Home Safety Zone - Shutters

Shutters

One of the most unbelievable things about the last, and worst, hurricane season was how prepared many of us thought we were! How many times did we have to hear people on the news saying that they were not going to evacuate (when they were advised to do so) or that they were not going to put up their hurricane shutters (which they were also advised to do). Most of them stated the reason being that they had been in that area for so many years and they had always walked away from it, so why should this time be any different? But, different it was, and many people were very sorry indeed that they had not heeded the advice of the local authorities and put up their shutters.

Heed the Warnings, People!

No one had a good enough excuse for not preparing for hurricane safety. How can we possibly gauge the effects of a hurricane before it comes. Sure we know where it is headed and the intensity as they watch it. But, both of these things can change rapidly with hurricanes - it is the nature of that beast. One is never like the other, but each has the potential for disastrous effects on communities and infrastructure. Just because we made it through one or two in the past does not have any bearing whatsoever on any future hurricane. Many people that did not prepare properly for the 2005 hurricanes regretted it as the winds and rain swept past and into their homes with deafening force. It is frightening enough to be in the grips of a hurricane, but when you know that there is only glass between your family and 140 mph winds - it is worse, much worse. That's why putting up hurricane shutters is so important. It gives you that extra layer of protection.

Hopefully all of us have learned our lesson about weather safety and the importance of preparedness in the face of such powerful storms. The last season taught many of us that we do need to fend for ourselves for a few days after the storm. We need to better prepare in advance so that we do not have the flood of cars on the streets waiting in long lines for gas (as if they had somewhere to go), this really impedes the workers and relief organizations from doing their job, it also saps resources that we will need more later on. Each of us should have the provisions necessary for at least three days without power, water, and electricity - now we know what can happen.

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