An under-discussed aspect of extreme weather events is the severe damage that accompanying storm winds can cause to both your land and your property.
Hurricanes are massive storms that can span hundreds of miles and bring sustained winds of over 74 mph. These wind speeds are powerful enough to uproot trees, damage buildings, and cause widespread power outages.
Additionally, hurricanes can also generate a storm surge, which is a large wall of water that can inundate coastal areas. The combination of high winds and a storm surge can be devastating, and it is one of the reasons that hurricanes are such a major threat.
As the hurricane approaches land, the winds begin to increase, which can cause the storm surge to grow larger. If the storm surge occurs along with a high tide, it can result in even more destruction to nearby municipalities.
Why Learning About Hurricanes is Important in Florida
Hurricane season in Florida runs from June 1st to November 30th. And while the Sunshine State is no stranger to these tropical storms, they can still cause serious damage. That’s why it’s important for Floridians to educate themselves about hurricanes and how to prepare for them.
Hurricanes are classified according to their wind speed, with Category 1 being the weakest and Category 5 being the strongest. While even a Category 1 hurricane can cause significant damage, it is the higher categories that pose the greatest threat.
A battery-operated radio is one of the most important items you can have in your hurricane preparedness kit, as it will allow you to stay informed about weather conditions and updates from officials. Other items you should consider packing include non-perishable food, water, first-aid supplies, a flashlight, and extra batteries. Of course, preparation is only part of the equation. Once a hurricane has been identified as a potential threat, it is important to monitor its progress and be ready to evacuate if necessary.
Remember, your safety is always the priority. By educating yourself about hurricanes and taking steps to prepare for them, you can help ensure that you and your family remain safe during hurricane season and that your home is properly protected.
A major aspect of hurricane preparedness is also understanding the types of winds that your local area may experience during a period of storm activity. This can also help you determine how to best protect various parts of your home to minimize or prevent damage to the exterior or interior.
At a high enough speed, wind can uproot trees, destroy mobile homes and even rip the rooftops off of structures. The following are 3 specific kinds of damaging winds that you should know about if you live in an area prone to extreme weather events:
1. Straight-line Winds: A Straight-line wind is wind that is moving in a linear pattern, instead of in a circular fashion (like a tornado). Most thunderstorms feature straight-line types of winds, and these are often the biggest cause of damage to land and properties during storms, as this wind pattern can cover hundreds of miles, leaving a massive path of damage and destruction in its wake.
Because straight-line winds blow in a single direction, they can build up tremendous speed and force, which can easily tear roofs off of homes and cause other structural damage. They can also create powerful storms known as downbursts, which can produce flash flooding and tornadoes.
One way to protect against straight-line winds is to install hurricane-rated windows and doors on your home’s bottom level. Their superior sealing technology will help to resist the force of elevated water levels and will also provide a sturdier barrier against low-flying debris that are launched by these winds.
2. Gust Front Winds: When warm thunderstorm air meets air that has already been cooled by rain, it creates a form of damaging wind known as a Gust Front. Gust Fronts are typified by a shift in wind direction, strong gusts of wind and a pronounced drop in outside temperature. These winds can pick up speed and strength extremely quickly, and as a result, they can cause significant damage to properties that are not adequately anchored to the ground, like mobile homes.
3. Derechos: A Derecho is actually an event during a windstorm in which a large swath of land is hit by strong winds over a long period of time. Derechos are actually made up of other, smaller wind events, like microbursts and downbursts, which are powerful alone but become even more threatening when combined together to make a Derecho. Fast-moving thunderstorms are a hallmark of Derechos, but these windstorms are major weather events in and of themselves.
Florida is particularly vulnerable to these storms, which often occur during the summer months. Homeowners can take steps to protect their property from Derecho damage by trimming trees and shrubs, installing hurricane shutters, and securing loose objects in their yards. Added protection from hurricane windows and doors can also prevent any objects that are loose from shattering these openings and leaving them vulnerable to wind and water.
Protect Your Home Against These Types of Winds with Hurricane Windows and Doors
While these 3 types of damaging winds are created by different meteorological factors, the end result of all of them can be severe property damage, injury and loss of life. If you live in an area where storms and wind events are common, we recommend installing hurricane-proof windows and doors, which offer protection from much more than just hurricanes. Trust us – you’ll be glad you did.
At Paradise Exteriors, we are the proud exclusive installers of Paradise Platinum, Gold, and Silver Series hurricane windows and doors for all of South Florida. With a wide range of customer-friendly financing and warranty options, you can pay less now while enjoying the long-term benefits of enhanced hurricane protection.
To learn more, contact us for a free estimate.