Home Modifications to Withstand Hurricanes

In recent years, both the number of hurricanes and their average severity have increased. Once a storm hits land, structures at the site of landfall are vulnerable. That does not mean homeowners are helpless, however. With some basic modifications, homes can withstand hurricane force winds much more readily than they could have otherwise.

Storm shutters

One of the most common modifications to protect a home against the forces of hurricane winds, as well as the associated driving rain and flying debris, is the now-standard procedure of installing hurricane shutters on the windows of newly-constructed homes in hurricane prone areas. Installing storm shutters on older homes is also a priority. If such modifications are not possible, temporarily covering windows and doors with plywood is an acceptable solution.

Roof retrofits

Roof modification is also common, both in new construction and in retrofits. Typically, roofs in hurricane prone areas do not feature gables or steep peaks. Instead, much shallower angled roofs, or hip roofs, present less of a target for winds or debris. In the case of mobile homes, the units are generally anchored to the ground, either with bolts or large straps.

Stilts and berms

In low lying areas close to coasts or rivers, storm surges are common, and thus special measures are required to protect homes from storm surges. The first, commonly seen along barrier islands, is to build homes on stilts, which sit a yard or two above sea level. For existing construction, another strategy is to build berms or mounds between the home and the most likely origin of a surge. When a storm is imminent, sandbags are used to reinforce the berms against oncoming water.

While rendering your home completely "hurricane proof" is simply not possible, it is nevertheless relatively simple to take a number of steps to at least make your home much more resistant to most major storms using these and a number of other methods.