Hurricane straps
Hurricane straps, clips and anchor belts help keep a home's roof from blowing off in high winds. In a correct setup, galvanized straps securely attach the roof to the walls and the foundation, creating a rigid support system and continuous load path where the roof is tied into the entire house. Whereas most homes are built relying on gravity and downward pressure, roofs typically aren't designed to withstand the upward and lateral pressure of high hurricane winds.
Cost: Hurricane straps are usually sold in boxes of 100 units or in coils and can run as little as fifty cents each. A typical home could require hundreds of straps.
Effect on insurance: Can be significant depending on state and carrier.
Pros: When installed properly on a new home, hurricane straps drastically reduce the threat of roof failure in high winds. They are cheap and easy to install as homes are being built and are now part of the building code in many coastal areas.
Cons: Can be difficult, time-consuming and expensive to install on an existing home.
Flood barriers
Flooding remains one of the most destructive elements of a hurricane, and while there isn't much to prepare for 20-foot surges on the coast, there are products that can help protect inland residents from minor flooding. Sandbags remain the least expensive option (many counties give them away for free), but they are heavy; it would take hundreds of sandbags and lots of human help to completely surround a home. Flood barriers on the market include DoorDams, water-filled tubes, expanding bags and portable walls that can be quickly deployed in the event of a flood. It could be quite expensive to entirely surround a home and protect against a few feet of floodwater, but there are some products on the market and companies that do exactly that.
Cost: Varies depending on products and the level of protection, from a couple hundred dollars up to tens of thousands of dollars to completely surround a home.
Effect on insurance: None.
Pros: Effective in preventing minor floodwaters from entering home. Some products are easy to install and can be deployed just before a storm.
Cons: Products can be expensive and time-consuming to deploy. It will not do any good if floodwaters enter the home at other locations or rise beyond the height of the barrier.
Storm panels
Corrugated steel or aluminum shutters bolted to your windows may not look too attractive when they're up, but they are one of the best ways to protect a home from flying debris. Storm panels vary in thickness and attach to window exteriors with a system of tracks and bolts. With prefitted panels and tracks permanently installed around the house, the shutters can be attached quickly and easily with wing nuts when a storm is approaching.
Cost: Costs vary depending on thickness and vendor but typically run between $7 and $8 per square foot.
Effect on insurance: Can be significant depending on state and carrier.
Pros: One of the most inexpensive permanent shutter systems, it is strong and can protect from almost any flying debris. Can be quickly deployed and removed before and after a storm.
Cons: Requires a large spot for storage somewhere in the house or property. Depending on size of windows and stories on home, they can be difficult to handle and may require more than one person. Some shutters have sharp edges.
Roll-down hurricane shutters
With the ability to be rolled down with the push of a button or the crank of a handle, roll-down hurricane shutters are the easiest to deploy in the event of a storm. Made of double-walled aluminum slats that interlock, these shutters roll up into a narrow box that sits above the window or doorway. Available in all types of sizes and colors, they are usually custom-fitted to your home and require professional installation.
Cost: While they are the easiest and most convenient to deploy come storm time, roll-down shutters are the most expensive window defense option and average $30 to $50 per square foot.
Effect on insurance: Can be significant depending on state and carrier.
Pros: Easily raised and lowered with a crank handle or the push of a button. They also have an insulating factor and can serve other purposes besides wind protection.
Cons: Prohibitively expensive for most average homeowners. Push-button systems need a battery backup or manual override so they can be raised or lowered during a power outage. It usually requires professional installation.
Garage door braces
The Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, has identified the loss of the garage door as one of four major factors in homes damaged in Hurricane Andrew. And, the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes reports that 80 percent of residential wind damage starts with entry through the garage door. Failure of a garage door can allow the full force of hurricane winds to enter the home and compromise the roof or walls. While some newer garage doors are rated for winds of up to 150 mph, many older ones should be braced. Vertical bracing systems are typically made of aluminum and are anchored above the garage door and to the floor to provide a backbone of extra support.
Cost: Varies per manufacturer, approximately $150 to $175 per garage door brace.
Effect on insurance: Possible discount depending on state and carrier.
Pros: Effective and easy-to-brace door once initial installation is performed. Braces are relatively inexpensive. Do-it-yourselfers could probably make their own from some metal braces and a 4-foot by 4-foot piece of lumber.
Cons: May require some special tools, such as a rotor hammer and masonry bit, to drill into concrete floor. Garage door cannot be opened without removing the brace.