Hurricane proofing a home in East County

When Carol and John O'Brien saw Hurricane Charley's path travel close to home in 2004 in East County, they knew they were unprepared to weather the storm from inside their home in Riverwalk Oaks.

"I remember watching the storm on television and thinking, 'Oh my God, we're not ready,'" Carol O'Brien said. "Then, we woke up."

In 2007, the couple joined the Lakewood Ranch Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) and started equipping their home to become more hurricane safe.

Even as the peak months of hurricane season approach in September and October, the couple now feels comfortable that they could stay in their home during a Category 4 hurricane, which can reach wind speeds of 156 mph.

To date, the Ranch residents have invested nearly $20,000 in hurricane-proof equipment for their home, from film that hugs their windows and panels that cover them, to sheets of Velcro-like material that protect their patio.

CERT President Victor Kline also recommends roof tie downs and having hurricane bars for the garage doors. 

"The garage door is a large, flat surface, and hurricane-force winds bearing down on the door can easily force it in," Kline said. "If the garage door is breached, the chances of the home being seriously damaged by wind and water are dramatically increased. And, the pressure created by the force of the wind through a breached garage door may blow the roof off the home."

Although Lakewood Ranch homes aren't located in a flood zone, and homes there stand at varying heights above sea level, residents shouldn't think the weather forecast will always be clear, Lakewood Ranch CERT President Victor Kline said.

"Although we're miles from the beach and any water, that doesn't mean we can't have high intensity winds and rain or that a hurricane won't hit us," Kline added. "Get federal flood insurance, even if you are not in a flood zone. People are generally under the misconception that their home is protected from floodwaters by their homeowners' policy. But, if the water comes up from the ground, as in flood runoff, your homeowners' policy will not cover the damage. The recent rains in our area over the past week and a half are an indication, even for inland communities."

Contact Amanda Sebastiano at [email protected].

Safety features

Window films
To better protect a window and force it to shatter, rather than break, when struck by debris or gusty winds, 3m window film is an affordable option. The film is available at hardware stores, Walmart and other retailers. Pricing starts at $10.

A wind screen 
is a velcro-meets-mesh material that protects the O'Briens’ patio from the pool to sliding glass doors in the living room. The screen covers 45% of the windows in the couple’s home, and it takes two hours to unroll and put in place.

Hurricane glass
Hurricane proof glass alleviates the need for shutters, but can be a costly option. The O'Briens spent more than $4,000 on two hurricane glass windows in their bathroom.

Shutters
Lexan hurricane shutters cover windows completely, and are available in aluminum or clear. To set up the panels, screw them into holes above and below the designated window. Other installation methods are available. Cost depends on size.