Preparedness Principle: Harden Your Home
By: Source: AARP.org Date Posted: 2006-05-03 11:42:10
Who: Kay Sherman, 61
Where: St. Petersburg, Florida
Hit by What Storm: Not Applicable
What Happened: Sherman has lived in the same home for years and always prepares her house when hurricanes are predicted to hit her area. When Ivan was coming, Sherman's neighbors offered to help her attach makeshift plywood shutters.
"I have many generous neighbors who offer to help me, but I want to be able to put shutters up on my own time," Sherman said. "They will be busy preparing their own homes before a hurricane."
It Got Better When: Sherman decided to purchase aluminum panel shutters to protect her windows.
She said, "I had plywood before and I couldn't manage it myself. I don't want to impose on someone to help me with it. I want to be able to do it myself."
She chose her shutters because they stack easily, are light and take up very little storage room. Sherman said the shutters give her peace of mind, but they were not cheap—the final total was around $5000.
"I hope it is something I invested money in that I never have to use," she added.
Words to weigh: "Before you buy, shop around a lot," Sherman said. "There are many new products coming out. Also, make sure you buy them far enough ahead of time. I had to wait at least two or three months after I signed my contract before the shutters were installed."
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