To View The Video of This Topic, click here: 2010 Hurricane Preparedness Satellite Media Tour with Brad Staggs

Hurricane Season runs from June 1 – November 30, and is predicted to be an above average Hurricane Season.  Colorado State University predicts 44% chance in the gulf (above the average 30%) with 8 major hurricanes and 15 named storms.  The key to preventing death and injury and limiting property damage is preparedness and heeding instructions from local officials.

The National Hurricane Center recommends Developing a Family Plan:

-          Know the hazards that could effect your family and your home’s vulnerability to storm surge, flooding, and wind

-          Locate the safest room in your home for each hazard

-          Determine escape routes / plan where to meet (10s of miles NOT hundreds)

-          Determine an out-of-state contact so all family members have a central point of contact

-          Post emergency numbers by phones and make sure children know how to use them

-          Check your insurance coverage before the storm

Here are a few tips for securing your home before the storm comes:

-          The most important precaution you can take to reduce wind damage to your home and property is to protect the areas where wind (and then water) can enter your home.

-          To do this you need to inspect and reinforce these areas windows and doors, roofs, and garage doors.

Windows:

Before the storm comes, you might want to consider upgrading to impact-resistant windows and doors. According to the National Hurricane Center, “Although these products look no different than standard windows and doors, they offer significantly more protection from wind-borne debris. In fact, these systems are capable of resisting impacts from large objects. For this reason, temporary shutters do not need to be installed before a storm strikes. In general, the frame and glazing work together to protect your home from both the elements and the significant internal pressure changes which lead to structural damage. While large wind-borne debris may crack the impact resistant glass during the course of the storm, the window is designed to retain its integrity and not break apart. Should either the frame or glass be damaged, it can be repaired at your convenience after the storm has passed.”

StormBreaker Plus windows from Simonton offer this kind of protection.  The insulating glass unit features impact-resistant glass, which is designed to resist strong winds and penetration from windborne debris.    Storm shutters are not needed once these windows are installed.  In addition, they offer superior energy efficiency benefits, especially when created to be ENERGY STAR® qualified glass packages.  For more information on these windows, go to www.simonton.com.

According to the National Hurricane Center:  (standard roof) “Shingles are usually not designed to resist hurricane force winds”.  But Hanson Concrete Roof Tiles are not just standard shingles.  They have been tested to provide longer life, durability, and protection for high wind climates than alternative products, and provides better resistance to damage in high wind scenarios.   To learn more about this product, go to: www.hansonrooftile.com.

Properly managing water on your property can save you from long-term, costly problems.  Replacing non-permeable surfaces with permeable pavers, such as permeable interlocking concrete pavers, reduces surface water runoff by allowing the water to pass through the pavement surface.  For more information on AquaPave Permeable Pavers, go to:  www.hansonhardscapes.com.

Garage doors are the largest entry to your home, so special attention should be paid to them.  The National Hurricane Center says this about garage doors, “Because of their width, double-wide garage doors are more susceptible to wind damage than single doors. Unless you have a tested hurricane-resistant door, the wind may force it out of the roller track”.  Overhead Door makes Hurricane resistant doors in a variety of styles and price ranges. In addition to a reinforced garage door, an impact resistant window system further defends your home.  Overhead Door’s feature a window system that is rated for large missile impact resistance. A garage door does not have to look industrial to be heavy strength.  Windload and other safety options are available on almost all styles of doors.  For more information, visit: www.overheaddoor.com.

Generators can be very important during storms, and during storm cleanup.  But the KOHLER home generator has made a breakthrough in the industry in design and performance.  The are standby generators, not portable generators, and they provide solid performance with a faster response time, and clean, quiet power.  The high power range of these new generators permit homeowners to run powerful household items such as heating and cooling systems, sump pumps, sophisticated electronics, major appliances, and other lifestyle-sustaining equipment. The new KOHLER home generators can be fueled by natural gas or propane, thereby eliminating fuel spillage or evaporative emissions, while producing significantly less ozone forming emissions as compared to gasoline or diesel models.  For more information, go to: www.kohlerpower.com.

Other Hurricane Tips:

Create a Disaster Supply Kit for staying in your home or taking with you if you evacuate:

Your kit should include:

-          Water – 1 gallon daily per person for 3 -7 days

-          Food – including non-electric can opener

-          Blankets / Pillows

-          Clothing – especially rain gear

-          First Aid Kit / prescription medicines

-          Toiletries

-          Flashlight and batteries

-          Weather radio

-          Fully charged cell phone with extra batteries

-          Cash (be sure to have some small bills) / credit cards

-          Keys

-          Important documents in a waterproof container

-          Tools

-          Pet Care Items

-          Toys / specialty items for children

-          Specialty items for elderly

Plan in advance where you will go if you evacuate.  If you can’t stay with a friend of family member, make reservations at a hotel before you leave, and check to see if they will take pets (many don’t).  Take your disaster supply kit with you, and remember to fill up the car with gas.

Prepare for your pets!  Make sure they are current on vaccinations and that you have proof of the shots.  Also, find out in advance what shelters will take pets.  Make sure you have a picture in case you are separated, and consider getting an identification chip for your pet.  Have the proper sized carrier on hand in case of evacuation.

Click here to view the video.

Simonton Windows produces ENERGY STAR? qualified replacement and new construction windows and doors, including a line of impact-resistant products. Founded in 1946, Simonton’s hallmark has been to deliver its made-to-order products in five days or less. Part of the home and hardware division of Fortune Brands, Inc. (NYSE: FO), Simonton delivers award-winning products nationwide to key markets throughout the 48 continental United States. For information, call (800) SIMONTON or visit www.simonton.com.

DaVinci Roofscapes has manufactured award-winning synthetic slate and shake roofing since 1999. The polymer roofing tiles are virtually maintenance free and far more cost effective than the natural product. DaVinci leads the industry in tile thickness, the tile width variety and the greatest selection of subtle earth-toned colors. Company products have a 50-year warranty and are 100 percent recyclable. DaVinci proudly makes its products in America and is a member of the National Association of Home Builders, the Cool Roof Rating Council and the U.S. Green Building Council. For additional information call 1-800-328-4624 or visit www.davinciroofscapes.com.

Kohler Power Systems produces home standby generators from 8.5 to 125 kilowatts, to automatically restore power to a home in a matter of seconds if utility power fails, keeping essential systems like heating or air conditioning, appliances and lights up and running. KOHLER generators provide quiet and clean power, safe enough to run even the most sensitive electronics such as plasma TVs, computers and security systems. For more information on Kohler generators or to locate one of the 500+ KOHLER dealers nationwide, visit www.KohlerSmartPower.com.

Hurricane Preparedness 2009:  Are You Ready?

• Hurricane Season runs from June 1^st through November 30^th.
• 3 major Weather Research Centers are predicting as many as 13-14 named storms in 2009 with 2 – 8 of them becoming major Hurricanes.

Before the Storm Comes – Preparations for Family:

• Develop and practice a family emergency plan.
• Create a disaster supply kit for the home and a separate one to take in case you must evacuate.
• For your “stay at home” emergency kit include flashlights, batteries, tarps, duct tape, non-perishable foods and water for the entire family and pets. Don’t forget a battery operated radio, disposable camera, medicines and critical paperwork.
• You can often keep fresh drinking water in your tub.  WaterBob offers a clean, plastic bladder that holds up to 100 gallons.  For more information go to:  www.waterbob.com.
• For your “evacuation” emergency kit, include the following in a watertight container: prescription and over-the-counter medicines, important papers (i.e. passports, birth certificates, copies of insurance papers and wills, health insurance paperwork, pictures of furnishings, listing of medications, policies, deeds, stocks and bonds, titles to cars), checkbooks, record of all bank numbers, inventory of valuable household goods, address book with contact information for doctors, insurance agents and relatives, safety deposit box keys, evacuation map of area.
• Make sure your homeowner policy is updated and includes flood insurance.

Preparing Your Home for Common Types of Storm Damage:

• There are four key “Force Intrusions Areas” of the home that are most affected by hurricanes … roof, windows, entry doors and garage doors.
• Severe winds can compromise any of these areas with tragic results.

Protection Your Windows:

The biggest cause of devastation during a hurricane is the ability of wind to enter a structure through a broken door or window. This causes a build-up of pressure inside the structure that can literally blow out the roof and walls.

Impact-resistant Simonton StormBreaker Plus windows and patio doors are Miami Dade County code-approved to withstand flying debris during brutal storms.  They work 24/7, without the need for unattractive shuttering systems or time-consuming boarding up of windows and doors. Now available with Energy Tax Credit Glass Package to qualify homeowners for up to $1,500 tax credit savings from the U.S. government when installing in 2009 and 2010.

Protecting Your Roofing:

During a hurricane, your roof will be under constant force from the wind, and few roofing materials can withstand this kind of assault without sustaining some sort of damage.

Impact-resistant DaVinci synthetic slate and shake style roofing tiles resist both straight line winds and pressurized winds during hurricane situations, keeping the roof intact and protecting against severe impact from flying debris.  They have achieved Miami Dade and Florida Building Code acceptance, meaning they can be installed in wind zone areas reaching 150mph — the top range of a category 4 hurricane. Many coastal residents can lower homeowners insurance costs with these roofs.

Get a Standby Generator to Protect Your Home:

Kohler Standby Generators start up automatically when the utility power fails, whether you are home or not.  It connects to your natural gas or propane line and can run valuable appliances like your sump pump, refrigerator, even garage door opener.  A standby generator will provide backup power for several days, and no messy refueling is needed.

Additional Home Securing Tips as time allows:

Safeguarding Your Home:

• Secure all loose objects (such as lawn furniture, garbage cans and planters) that can become flying missiles when hurricane winds intensify.
• Turn off your gas, water and electricity before evacuating.
• Tape over and seal all soffit vents and roof vents to prevent wind-driven rain from splashing into the vents and flooding the attic.
• Add bracing to the interior of garage doors to reinforce them against wind damage.
• For “after storm” cleanup, have the following items available: tarps, duct tape, heavy work gloves, gas cans, batteries, chain saws, shovels, rakes, water filters, cleaning supplies, first aid kits and extra strength large garbage bags.
• Trim tree limbs near or touching the home.

Evacuation Tips:

• Fuel your car before the storm arrives.
• Fill bathtubs and sinks with water.
• Review your evacuation route.
• Get cash in case you must evacuate.
• Have a battery-powered NOAA weather radio available.
• Make sure all family members wear closed-toe shoes or sneakers.
• Make arrangements to board or evacuate pets. Take shot records, rabies certificates and tags and vet information.