Pre Storm Preparations
Are you ready for Hurricane Season?
 
Plan
 

a. When a hurricane threatens, will you…..

  • Ride out the hurricane in your home?
  • Leave the area for a safer place inland?
  • Go to a designated shelter?
b. Plan an escape route in case you need to evacuate
 
Prepare
 
  • Listen for weather information
  • Medical prescriptions should be filled and packed to go
  • Make sure there is gas in your automobile
  • Obtain cash for your use following the storm
  • Pack a survival kit
  • Gather important papers, including policy renewal identification
  • Create a photographic record of your property
  • Be prepared to cover windows and doors
  • Review your escape plan
 
Protect
 
When a hurricane warning is issued:
 
  • Move garbage cans, awnings and items which could become wind-borne to inside your home or garage.
  • Place protective covering over windows and garage doors. Use hurricane shutters, pre-cut plywood or laminated glass.
  • Garage or store vehicles
  • Moor boats securely or place inside a building.
  • Shut off water, electricity or gas
  • If you live in a manufactured home, check tie-downs.
 
If you are not ordered to evacuate be sure to:
  • Stay indoors away from windows and glass doors
  • Put as many walls between you and the storm as possible
 
If you leave:
 
  • Lock doors and windows before you go.
  • Take along your survival kit and other supplies.
  • Let friends and relatives know where you plan to be.
  • Go directly to a shelter, as directed by local authorities.

 

 

 

 

Miami-Dade County approval process:

Impact Test:


The High Velocity Hurricane Zone section of Florida Building Code requires that every exterior opening - residential or commercial - be provided with protection against wind-borne debris caused by hurricanes. Such protection could either be shutters or impact-resistant products. There are two types of impact-resistant products: large-missile resistant and small-missile resistant.


Here’s how the Miami-Dade County product approval process works:

  • Windows and doors are sent to an approved lab where they are tested for air and water leakage, structural pressure, forced entry and impact resistance.
  • Two impacts are conducted on each window and three on each door. (Two out of three windows also gets a structural impact.)
  • Then with no repairs or adjustments, the impacted windows are subjected to 9,000 cycles of positive and negative wind loads to certify that the product can still survive hurricane-force winds.
  • This entire process is videotaped.
  • The videotape, test report, drawings and accompanying engineering data are submitted to Miami-Dade Building Code Compliance Office, Product Control Divisions, for review by a licensed engineer.
  • After approval, a recommendation is sent to the Building Code and Product Review Committee for final approval and a Notice of Acceptance is issued.

Source: The Miami-Dade Building Code Compliance Office