roof covering that will resist high winds.
4) Protect your windows. Install shutters or impact resistant
windows. There are many different
kinds of hurricane shutters to fit every budget. And if you are handy,
there are plans available from organizations such as the American
Plywood Association on how to build your own shutters.
If you choose plywood storm shutters, make sure they are a minimum of
7/16" thick. In past hurricanes, returning homeowners have noticed
their temporary plywood shutters blown off because they were not adequately
fastened.
5) Soften-up your landscape. Which would you
prefer flying around during a serious hurricane - gravel & rock or organic
mulches such as eucalyptus or shredded bark. Are there tree limbs that are weak
or damaged - do they overhang vulnerable parts of your house?
However do avoid "hat racking" trees or "hurricane cutting"
palms, as it reduces the long-term health of your plants. Contact our
office for details on proper pruning techniques. And, promptly remove
trimmings from your property, well before a storm approaches.
6) Reinforce. Double-entry doors should be secured by heavy-duty
head and foot bolts. For double doors, at least one should be secured at
both the top and the floor with sturdy sliding bolts. Many bolts that come with double doors are not strong enough
to withstand high winds. Your local hardware supplier or door manufacturers can
supply reinforcing bolt kits made specifically for their doors.
7) Be secure. Make sure porches and carports are properly attached to
the house. Winds can push up underneath, and take off roof areas that will open
up the rest of the house to high wind entry points. Correcting these
construction mistakes may involve hiring a contractor.
8) Got gables? Brace them. Gabled roofs take a beating during a
hurricane. They can be easily braced with anchored beams perpendicular to the
truss. Gable bracing often consists of 2"x 4"s placed in an
"X" pattern at both ends of the attic. If your end gables do not
appear to be braced, use a licensed contractor to install bracing.
9) Know what to move. Outdoor furniture, garbage cans, yard ornaments,
etc., should be stored so they don't become deadly missiles and end up in your
living room. Fuel tanks should be securely anchored to the floor.
Larger propane tanks are the property of the propane company - written
permission will be needed to anchor them.
10) Make plans. Establish a point of contact for family and
friends. Make a list of survival supplies (batteries, water, canned goods and
medicine), and replenish now while
they are readily available. Buying
needed supplies before hurricane season helps you avoid supply issues and long
lines. If you take photos or videos of the inside of your house, also
include the outside as well to assist in case of an insurance claim.
If you're building or remodeling a home, there are many other ways to protect
your property that are not addressed in this checklist. For
more information, talk to a professional home builder, architect, contractor or
building supply retailer. Check with the county building department for permit
requirements and building code regulations.
If you need additional information on hurricane preparations, visit our website http://okeechobee.ifas.ufl.edu
or stop by our office at 458 Hwy 98 North in Okeechobee. Our phone number is 863-763-6469, and you can email us at okeechobee@ifas.ufl.edu
-30-
REFERENCES:
UF/IFAS Extension Service's Disaster Handbook publications are available on-line at: http://disaster.ifas.ufl.edu/
Protect
Your Home Against Hurricane Damage, and
A checklist for Manufactured Homes
are both available from the Institute for Business and Home Safety. http://www.ibhs.org/.
Hurricane Shutter Designs, a series of
designs for plywood shutters. Each design is available from the APA - The
Engineered Wood Association for $1, or you can download all five designs
from their web site at no cost: http://www.apawood.org/level_b.cfm?content=app_res_hurshut1
The UF/IFAS St. Lucie County Extension Service has a Regional Windstorm Damage
Mitigation Training and Demonstration Center (a.k.a. The
Hurricane House). It is located in
Fort Pierce. Information is available at: http://stlucie.ifas.ufl.edu/Hurricane%20House/wind.html
Trade
names, where used, are given for the purpose of providing specific information.
They do not constitute an endorsement or guarantee of products named, nor
does it imply criticism of products not named. The Florida Cooperative Extension Service - Institute
of Food and Agricultural Sciences is an equal opportunity/affirmative action
employer authorized to provide research, educational information, and other
services to individuals and institutions that function without regard to race,
color, sex, age, handicap, or national origin. Last
update: 06/10/2004
. This page is maintained by Dan
Culbert