Tampa: Board up the house?

[Greg]

What is the consensus on boarding up the windows? Any experienced people out there? I'm in Tampa right now and I don't have a room without windows. I do have a walk-in closet, about 6x5, in the master bedroom. With a Cat 3 on my doorstep, I'm a bit concerned, since I just moved here from Chicago 4 months ago. I live 50 feet above sea level and 14 miles from Tampa Bay, which is expected to get 14 foot surge waters. Should I get my family out, or am I OK to ride it out?

[GalvestonDuck]

I would say get out, although you are higher up where you are. Boarding the windows would be a wise idea. It's not so much about just the glass (like with a tornado) -- it's more about saving your whole house and roof.

[Miss Mary]

Greg - bumping up your topic so you receive an accurate answer about boarding up windows. I'm from the Midwest too and I just know I'd want to evacuate. But that's just me.

Hopefully you'll get a response here any minute.

Mary

[KG4HPN]

I day board up for sure. It's not just the wind speed you have to worry about, but what that wind might be blowing around. Branches, lawn furniture, bits of roofing or carports can all be a major danger. Boards on the windows will help prevent further damage from debris...

[Guest]

assuming all the data u gave is correct NO you dont have to worry about a storm surge if u are 50 feet above... I didnt think there was ground in central FL that was 50 above sea level....

Your real problem will be POSSIBLE loss of roof and loss of power. This Means NO ATM and NO GAS pumps. Fill the car up now and get your cash --lots of it -- now. BOTTLED water as well but this should of been done 36 hrs ago....

The windows thing is partially for safety... when the windows go or the Garage it can be a lot harder for the Roof to stay attached.

As foir your family it depends... you got babies or toddlers? folks that need special medical care? If so move out.... older kids do pretty good in these situations

[birdwomn]

If you have time to board up, board up. But focus on safety of yourself and your family first and foremost. The house and contents can be replaced.

[Three Blind Mice]

Probably to late. Plywood tends to disappear at this stage of the game. Lowes and Home Depot try their best to keep stores supplied but thousands are shopping for the same thing you are. Recommend if you can find it 3/4 plywood. Careful not to nail in, use screws. Don't break the seal on your windows. And remember when you take them down after the storm to chalk the holes!! Keep the plywood! Number each piece for future reference, makes the next time much easier.

Stay safe.

[Greg]

Kids are 13 and 8. Somehow I feel that if we flee now, we will always fear the unknown. In speaking with others on the subject, they seem to be non-chalant about hurricanes in general, so I am sucked into a fearless scenario.

[slosh]

Greg,

I am in the Port Richey area, about as far east as you can get in Port richey, I was wondering the same thing about boarding. I just went to about 5 stores looking for D batteries and found nothing....

I suspect that at this stage of the game plywood sources are getting pretty thin.

[tampastorm]

I am in N Tampa, and feel confident enough to stay here. I expect the worse don't get me wrong. I am though far from the water

[Sean in New Orleans]

If you can't board up the windows, then, definitely use masking tape and make snow flakes on all windows so they won't shatter when they break from the wind. At least they won't shatter into the house.

[wxman57]

If you can't board up the windows, then, definitely use masking tape and make snow flakes on all windows so they won't shatter when they break from the wind. At least they won't shatter into the house.

Bad idea. Tape won't do anything at all to help. In fact, it could be more dangerous to tape windows. The glass in those windows is made to break into small pieces (safety glass). Taping them together assures that bigger pieces will come flying at you when the windows are busted out by flying debris.

At this point, you'll never find any plywood to board windows, so it's too late. If Charley does move as forecast, right over you, then you may be without power for a week or two. Of course, Charley is a small hurricane, relatively. The most intense winds will be only 20-40 miles across. So any track deviation left or right could spare you.

[SeaBrz_FL]

Hi, Greg -- Please explain to your kids that things are going to get very rough over the next few days, and they will likely hear sounds outside that are very scary. Assure them they are safe.

All the best to you!!

[PTrackerLA]

As long as you are a SAFE distance from the water and live in a well built home/apartment you should be able to ride out the storm okay if you board up your windows or cover them somehow. But it's a personal decision as well and since this is likely your first storm you might be overwhelmed by it all.

[Sean in New Orleans]

Well, than why does everyone and their mother tape their windows when a hurricane comes? You couldn't find a house without tape during hurricanes in New Orleans---even the weathermen tape their windows?!

[Greg]

I guess I already know it's too late to board up. I wanted to get a feeling about the safety of staying in a house that is not boarded up. All my neighbors are not boarded up and I feel like I would look stupid.

I already know about the tape joke. Perhaps if you duct tape the entire window...

[Agua]

Greg, it depends on how likely it is that something loose outside will slam into one of the windows. You really can't predict that beyond making sure everything in your yard and your neighbors is secured.

The wind alone, is very unlikely to break a window. If one SHOULD break, then close off the door to the room that broken window is in so as to limit the entrance of the wind into your home.

The danger is the wind getting in your house and lifting the roof off.

[Three Blind Mice]

Tape....don't do it!!

If you think taking down plywood is tough...during a storm years ago one of my boys was helping out, grabbed the duct tape and taped windows and doors!! What a mess.

Spend your time doing something else.

Oh, and with the kids, remember they watch you very carefully during stressful times. So if you lose your cool you can pretty much guess how they are going to react. Keep'em busy as much as possible.

[bahamaswx]

I can't understand why so many of you people along the coast don't have anything to protect your windows with? Practically everyone here has aluminum or wooden shutters in storage for their windows should they need them....and we certainly don't see hurricanes with a much higher frequency than a lot of your states.

[Miss Mary]

Greg - if I were you, I'd go outside your home and secure anything that isn't bolted to the ground - lawn chairs/tables/flower pots, grill, kids' toys, bikes, etc. Items that could be tossed into a window. Many times today hotels were shown doing just this - nearly everything that could be moved inside was put into storage or a hotel room.

It's still not too late to leave is it? I heard both 9 a.m. and noon tomorrow it would be too late, roads would be closed. Or more importantly, bridges. I'd seriously consider making a pot of coffee, filling a thermos, getting everyone ready and packed and get out of dodge. Take turns driving with your wife and drive all night if you have to. There's still time!

Mary