Hurricane Helpers

HURRICANE HELPERS

As I write this, Hurricane Gustav is wrapping up its tantrum along Louisiana’s coast and Hanna’s gearing up tob-slap Floridaand the Carolinas. Ike, I’m told, isn’t too far behind her, though we don’t know where he’ll strike. If you live in a hurricane zone, here are some strategies to strengthen your home, prepare your family and increase your chances of coming through a storm with less — if any — damage.

NEW CONSTRUCTION RESOURCE

If you’re planning on building a home, consider reinforced concrete construction.This building method is extremely energy-efficient, as well as being able to withstand wind and earthquake forces.An excellent book on the topic is PreFabulous by Sheri Koones.In its well-illustrated pages, Koones not only shows how great prefab homes can look, but describes the different options, including concrete construction, in depth, with a resource section at the end.The National Association of Home BuildersConcrete Home Building Councilis another great resource.

REMODELING RESOURCES

Windows

If you’re planning to remodel your home, consider impact-resistant glass for doors and windows.According to one of my sources, Roger Hutson, a trainer for Home Depot in Tampa, Fl., Windows are now available to withstand the wind pressures of hurricane force winds.With the addition of IMPACT glass, the windows will protect the home from flying debris without the added time and effort needed to install shutters.New windows can also improve your home’s energy-efficiency, if you opt for those with low-emissivity (or low-e) glass.

Garage Doors

Garage doors, especially wide double doors and older doors, are another vulnerable point in a storm.Home Depot, (and likely other sources, as well), carry new hurricane-approved garage door systems that are worth considering.

Entry Doors

Entry doors especially those handsome double door sets are also vulnerability points.There are new door systems on the market that are Florida-approved and worth considering for your home’s safety.Doors older than five years may not be designed or installed to withstand the forces of a hurricane,Hutson says.

An interim step could be changing your in-swing double door set to out-swing, as this gives an extra measure of protection in a major wind storm, according to the millworks trainer.

GENERATORS

Many hurricane zone residents purchase generators to power their homes or businesses during an electrical outage.Here is some safety advice on their use from the American Red Cross.If you’re the owner of a generator, or considering purchasing one, please read this short page of information first!Your family’s or employeeslives may depend on it!

http://www.redcross.org/services/disaster/0,1082,0_565_,00.html

HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS

I’m not going to reinvent the wheel.Smarter folks who have lived here longer than I have put together top-notch hurricane preparedness lists.Here’s a short one for your consideration from our local newspaper, The Tampa Tribune:

http://hurricane.weathercenter.com/MGBGS2Y0J8E.html

The Trib also covered some intriguing new emergency gadgetsyou might want to consider:

http://www2.tbo.com/content/2008/apr/16/160012/na-new-wave-of-gadgets-comes-with-hurricane-season/

One of the most important ways you can prepare yourself and your family is by having an Emergency Plan prepared.The Red Cross has put together a Podcast on how to do this.

http://americanredcrosspodcast.files.wordpress.com/2007/06/brcr2plan.mp3

FINAL THOUGHTS

If any of Hurricane Season 2008′s storms create the level of damage that Charley, Katrina, Wilma and so many other storms before have, please be generous.The American Red Cross will put your donations to great use, helping our fellow Americans survive the aftermath.

http://american.redcross.org/site/PageServer?pagename=ntld_main

I was a volunteer in Los Angeles after the ’92 riots and ’94 earthquake and saw firsthand the great work this organization does.

Jamie Goldberg, AKBD, is an NKBA-certified, independent kitchen and bath designer with a specialization in Universal/Aging-in-Place Design. She can be reached at (813) 810-0467, jamie@jgkitchens.com or through her website at www.jgkitchens.com. You can also read more of Jamie’s articles on bath and kitchen design at her new blog, Gold Notes.