Protect Your Shelter: How to Prevent Strong Winds From Damaging Your Home
Hurricanes, typhoons and cyclones can be terrifying. If you're wondering what the difference is between the three, there really isn't any difference. They are just called different names depending on where these storms originate.
Those that form in the Northwest Pacific are called typhoons while those that form in the in the Atlantic and Northeast Pacific are called hurricanes. Cyclones are the storms in the South Pacific and Indian Ocean.
While this bit of trivia is interesting, as a prepper there is only one thing you need to know, which is that these storms wreak havoc! They can be so damaging and dangerous that people may need to evacuate the affected areas.
Very often, this can lead to massive traffic jams and even a shortage of fuel. The recent Hurricane Irma is a good example of this. People were stuck for hours in traffic and some had to wait a long time to get gas for their vehicles, and they are considered the lucky ones.
There were thousands of other people who could not evacuate. Either they didn't have the means to leave or they had nowhere to go. It is an unfortunate predicament but a very possible one. In this article, you'll learn how to minimize wind damage to your home.
While the tips below will not tell you how to cope with flooding that may occur, they'll help keep you safe in your house during the strong winds. The damage from these winds can be massive and when objects everywhere are becoming flying projectiles, you absolutely must know what to do to protect your home and yourself.
* Duct tape all glass windows, doors, etc.
Ideally, you should have storm shutters that you can use those to cover your glass windows and doors. But if you don't, you can use duct tape as an alternative.
Stick long strips of heavy duty duct tape across your windows and glass doors in the shape of an asterisk. In the event the glass shatters, shards will not be sent flying around because the duct tape will be binding the bits of glass to each other.
* Roofing and shingles secured
Make sure that your roof sheathing is securely nailed to the house so that the entire roof is not ripped off during a strong storm. The shingles on your roof need to be well-fitted and securely attached or theyíll all be dislodged and turned into flying projectiles.
* Close your garage doors
The garage doors should be closed and strongly secured.
* Remove unsecured objects
If you have lawn furniture, garden decorations, trash bins, toys, etc. outside your home, you need to remove all of them and store them indoors. A strong storm may pick up all these loose objects and send them flying right through your windows. The goal here is to reduce the possibility of projectiles striking your home.
* Your pool
If you have a swimming pool, do NOT drain it or cover it. If you use a pool cover, a projectile thatís flung on it will totally rip the cover. The water in the swimming pool gives the whole pool weight and this will keep it in place.
During a storm that lasts for days, the ground will become saturated and when pressure builds up, it can dislodge the foundations of an empty pool or even pop it out of the ground. So, keeping your pool filled will prevent this from happening. There is no need to worry about an overflowing pool if you have good drainage.
* Trees
Prune all trees close to your home or chop them down till theyíre just a stump. Trees cause a lot of damage during storms because the huge branches fly off and crash into anything and everything.
* Cracks
Seal cracks in your walls so that heat doesnít escape from your house and the strong winds will not cause interior damage.
Just by following the tips above, your home will be much less likely to get damaged during a hurricane or any storm for that matter. It goes without saying that thorough and early preparation makes its own luck.
You do not want to be in a position where you can't leave but you're also not sure about the structural integrity of your home. Ensure that your home is in good order before a storm looms over the horizon.
Eric Dempsey
Master Sergeant, US Army Retired
ILRRPS Survival with Resistance to Interrogation Course Graduate
