Hurricane Advice

[ThAnswr]

I just want to pass along this bit of advice to anyone in Frances's path.

One of the problems we had with Charley was windows literally exploding inwards which caused massive damage to the home, and in a few tragic cases, to individuals.

When a hurricane strikes, it causes the pressure to drop dramatically. The difference between the outdoor pressure and the pressure in the house is what caused many windows to explode.

A word of advice to those who do not have storm shutters or boards over their windows. During the storm, open a window, a few inches, on the other side of the house from where the wind is hitting. This equalizes the pressure somewhat.

When Charley hit, our windows in the garage broke from flying debris and our garage side door flew open. This may've saved our home.

I just wanted to pass this along.

And, please, be careful out there.

Prayers and PD to all.

 

[snuggles]

Thanks for the advice. I had never thought of opening the windows. Hopefully we won't get the full brunt of Frances, but if she goes into the Gulf, we will get enough of her.

 

[mum4jenn]

Hi Snuggles...was wondering about you!!!!

It is so pretty here today it is hard to imagine that by tomorrow our weather will be so different. I will keep the window thing in mind...thanks

 

[ah1126]

Thanks for the tip! I am in the Florida panhandle and if the storm makes it in the the gulf i will be needing the advice.

 

[snuggles]

Thanks for thinking of me Mum!

ah1126 you are from one of my favorite places! Lets hope Frances dies out and we all just get rain.

 

[JimB.]

A scientist from the NHC said on TV yesterday that opening your windows a few inches was absolutely the WRONG thing to do.

Once you give the wind ANY opening into your house, the consequences can be catstrophic. The wind will enter your house and immediately find the weakest way OUT of your house, which is usually through your ceiling (because it is only sheetrock) and then through the attic and roof.

The "pressure" is not from a DIFFERENCE in atmospheric pressure from inside/outside of your house, it is due to the wind load PRESSING on the glass, just as if you were outside pushing on the glass with your hands.

The key to safety in this case is to cover your windows with wood, shutters, etc to keep the wind OFF your windows. This also keeps debris from penetrating your windows which also gives the wind an opening.

 

[Tigger&Tink]

For years and Years they have told us to crack a window on the OTHER side of the storm.....then came ANDREW and all that changed,,,we were told to NOT open anything...Now they are saying the same with FRANCES (OH if I NEVER hear that name again lol) I have shutters on all my windows and the garage door (LOST my house in ANDREW--it had ply wood on it),,and THANK GOD we did not get the direct hit,,we are down in HOMESTEAD,,but I am so so worried for my good friends in TITUSVILLE and ORLANDO (HOLD ON MICKEY AND MINNIE , and the GANG),,,


STAY SAFE EVERY ONE---and now can we say IVAN__AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH


Tink

 

[MAGICinMYHEART]

JimB,is correct, you where in fact lucky that you didn't lose your roof, when your garage door was breached. So instead of that saving your house, very good construction saved your house.

 

[Dan Murphy]

We USED to hear that also for tornadoes, now the thinking is different, keep them closed they tell us. Same with location in house, we used to be told to go to SW corner of lowest level in house, now we are told to go to central most location on lowest level, preferably under a staircase, or bathroom (a bit more reinforcing there with piping in walls/floors), if possible.

 

[Poohbear123]

DO NOT OPEN ANY WINDOWS PLEASE!!!! YOU WILL LOSE YOUR HOME!!!!

 

[ThAnswr]

Originally posted by MAGICinMYHEART
JimB,is correct, you where in fact lucky that you didn't lose your roof, when your garage door was breached. So instead of that saving your house, very good construction saved your house.

Trust me, good construction is not what comes to mind. This house is almost 20 years old and was one of those slapped together with spit and chewing gum during the building boom.

What truthfully saved this house was a metal roof, a very narrow and short storm, and plenty of "there but for the grace of God".

It is still amazing to me that we came through a category 4 hurricane, in our own home, relatively intact.

I can only go by what I saw. Our windows didn't explode and 145 mile per hour sustained winds with gusts over 175, were hitting them. Whatever happened that day worked out to be a lucky set of circumstances.

Anyway, stay safe in the storm.

 

[Talking Hands]

DO NOT OPEN YOUR WINDOWS! According to the National Hurricane Center this is the worst thing to do. The wind pressure broke those windows not a difference of pressure between inside and out. I've lived in Florida for 30 years and heard this old wives tale many times and it just isn't true.

 

[mum4jenn]

well.....we will only be getting winds 20-40 mph here so either way I dont think I really need to worry about which advice is correct. The rain is what truly has me concerned. Back in 94 we suffered a 500 year flood due to Tropacal Storm Alberto stalling over us and dumping so much rain. If the same thing happens our area will be flooded again. Thankfully we sold out to FEMA so we dont live in a flood prone area anymore but we will be stuck where we cant cross any bridges to go to work.

Right now it is still so unpredictable as to where it is eventually going to go related to GA there is no telling...we had the same predictions for Charley and never got a drop of rain.

 

[Ted and Holly]

If the rapidly dropping air atmospheric pressure outside is what caused the windows to break, they would be OUT. Assuming the pressure inside it higher.

Good luck finding a house more than a few years old that is air tight enough for the pressure inside and out to be more than a couple mb different.

Ted