While hurricane season has recently ended in Florida, the next one will be here before you know it. Although the height of these storms has passed, it never hurts to have your home ready to withstand strong storms. However, you want to be sure that you are preparing in ways that will actually keep you and your property safe. There are persistent myths that float around that can actually end up doing more harm than good.

Taping up windows prevents them from shattering.

It is commonly thought that taping up windows will help keep them from cracking and shattering during a storm. This is not the case, and it can actually end up making the windows more of a hazard than anything else. When taped windows are hit with debris, they break into larger shards, which can do a lot more damage than smaller pieces.

Opening the windows a crack will stabilize the pressure.

The last thing you want to do is let violent wind into your home during a storm, as it will be looking for a way to get out. Opening up the windows, even a crack, will not make enough of a difference, and homes are not airtight, so pressure will not be building up in a significant way anyhow.

You only need to board windows facing the water.

Hurricanes and major storms are always rotating and changing, meaning that corners cannot be cut when it comes to boarding up both doors and windows. Wind and debris will not be coming just from one direction, so every area of the home will need to be protected. It's the things flying in the wind, such as rocks, that will ricochet and cause the most damage.

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