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And why believing them can be dangerous
Tampa – Gearing up for Atlantic hurricane season, which officially begins June 1st, can often mean well-intentioned friends and relatives will provide you with their own tips and advice.
In recognition of National Hurricane Preparedness Week, 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.
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