Are we Prepared?-

-

 Imagine a nearby possible world.  


In this world Hurricanes are not just a possibility but a foregone conclusion.

In this world we KNOW that at least one hurricane will make landfall in our region during every hurricane season. Historical data will tell us the level of damage and loss of life predicted from this Category of Hurricane. 


Would the status quo of our current world be enough to ensure the safety of our nearby world residents? Would it be enough to prevent the hundreds of millions in damages. 


The answer right now and in our current world is no in all fronts. 


Our policies cater to aesthetics more than they do safety and loss prevention. They reward those who have means while making safety a hard requirement to meet for those who don’t. 


Our systems of testing products are antiquated and don’t consider the wealth of knowledge we have gained since Hurricane Andrew decimated the SE coast of Florida.

The products industry wide are not enough to sustain larger storms especially when paired with homes that are not built to withstand larger storms. And what’s more, there is no consistency from product to product (e.g. The 55mm Rolldown from company A fails at a higher rate than the 55mm from company B.) 


When we are in the hurricane industry and we only focus on the products alone (shutters, screens, windows) we miss the larger picture, the bottom line that we are not accurately prepared as a society. 


So what can we do? 


  • The building industry and the hurricane protection development and manufacturing industry need to collaborate to develop products and systems that work as a unit. No more will the rolldown shutters fail because the substrate they were bolted to was not made to hold the pressures and forces applied to the end retention.  

  • States need to create systems that work for everyone by applying tax benefits to all forms of hurricane protection and not only the more expensive ones.  

  • Municipalities need to create programs that mirror snow removal programs and deploy teams to help install panels, lower shutters, and help with preparations in the days preceding a storm. 

  • We should have a department like the NTSB that investigates failure points after a storm and proposes changes in policies and products that will aid in loss prevention.  

  • There should be programs that focus on educating new residents on the policies, products, and systems that will help to keep them safe during hurricane season. 


We need to do better as a society to prevent loss of life and property because this Alternate possible world is not too far removed from our current world.  Taking the steps NOW benefits all. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Hello! We are Advanced Hurricane Technology

-
My parents were always visionaries. They could dream of a life where the decisions were left up to them and not dictated for them.  Through tons of hard work and equal amounts of luck they immigrated to South West Florida in the early 90's and started a company named Imagen USA as a tribute to my grandparents old shop back in Ecuador. Imagen USA focused on service and repair of Hurricane Shutters (rolldowns). The company was comprised of dad, Jaime Zabala, as the lead technician, and mom, Fernanda Zabala, as the office manager/scheduler. In time this small "mom and pop" shop grew and with that growth came a new name... Advanced Hurricane Technology.  Advanced Hurricane Technology, or AHT, is a wholesale manufacturer of quality Hurricane Protection Products from Rolldown shutters to hurricane screens and more.  We sell parts and components or we sell the finished product. We have clients throughout the Gulf Coast and the Atlantic Coast of the US, also Mexico, the Caribean,
Read more

THE BIGGEST LIE IN HURRICANE PROTECTION by: Jaime Jr. Zabala - President of AHT

-
I’ve heard realtors and salesmen say this time, and time again, “Impact windows don’t break.” I’ve heard homeowners proudly tell others that they have bulletproof glass protecting their home. Even worse, I’ve seen otherwise, reputable dealers advertise their windows as the best hurricane protection that money can buy.  The truth is that no hurricane protection is perfect. No product is going to satisfy  everyone’s needs. For some, aesthetics is the most important factor in choosing a wind abatement product. For others, it might be price, and still for others safety and security might be the top priority. No single solution will offer you all three. So let’s clarify what impact windows do, and don’t . Impact windows and doors excel at offering reasonable protection to your home while minimally impacting its aesthetic appeal. If done correctly, They can even lower your heating and cooling bills by providing a better thermal barrier. Impact windows also protect your home 24-7 / 365, where
Read more

Engineering safety first - Jaime Zabala - President of Advanced Hurricane Technology

-
Image
Advanced Hurricane Technology and its parent company Imagen USA have been on the market nearly 30 years. During this time we’ve brought nearly a dozen products to market, all designed in house and tested to meet and exceed Florida building code standards. They range from the first end retention roll down system (60mm Roll Down), to the strongest accordion (AHT Mega), and even the first hurricane zipper screen (Super span screen).The most important thing they all have in common is that they always fare well in hurricanes.  After every powerful storm we hear horror stories from homeowners and dealers alike about other hurricane shutter manufacturers.  “We will never buy so much as a screw again from company XYZ “ “So-and-so’s screen tore right up the track when we need it the most” “the slats literally tore off the wall only a few months after we installed them” What the manufactures of these failed products have in common is that they are not safety first manufacturers. They prioritized
Read more