| Every year, people along the East and Gulf | | | | more concerned with wind than water. Because |
| Coasts watch weather forecasts and track | | | | of this, their houses need to have roofs that |
| hurricanes and tropical storms in an effort to be | | | | aren't just nailed to the walls. The roof is an |
| prepared for a hurricane headed their way. With | | | | integral part of a home's defense against storms. |
| June 1st and the official Hurricane Season quickly | | | | When the roof goes, the rest of the house is left |
| approaching, it is a good idea to develop a plan. A | | | | much more vulnerable to the wind and rain. To |
| better way of preparing for Hurricane Season | | | | combat the wind's ability to yank off roofs, it is |
| involves building a hurricane resistant or proof | | | | important to anchor the roof securely to the walls |
| house. Many things can be done during | | | | of the house, if not the foundation. The better |
| construction to reduce or minimize the damage a | | | | anchored a roof is, the less damage to the |
| hurricane will do to a home. | | | | remainder of the house there will be. |
| One of the most common problems for people | | | | Garages, windows, and doors are the weakest |
| living near the coast is the storm surge. The | | | | points on a home. They are most susceptible to |
| storm surge is the higher than normal tide which | | | | breaking which allows everything in the house. |
| arrives with a hurricane and inflicts a large amount | | | | Because of this, there are special requirements |
| of damage before the worst of the storm | | | | for windows in areas that are prone to hurricanes. |
| arrives. These surges can literally batter a building | | | | Windows in homes that are commonly hit by |
| to pieces, on top of flooding any other buildings | | | | hurricanes such as all of Florida should be tested |
| that don't happen to collapse due to the force of | | | | to withstand 150 mph winds. In addition, they |
| the waves. Buildings near the coast should be built | | | | need to be fitted with shatter-proof glass, multiple |
| on high ground. If there isn't any, as is the case in | | | | panes, or Impact Glass. These can all be used in |
| many beach areas, houses should be built on | | | | combination with each other. In addition, they |
| pilings. These pilings need to be extremely sturdy. | | | | need to be anchored to the home in a more |
| Another tactic that is useful is constructing the | | | | secure manner. Hurricane Shutters, steel shutters |
| ground floor walls of materials that will disintegrate | | | | that go over windows, might be an excellent |
| completely when hit by large amounts of water. | | | | investment. |
| While this will result in any possessions on the | | | | Doors that open to the exterior of a house need |
| ground floor being washed away or ruined, the | | | | to open outwards. Doors that open inwards can |
| remainder of the house will be in much better | | | | easily be blown in which allows for wind to rush in |
| condition. The lack of walls allows the water to | | | | and collapse the entire home. Doors that open |
| rush through without resistance. | | | | outwards, while not being wind-proof, stand a |
| People living away from the coast are usually | | | | much better chance of not being blown in. |