 |
 |
 |
| HP HOME |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
||
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
The deadly, destructive 2004 hurricane season becomes a more distant memory with the passing of each year—especially with the relatively calm years we’ve experienced lately. This comes as good news for homeowners and many others who would prefer never again to live through a season like that with four hurricanes making landfall in the United States. In many important ways, nothing has changed since then. Yes, as just stated, we’ve been through relatively calm hurricane seasons lately, but that doesn’t matter. The need to be prepared, the need to supply homeowners with life- and property-saving storm protection has not changed a bit. There is a saying in this industry that never should be used flippantly because it’s so deadly serious: “It only takes one.” Once again, in its pre-season outlook the Colorado State University tropical storm forecast team expects a “somewhat more” active hurricane season in 2008 (see page 20). Does that mean the seven hurricanes it expects actually will develop? No. Does that mean the 60 percent chance of a hurricane making landfall along the U.S. coast actually will happen? No. But it does mean the odds are in favor of those occurrences, and it serves to remind us that every year there is a very real possibility that destructive winds, rain and water will threaten lives and homes and that we can never let down our guard. Hurricane protection is an available, proven necessity regardless of what has happened the last few years. The difficulty may well be to get homeowners to understand that. After several low-risk seasons, the memory of a hurricane’s destruction begins to fade and adding, replacing or upgrading storm protection can become a decision that’s put off in favor of other purchases. That is a serious mistake. The hurricane protection industry, however, is not alone in its efforts to keep safety top of mind. There are state and local governments, building commissions, insurance companies and home builders and contractors that also support the need to be prepared. This February, the International Builders’ Show again makes Orlando, FL, its home. During what many in the housing industry expect to be a dire year hurricane protection should take the lead and be more prominent than ever. The forces Mother Nature can bring to bear haven’t changed. Howard Shingle and Kerri Caldwell
|
|
|
|
|
|
HP Home | Magazine | Conference | Subscribe | Media Kit | Contact | Industry Links Copy © 2007
Hurricane Protection magazine |
