Warnings/fines for having shutters up.

[StrongWind]

Weston (western part of Broward County) is issuing warnings/citations to those who still had storm shutters up. City code requires that they be taken down within certain amont of time after a watch/warning is lifted. Since a new watch/warning has not been issued yet code compliance will be going door to door starting today.

Interview w/ Weston Mayor on Newsradio 610 this morning.

§ 98.02 STORM SHUTTER PLACEMENT.
Consistent with the provisions regarding storm shutters as defined and set forth in the South Florida Building Code, 1999 Broward County Edition, as amended from time to time, it is prohibited to maintain storm shutters in a closed/secured position on a structure for periods in excess of ten consecutive days unless:



(A) A hurricane occurs during the ten day period, at which point the ten day period begins anew the day after hurricane conditions have subsided; or

(B) Hurricane conditions are expected to occur within 36 hours after the tenth day; or

(C) The structure is used for residential purposes, but no person is in residence for a period in excess of ten consecutive days, except that (A) and (B), above, shall still apply during periods when a person is in residence.

(Ord. 2000-24, passed 9-18-00)

[kevin]

This is why government needs to stay out of people's business!!!!

[adelphi_sky]

Potential fire traps if left up I suppose. Wouldn't be too good if a fire started in the house.

[StrongWind]

Potential fire traps if left up I suppose. Wouldn't be too good if a fire started in the house.

True - but Weston is one of those communities more concerned with image. 'It's just tacky to have houses that are all shuttered up.'

SW

[Canelaw99]

We just had deaths in Homestead this morning of a father and 3 children I believe it was, because they still had all their plywood up. For a long time, the people here in S. FL were saying to leave some shutters up, but take down those in the bedrooms, etc. to allow an escape route, but I don't think most listened to that part.

[mascpa]

Has nothing to do with fire safety. It has everything to do with appearance. It's situations like these where government forgets what its primary purpose is ... the health safety and welfare of its citizens and what can government do to enhance that.

[kevin]

Absolutely appearance.

[ashleebrooke]

Someone should fine that mayor for being a you know what..................

[Canelaw99]

Folks, while appearance might be one of the factors, safety is a huge one. Like I said, we had deaths in Homestead this morning....a fire broke out in a house, the father and the 3 children were in the house and could not get out. The fire was between them and the only way out - they still had plywood up on all of the other windows. Even the fire rescue crew that showed up said had there been even one windown without plywood, there's a good chance the family could've been pulled out to safety. Also, having the plywood or shutters up contains the heat, causing a smaller fire to be hotter and flare up faster.

It is DEFINITELY a safety issue, and it should be treated as such. It's just sad that people didn't listen to the media, even to our own mayor here, when they said to at least pull enough of the shutters down to have a way out of your house.

[kcjax]

I asked about this since our elementary school has had shutters since Frances threatened to come to town. I said at least they could take the shutters off the fire escape windows and was told they don't have the manpower to keep taking down and putting up the shutters.
Lucky for me my kid is in kindergarten and they have doors that open to the outside as well as the hallway. Pisses me off that they don't think this is a problem.

[jes]

If you have 3/8th inch plywood screwed into the wood window frame and need to get out of the house can you do it with a hammer. I was concerned when the guy put mine up and he said that I could use a hammer to get out. Was that incorrect?

Also, I know its expensive to have the shutters put up again, but there is no way I could live in a completely closed in dark house any longer than a couple days. I think any longer would have resulted in the need for mental health services which is more expensive that reinstalling shutters.

[NFLnut]

Sounds like a bunch of Dimocrats to me!