Hurricane Season Is Here - Is Your Roof Ready?
The year 2011 has been predicted to be a year of frequent hurricanes in the
United States. The states that receive most of the major tropical cyclone
impacts include Louisiana, Florida, Mississippi, Texas, North Carolina and
New York. These are the states that are the most vulnerable to hurricane
devastation and it has been reported that approximately 2.1 million people
reside in these states. It is important to be well-prepared for such an event if
anyone lives in one of the aforementioned areas. A homeowner should make
sure that their roof is ready to resist the power of such strong storms.
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Hurricane awareness and preparedness is vital in the planning of what actions
are necessary to decrease the risks or hazards that may occur. Common sense
is also required when dealing with these threats. According to the Federal
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), before the onset of a tropical
cyclone, all affected residents and businesses should formulate plans to
secure their property, including the installation of straps or additional clips to
fasten the roof to its frame structure. By doing this, a homeowner can
decrease roof damage that could be caused by high winds. Reinforcing the
roof prior to the arrival of the storm can help it withstand such strong winds.
Hurricane Strapping
This method is done to provide extra support to the roof. This type of
strapping can defy winds of up to 100 miles per hour. The fastening apparatus
or strapping is made of galvanized steel and will be fixed to the trusses and
wall plates. Usually, the straps are nailed on to each truss. By putting these
straps on the roofing structure, the homeowner reduces the potential damage
of the strong winds brought by hurricanes. This type of reinforcement ensures
that both family and neighbors are protected from the possibility of a flying
roof.
House Roping
The good thing about hurricanes is that people have plenty of time to prepare
because they know approximately when the storm will arrive. This gives
homeowners ample time to securely fasten their roof. Basically, this type of
reinforcement is to fasten down the house with a rope. This is a very
inexpensive yet effective means to prevent serious damage from happening.
In order to make this work, the homeowner must ensure that the rope can
hold a 4,000-pound truck. The rope is then adhered to a concrete-filled post
hole which is installed in the ground about four feet away from the wall. The
distance is based on the principle that it is more difficult to pull out sideways
than straight up. By performing this preparation, the homeowner is nearly
guaranteed that the roof will still be there after the storm has passed.
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Hurricane preparedness is vital to decrease the damage caused by extremely
high winds. Knowing what to do before the disaster arrives is very important.
These storms do not arrive unannounced and will not just arrive
instantaneously; there are plenty of advanced warnings. Homeowners will
know when the storm is predicted to hit their area. Being prepared is a
significant factor in surviving this kind of disaster and the resulting damage
that can occur. Strapping, roping and even fish netting are only a few
examples of the types of reinforcement that can be done to resist the lifting
capacity of high winds. Being prepared when the tropical cyclone season
arrives means taking the necessary action to answer the question of: "Is your
roof ready for hurricane season?" with an affirmative answer - yes!
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