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South Florida unprepared for another hurricane
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A recent poll conducted by Mason-Dixon Polling & Research and funded by the NHSI surveyed 1,100 adults in Atlantic and Gulf Coast states in May 2009 and found despite an active hurricane season in 2008, and more of the same predicted for 2009, most residents simply don’t feel vulnerable to another major storm. The lessons of the hurricane seasons of 2004 and 2005 in Miami have already been forgotten: debris–littered streets, weeks without electricity in some areas, boarded up and shuttered store fronts and homes, office buildings missing walls of glass windows. Hurricane seasons that started June 1 seemed to last forever. .JPG)
A whopping 83 percent of those just surveyed said they have not taken any steps in the past year to make their homes stronger. Some 66 percent have no hurricane survival kit (flashlight, batteries, first aid supplies, and radio are essential), and more than half of those polled said they did not plan to leave home if a major storm was approaching or would only evacuate if ordered by local officials.
Ron Sachs with the National Hurricane Survival Initiative (NHSI) says his organization provides information on the steps home owners should take to be prepared, but the warnings are frequently ignored. The National Oceanic & Atmospheric Association (NOAA) predicts the 2009 hurricane season will be near normal this year with a 70 percent chance of having nine to 14 named tropical storms, including four to seven hurricanes. As many as three of the storms are expected to be major category 3, 4 or 5 hurricanes on a scale where 1 has the lowest and 5 the highest mph winds.
“Technology advances have significantly improved the way we measure and track storms; therefore, residents have far more warning about impending storm dangers,” according to Patrick Irons, director for business development of the International Hurricane Research Center (IHRA). “These warnings are being underutilized by many coastal residents.”
Recession hindering hurricane preparation
What nobody except the Associated Press seems to have reported is that its economic analysis of foreclosure, bankruptcy and unemployment rates in more than 3,000 US counties, a statistic the AP reports in a monthly Economic Stress Index, shows that some of the areas most likely get hit by a hurricane have also been the hardest hit by the recession.
If you are short on cash or credit, you can visit a Home Depot or Lowes almost anywhere in South Florida and find the checkout lines are also short, and there is plenty of space in the parking lot. The good news is you will also find bargain prices on many hurricane home protection supplies and that helps make your short funding go further.
If you aren’t big on DYI projects, you’ll find the companies that install the hurricane window films and shutters are also well-stocked and offering the best pricing in years. One way to find a reliable merchant is to go to the manufacturer’s websites (www.3M.com, www.alutech.com , etc.) and look for a list of authorized dealers who are certified to install its products, or look for dealer websites at search engines like Yahoo or Google. The best dealers will give you quotes for free and manufacturer’s warranties on the products they sell.
Be careful with window film installers and quotes. For starters, the film needs to be properly anchored to the frame with either a mechanical device or a special adhesive for maximum effectiveness. If you are quoted a cut-rate price, make sure it includes the anchoring material and labor. Most manufacturers advise professional installation and 3M won’t warrant safety and security film products unless installed by a certified personnel. If you get confused by the different jargon sales people sometimes use when talking about their products, you can check out the International Window Film Association (IWFA) website www.iwfa.org. The IWFA sets international standards for these products.
If you have any questions about what to expect from a hurricane window film vs. hurricane shutters or impact glass, please post it to Examiner.com using the form on this page, and watch for your answer in 3-5 days.
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