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Tips for Protecting Your Home Against a Hurricane

Tips for Protecting Your Florida Home Against a Hurricane

Hurricanes are one of the most destructive phenomena on earth. We’ve all seen reports of entire communities ravaged by these storms, and some of us have had the misfortune of experiencing them first-hand. Although meteorologists and weather experts emphasize the importance of being prepared for hurricanes, needless damage and fatalities occur every year because their advice is not heeded. If you live in a hurricane-prone area, follow the valuable tips in our hurricane protection guide. In the event of a storm, it could save you thousands of dollars in damage and, more importantly, the lives of you and your family.

In this guide, we will go over:

What Is a Hurricane? 

Hurricanes — also known as cyclones in the northern Indian Ocean and typhoons in the western Pacific — are massive, rotating tropical storms with wind speeds exceeding 74 miles per hour. They form in the Atlantic Ocean and eastern Pacific and often make landfall on the East Coast of the United States. In the Atlantic Ocean, an average of five to six hurricanes occur annually, most commonly from the middle of August to the end of October.

if a tropical storm has wind speeds that reach 74 mph, it is considered a hurricane

Hurricanes in Florida

An average of 1.75 hurricanes hit the East Coast of the U.S. every year, and Florida has been a victim more often than any other state. Since 1851, Florida has suffered 117 of these destructive storms — which is 40 percent of all the hurricanes that have made landfall in this country.

This statistic is not surprising to most. Florida juts out from the continent and is surrounded by warm waters where hurricanes thrive. But other factors make the state particularly vulnerable to these disasters.

Florida has suffered 40% of all of the hurricanes that make landfall in the US

For one, Florida is low lying. Miami-Dade County rises an average of just 6 feet above sea level, and Miami Beach is even lower. This means that few areas are safe from storm surge flooding, and rising sea levels are only making Florida more susceptible. The state has no mountains whatsoever, a geographic feature which causes hurricanes to rapidly dissipate.

The rock underneath South Florida also presents a problem. It’s made of porous limestone, which means that water can go from one place to another very easily, making sea barriers of little use in the state.

Hurricane protection in Florida is an important issue and Floridians must take extra measures to fortify their homes and stay safe.

Hurricane Safety Tips

To protect yourself and your home from a hurricane, you can do many things before the storm strikes:

1. Protect your windows

Covering your windows is one of the most important steps in preventing hurricane damage. A shattered window can lead to much more destruction, as it allows rain, wind and flying debris to enter the rest of your house. To reduce the likelihood of your windows breaking, board them up with storm shutters or plywood. Plywood is the more affordable of the two, and if installed correctly, it can resist high winds just as well as storm shutters.

Although some choose to tape their windows, this can actually be more hazardous because it provides the opportunity for larger and more dangerous pieces of glass to enter.

Another option is impact-resistant windows. These windows are similar to windshields in that they do not shatter completely but rather crack into spiderweb patterns.

2. Secure your garage and entry doors

Doors, along with windows, are the weakest areas of your home during a hurricane. Garage doors are particularly vulnerable for two reasons — they are built with relatively weak materials, and they are wide. Although they are built with light materials to save money and make them easier to raise and lower, this makes them easy for hurricanes to destroy.

One option to prevent garage door damage is to reinforce it with a garage door bracing kit. These kits cost several hundred dollars for double garage doors and include braces and hardware. You may be able to install it yourself if you have the right tools.

Benefits of hurricane-resistant garage doors

Another better option might be to install a new, hurricane-resistant door. This is actually required in some hurricane-prone areas like Palm Beach County, Broward County and Miami-Dade County in Florida, where codes require that door must withstand winds of 150 miles per hour. There are two types:

  • Impact-resistant garage doors, which are made to withstand objects colliding with them.
  • Hurricane-proof doors, which include a twist-resistant framework, reinforcing hurricane struts fastened to the inside surface of the door and a heavy gauge steel track system.

To secure entry doors to your house, here are a few steps you can take:

  • Inspect your exterior door: Look closely at all the doors on the outside of your home to see if they’re missing any hinge screws. If your door isn’t screwed in properly, hurricane winds can buckle them.
  • Install a one-inch deadbolt: This will help to make your door stronger — and it protects against burglaries, as well.
  • Protect with plywood: Attach plywood over your doors with nails or screws. These boards should overlap the entire frame of the door by at least eight inches.

View Windcode-Rated Garage Door Styles

You can also replace your doors with impact-rated doors that are designed to protect against hurricane-force winds and flying debris.

3. Fasten loose objects outside

Objects outside your house that are not secured can become projectile and deadly when carried by hurricane-force winds and could damage your property. Make sure to pick up or tie down any object that could be carried by high winds. Picking up lawn furniture and trimming limbs — especially those hanging over your house or power lines — are good ideas. Even small structures like tool sheds and barns are at risk of blowing away, so make sure to secure them as well if at all possible. You should also inspect the roof of your home and make sure your galvanized sheeting is properly fastened.

4. Reduce the risk of flood damage

Flooding is a common natural disaster and can happen anywhere, but the chances of flood damage go up immensely during a hurricane, which is often accompanied by torrential rainfall and storm surge.

Use sandbags to prevent flooding during a hurricane

The most effective way to defend your home from flooding is by using sandbags. The bags should be piled up at least two feet high to effectively keep out the floodwaters.

As a hurricane approaches, people will often line up and wait for hours to get sandbags. If you cannot obtain sandbags on short notice, an effective alternative is heavy-duty garbage bags filled one-third with water and placed side by side.

Other good ideas include parking your car on high ground before flooding occurs and unplugging all household appliances to prevent potential electrocution if water were to come into your home.

Getting your home and car insured against flood damage will also help you out financially if flooding does occur.

5. Prepare electrical devices for power outages

The power voltage of your home can surge to hundreds or thousands of volts during a lightning strike. Although it lasts only a millisecond, it can seriously damage expensive kitchen appliances. While unplugging is an option that may work for some appliances, buying a surge protector may be a more practical option for items like your refrigerator — as unplugging it will likely cause your food to spoil.

6. Prepare your fridge and freezer

Your refrigerator and freezer should be turned to the coldest setting available and you should only open them when you need to. In a power outage, your food will last longer this way. Put a thermometer in the kitchen so you can know the temperature of the food when power is restored.

7. Make an inventory of your home 

When trying to recover your belongings after a storm, it helps to know exactly what items you had in your house. By simply taking photos of the contents in each room, you won’t have to rely on your memory.

Writing down the item number or serial number for large appliances or valuable items will also come in handy when filing claims with your insurer. Some insurance companies facilitate this process by offering free home inventory apps.

8. Make a disaster kit

Stockpile essential items before the storm, including three days’ worth of water and food, especially food that requires little preparation. You should also have flashlights, batteries, a first-aid kit, cell phones, back up chargers, garbage bags, a manual can opener, pliers and any necessary medications. Your valuable documents should also be protected in a waterproof container.

9. Inspect emergency cooking facilities

Ensure that emergency cooking facilities like coal stoves are working properly, as they may be necessary if the power and gas lines are severed. Make sure to have some kerosene and coal on hand. Coal can be kept dry by wrapping it in a plastic bag.

10. Have an evacuation plan

If your house is near the coast or in an area prone to flooding, you may be required to evacuate. You should familiarize yourself with your evacuation route and make arrangements to stay with friends or family who live in a safer place. If you have no one who can house you, staying in a shelter is another option. If you must go to a shelter, listen to the news for announcements of shelter openings.

Tips for During the Hurricane

When the hurricane strikes, stay indoors unless absolutely necessary. During strong winds, you risk being hit by flying objects, and children could be blown away. Some other hurricane safety tips include:

  • Use flashlights, not candles: Candles can easily be knocked over during the storm.
  • Stay in a secure room: If the house appears to be breaking up, seek refuge under a table or stand in a strong closet. 
  • If away from home, stay put: If you are not at home when the hurricane hits, stay where you are. Many have been killed trying to get from one place to another. 
  • Don’t drive through the floodwater: All it takes is 6 inches of rapidly moving water to knock you over, and just 2 feet can carry away your car. 
  • Don’t touch the floodwater: It may be contaminated with sewage or other hazardous materials. 
  • Avoid low areas: It’s a good idea to stay away from low areas that are subject to flooding, such as underpasses, dips and canyons.
  • Stay inside during the eye: When the eye of the storm passes over your area, do not be tempted to go outside as the storm will return shortly.

Tips for After the Hurricane 

More deaths and injuries occur after the storm than during it. This is often because people are anxious to go outside to inspect the damage and may disregard important safety precautions. For this reason, it is best to remain in your home until an official “all clear” has been announced. Some other valuable tips include:

  • Look out for debris: Hurricanes create a variety of hazardous debris including broken glass, fallen power lines and road signs. Be careful when sorting through the destruction to assess the damage. 
  • Avoid electrocution: Stay away from fallen wires and puddles with electrical wires in or near them. Anything that comes in contact with a power line, including trees, should not be touched. If you see a downed power line or any other hazardous situation, report it to the police or utility companies immediately. 
  • Handle power outages with caution: When residents and businesses lose power after a storm, they often rely on generators for electricity. Although power generators are useful, they can also start fires, damage your electrical equipment and cause injury or death. Before you use a generator, you should understand the risks involved and learn how to operate one safely.
  • Limit phone calls to emergencies: During disasters, phone lines are often busy, so if you just want to communicate with family and friends, use text messaging or social media instead. 
  • Confirm that safe drinking water has been restored: Before dumping your stored water, make sure the tap water has been restored and is safe to drink. If you run out of stored water in the meantime, boil your tap water.

Tips for after the hurricane

Contact The Doorman for Wind and Impact-Rated Garage Door Installation or Repair

The Doorman of Southeast Florida would like to help you protect your home — and the loved ones who live inside — by securing one of your house’s weakest, most vulnerable areas — the garage door. We are authorized dealers of Clopay® garage doors, which are widely recognized as the leading garage door brand in the country. We also carry a complete line of Therma Tru and Plastpro entry doors.

If you live in Broward County or South Palm Beach County up through West Palm Beach, visit our showroom to find the perfect garage door or entry door for your home. We’re located at 940 Clint Moore Road in Boca Raton, Fla. and are open 8:00 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Friday and 9:00 a.m. on Saturday.

All our garage doors are both Wind and Impact Rated and feature attractive designs that will increase the curb appeal of your home. They’re even energy efficient, which will make cooling your home less expensive.

We offer a garage door tune-up for just $39.95, free estimates and quotes and a variety of deals and specials. You can reach us by phone at 561.600.9606 or via our online contact form.

Request A Windcode-Rated Garage Door Estimate

Related Posts

When Should You Replace Your Garage Door?
How to Protect Yourself From Insurance and Repair Scams After a Hurricane
How to Find Your Garage Door’s WindCode® Rating in South Florida
Tips for Avoiding Garage Door Scams in Florida


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    Tami Fiorito
    Tami Fiorito
    11:51 19 May 22
    The best! They came out and repaired my garage door within 3 hours of calling them, with parts and labor I was charged... $55! Same day service and totally reasonable fee! When does that ever happen? For once, the unforeseen stumbling blocks that life throws in ones path that usually turns into disaster, stress and a huge financial hit; thanks to The Doorman, turned into an insignificant bump in the road.read more
    Sil Bee
    Sil Bee
    21:19 14 May 22
    I needed a new garage door opener. I called them and Andre was sent out. Super nice and friendly guy. He explained... everything and was thorough. I would hire this company again!read more
    Jeff Templer
    Jeff Templer
    17:08 13 May 22
    Had a broken spring in my large garage door. Called these guys, who quoted me $400 to $500. When the technician... showed up he said it would be $1300. I sent him away, and called the well known guys from Pompano who fixed it (replaced both springs) for $550.read more
    Candace Young
    Candace Young
    23:00 19 Apr 22
    Today we had a issue with the garage door and we were told to call this place....they happen to have a cancellation and... was able to show up...the fact that they did within the hour was great...we had a terrific man miquel who explained to us that the system we had was old which we knew and how the new units are easier to use and repair.we were thrilled with the installation and very happy with the new system...read more
    Linda Nardone
    Linda Nardone
    21:19 25 Jan 22
    This company is great. My spring broke trapping our cars inside at 1pm. Called the office and a service man was here by... 3pm and replaced the springs and got us back up and running. Joanne in the office is a doll and Julio the tech was friendly, knowledgeable and fast with the repair. Highly recommend for any garage door needs.read more
    Sarah Attaway
    Sarah Attaway
    15:31 08 Dec 19
    The absolute best. They came out on a Saturday and were able to fix my garage door in less time than it took for me to... tell my neighbor what was wrong with it when she saw them working on it. Fixed the problem, programmed a new remote, and fixed the outside keypad all for less than the other companies wanted just to show up to and give an estimate. I can't say enough good things about these guys. They are reliable, more than fair priced, and warranty their work for a year. 100000% would refer them to all of my clients, neighbors, and friends. Thank you to Julio and Eric!!read more
    Jenna Grange
    Jenna Grange
    14:23 30 Oct 19
    My garage door spring snapped this morning and I called the Doorman and spoke with Jim the owner who was very nice and... able to send someone out within 30 minutes of me calling. Eric came out gave me a quick estimate, had what he needed on the truck and had my springs replaced and door back up and running within about 30 minutes. He also made a few minor tweaks to my door to ensure it’s running great. Amazing company with fair and honest pricing. I highly recommend them and would definitely use them again. Thanks Eric!read more
    Vitali L
    Vitali L
    23:17 22 Oct 19
    Extremely prompt service! I called around noon and at 2pm i had a new garage door opener installed! Very good price... and prompt professional service! Thank you!read more
    HOWARD DEICHERT
    HOWARD DEICHERT
    17:05 08 Oct 19
    Fantastic company....the only garage door company you would want to use. Very professional and friendly and will go the... extra mile to make sure things are take care of. Jim Is the BEST!read more
    Gina Podolan
    Gina Podolan
    02:15 04 Jul 19
    I did my homework and found The Doorman to replace my old garage door with a hurricane proof new one. They promptly... replied to my emails and explained the details, which were many, and came out for an estimate which was reasonable as compared to other bigger vendors. Jim and Keith did not try to oversell me and helped me choose the best door in my budget. They custom built my door to specs and took care of all the permits which was great. Keep in mind it did take a few weeks to make the door, so order in enough time for delivery you want. Best part was Cory who installed my new door very professionally and very friendly too and did an amazing job! I was not very excited about buying this; however, now I am very pleased and love how quiet and smooth it runs and also looks clean. Worth every penny and will call them if service is needed as they were very prompt and courteous. Happy customer!read more
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