Stormy Thoughts

It may seem a bit early to talk about hurricanes, considering the official season doesn’t begin until next month, but it’s already a discussion topic. Last week during Glass Fabrication in Vegas several presentations touched on the subject and just today I was assigned two articles relating to hurricane glazing. Next, a Google search brought me to this link: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/04/09/tech/main4004068.shtml?source=RSSattr=U.S._4004068, which says we can all expect a stormy 2008 season with at least 15 named Atlantic storms projected. Speaking of hurricane names, here’s a look at what the NOAA is calling this year’s batch: Arthur; Bertha; Cristobal; Dolly; Edouard; Fay; Gustav; Hanna; Ike; Josephine; Kyle; Laura; Marco; Nana; Omar; Paloma; Rene; Sally; Teddy; Vicky; and Wilfred.

I know lots of people who’ve lived through major hurricanes. It’s not easy, I know. I was living in Raleigh, N.C. in 1996 when hurricane Fran pounded the coast, even making it’s way north and across the center of the state. The storm was downgraded to a tropical depression by the time it passed over Raleigh, but it still resulted in massive damage and flooding. I was lucky enough to be without power for only three days; there were others without it for nearly two weeks. In the days immediately following the storm, stores were closed, restaurants were closed, there was no ice and no water.

If you’re not familiar with exactly where Raleigh is located, it’s a good two hours drive time inland from the beach. It just goes to show, you don’t have to be in a coastal location to be affected by a hurricane, as the impact can be far-reaching.

We’ve certainly seen the use of impact-resistant windows in use along the coast as code requirements are continuing to evolve. One of my favorite HGTV programs is “My House is Worth What?” If you’ve never seen it, it’s a show where homeowners have a real estate agent come to their house to determine for how much they could list it, should they want to sell. They do a walk through and look at the features, the upgrades, the good and the bad. For example, a house with only one bathroom isn’t going to be big with home buyers, but a giant, luxurious master suite can add serious value. With the homes in South Florida, one thing I hear a lot is that the homeowners upgraded their windows to ones that are hurricane resistant and the real estate expert always, always, always says that doing so is a huge plus.

Everyone always learns from his or her experiences. It would be interesting to hear what you have learned from your own hurricane experiences. Feel free to share your thoughts here.