Bracing for the Big One

New Orleans after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita

As hurricane winds pass over a roof (1), they create powerful upward-sucking forces (2). If shingles or other roofing materials are not securely attached, they will simply peel off (3), opening avenues for water to infiltrate. In the worst-case scenario, roof sheathing pulls off too, compromising the house's structural integrity while it exposes the inside to the elements.

HurricQuake nail designed to increase a roof's resistance to uplift forces by as much as 100 percent

Strengthen a gable roof by bracing the end walls, which are the most vulnerable to uplift

Run a half-inch bead of construction adhesive along each rafter or truss where it meets the plywood roof sheathing above. This will roughly triple a roof's protection against being torn off by the wind.

Hurricane straps—1-inch-wide galvanized-steel ties that extend from the stud to the top plate and over the truss or rafter—tie the roof and walls together.

Aluminum-panel storm shutters

Fabric-shield storm shutters

Colonial-style storm shutters

Roll-down storm shutters

Removable bracing system for garage door

Replace hinge screws and deadbolt locks with longer versions; add multiple-point locking systems and vertical locking pins

Brace younger trees with stranded nylon rope and #4 or #6 rebar pounded into the ground at 45-degree angles

Cat 5 Hurricane Netting System

DuPont's Kevlar-reinforced StormRoom

Yamaha EF3000iSE portable gas generator

Brunton Solaris 6 mobile phone

Freeplay EyeMax weather radio