Tuesday Tips-The Top 3 Hurricane Protection Myths

Last week I felt like I should cover disaster safety on The Mom Maven. Then on Thursday I found myself in Walmart during a fire, where I was reminded that we need to take responsibility for our own personal safety and that of our family. Today we will look at the Top 3 Hurricane Myths-and Why Believing Them Could be Dangerous. Again, this article come from The Institute for Business & Home Safety.

THE TOP THREE HURRICANE PROTECTION MYTHS
And why believing them can be dangerous

Gearing up for hurricane season can often mean well-intentioned friends and relatives will provide you with their own tips and advice.

The Institute for Business & Home Safety wants to help residents in vulnerable states avoid some potentially dangerous ideas, by identifying The Top Three Hurricane Protection Myths.

1. Open the windows so the air pressure doesn’t explode the house.

This would not only be unsafe for you and your home, but it would also allow wind-driven rain to stream through your house and ruin belongings.  The normal leakage of air around windows and doors will tend to keep the pressure in your house slightly lower than the atmospheric pressure caused by the storm outside.  The greatest danger comes when a large window or door fails on a wall facing the wind.  The key is keeping all wind and water out with proper opening protection.

2. You only need to protect the openings facing the ocean or gulf.

Because hurricanes are a moving, rotating storm, winds can come from any direction, which can change rapidly if you are near the eye. Your best bet is to protect windows and doors on all sides of your home.

3. You should tape windows with a big “X.”

Taping glass does nothing to address the main point of protection – keeping the glass in its frame and securely attached to the home.

Remember – never lean or push against a window or door that is being blown inward by wind pressure.  And no matter what kind of glass you have, stay away from all windows during a severe storm.

The Institute for Business & Home Safety works to reduce the social and economic effects of natural disasters and other property losses by conducting research and advocating improved construction, maintenance and preparation practices.