Federal Emergency Management Ageny - Against The Wind

At a glance..

In this brochure, we discuss some things you can do to help make sure your home stronger before the next hurricane strikes. You may need to make some improvements or install temporary wind protection. It is important that you do these projects now, before a hurricane threatens.

The details..

In this book excerpt by American Red Cross, readers will learn about protecting their homes from hurricane wind damage. The author highlights the importance of checking for weaknesses in four key areas - the roof, windows, doors and garage door. This is based on a study conducted after Hurricane Andrew which found these were common points of failure during extreme storms.

To make your home stronger before a hurricane strikes it's important to inspect your roof's bracing as gabled roofs are more likely to suffer damage during hurricanes. Installing additional truss bracing makes your roof's truss system much stronger. Gable end bracing consists of two-by-fours placed in an

pattern from the top center of the gable to the bottom center brace of the fourth truss.

Exterior walls, doors and windows serve as protective shells for homes against high winds caused by hurricanes; if they're broken or damaged then pressure can build up causing further destruction inside homes. Readers will find tips on strengthening double entry doors with reinforcing bolt kits made specifically for them while those with windows need additional protection using storm shutters.

Double-wide (two-car) garage doors can pose a problem during hurricanes because they wobble as high winds blow and may pull out their tracks or collapse due to wind pressure resulting in severe damages such as blown-out walls or even roofs caving-in . Building codes exist requiring certain types withstand high winds so homeowners should check with local government building officials regarding code requirements.