As September tropical storms loom, when should you put up hurricane shutters?
Hurricane season means a lot of things. Making sure your hurricane emergency kit and supplies are all rounded up and in a safe place, preparing for the possibility of having to file an insurance claim after a storm and putting up hurricane shutters if you have them.
Protecting your windows from hurricane-force winds, like the 125 miles per hour winds Hurricane Idalia battered Keaton Beach with last week, is not as easy as taping the glass. Seriously, don’t put tape on your windows. It can actually make your windows more dangerous if they break in a storm.
Here’s a breakdown of when you should put up and take down hurricane shutters, the best way to protect your windows from breaking in a major storm.
When should I put up my hurricane shutters?
According to the National Hurricane Center, you should put up your hurricane shutters when a hurricane watch is announced for the area where you live.
A hurricane watch is issued “when a tropical cyclone containing winds of at least 74 MPH poses a possible threat, generally within 48 hours,” according to FEMA.
When a hurricane watch has been issued, you should start the process of covering windows with shutters or plywood 48 hours before the storm is anticipated to arrive.
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What wind speed should you put hurricane shutters up for?
According to the National Weather Service’s guide to wind speed, wind speeds of over 75 miles per hour can lift roofs and break windows. This means that for any storm with wind speeds above 75 miles per hour, your windows should be protected.
Can you leave hurricane shutters up all year?
It might be tempting to leave your hurricane shutters up throughout hurricane season or even all year to avoid the work of frequently deploying them for every major storm. But leaving your hurricane shutters up for an extended period of time can be dangerous and costly.
Regulations may vary by city, but most Florida municipalities require you to take your hurricane shutters down from 14 to 30 days after a named storm passes.
Hurricane shutters make your home less safe in the event of a fire. If there were to be a fire, it would be difficult for you to get out of your home and for firefighters to enter if your windows aren’t accessible. Having to remove hurricane shutters would be a huge deterrent, especially if lives are at stake.
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Should you put hurricane shutters up for a tropical storm?
According to the National Hurricane Center, tropical storm-force winds can get up to 73 miles per hour.
It’s safe to say that any named storm that will impact your area calls for window protection.
How big was Hurricane Idalia? The storm's size at landfall
What can I use if I don’t have hurricane shutters?
If you don’t want to commit to hurricane shutters for your home, there are some other options. The cheapest option is to board up your windows with a quality plywood.
A more expensive and long-term alternative would be investing in impact windows, or hurricane windows, which are built to withstand hurricane-force winds.
Lianna Norman covers trending news in Palm Beach County for The Palm Beach Post. You can reach her at lnorman@pbpost.com. You can follow her reporting on social media @LiannaNorman on X.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Florida hurricane season: When to put up, take down hurricane shutters
