I guess I'm not surprised at places not having windows boarded up in preparation for hurricanes where you are. It's inland and you'd figure wind speeds from hurricanes that come your way would lessen as they travel over the land masses enough so hopefully you don't need shutters. In coastal areas of Florida shutters or window coverings ( or wind resistant windows) are the norm- ever since
Hurricane Andrew and the hurricanes that followed in
2004 and 2005.
Cathy, you're thinking of "hurricane impact" windows, or windstorm resistant windows, which are made up of two layers of glass, one layer of tempered glass ( like a car windshield, I guess), and an inner layer made of glass coated with or containing a polymer plastic substance that makes the glass much stronger. There is a layer of air between the glass layers, and they're in a frame of extruded metal. The proper installation of these windows is as important as their composition in making them wind resistant. They must be bolted into the concrete or structure of the building on the sides of the opening, there are long bolts used- a number on each side- for this purpose, to ensure the windows don't get pulled out during a hurricane.
We have hurricane impact windows and sliding glass doors in our house, put in at the time of contruction, and they did very well during Ian. The windows didn't rattle, or even budge, though if you touched them you could feel them vibrating. We also find the windows great for temperature control in the house (tinted a bit) and abating outside noises. The thing is, they're very expensive, though we bit that bullet big time when we had the house built. They've been worth the expense for us, considering their everyday properties, and us old folks not having to haul heavy or cumbersome shutters out of storage, put them up, take them down afterwards.
Juanita, we're making progress in getting things fixed, though it will take quite some time to get things back to pre-Ian status. The vegetation debris here has been cleaned up, hauled off, though the construction debris is still there. We know they will get to it but it's a ginormous job as so many people were affected so it will take time. We've had a new water treatment system put in so we have good (well) water. The power and internet has been back for a while and everything seems to work in our house, so we are comfortable in the house, and very lucky in that regard- lots of people lost everything , including their homes in this storm. We lost our boat in the storm- Ian's winds flipped it off the lift upside down into the canal.But it was insured, and the SeaTow people came to get it yesterday, it will go for salvage and we will get a decent settlement from the insurance company for the boat.
Still dealing with an apparently not so great tarp job on the house, still have some water leaking through the ceiling in the great room when it rains.
We're concerned about a possible tropical system currently in the southern Atlantic that may bring sloppy rain and wind to the area- figuring that this, along with a tarp covered roof still leaking, would turn the house into a soggy mess.
Scratching around trying to get it fixed as both hubby and I are well past our roof climbing years. Naturally, no response from insurance company, and the people they sent to put the tarp up ( Larry, Curley and Moe I think) are long gone, they were from out of town anyway, not sure I'd want them back anyway. Fortunately, we signed a contract with a reputable local roofing company to replace our roof a few days ago ( they gave us a timeframe of 2-4 weeks- that's quick these days!), and when we contacted the owner he promised to send somebody
to re-tarp, or put another one over the areas we think the leaks are coming from. He just couldn't say exactly when, but at latest by Monday, so fingers crossed they can do this, I know they are swamped.
Will still need to deal with water and mold mitigation ( can't see or smell anything,and nobody is sick, but there must be some above the ceiling), tearing out and replacing insulation, and the ceiling drywall.This will come after the roof replacement and likely will involve significant waits due to the number of people who need the same thing, and to supply issues. The soffit replacements are also needed, but the roofing company said they would take care of that- when they can, also supply issues. In the meantime, we think we'll just find some other material we can slide in to at least partly block the openings left by the soffits being ripped out, to discourage critters from getting into the attic, and maybe some rain as well. I envision some creative wierdness on the corners, nooks and crannies of the house where the soffits are missing, looking forward to it, LOL. Whatever works.
Otherwise, things are fine. Our little Hinki bird ( parakeet) is none the wiser over this post-hurricane madness going on and is her usual sweet self. She's 8 yrs old and came to us 7 yrs ago with a splay leg that was never corrected. She has compensated well for it over the years, and she's always been free flighted ( out of the cage whenever anyone is home), so she never knew she had any mobility issues. But she has gotten to where she has some difficulty using her right foot ( right splay leg)- it doesn't have the strength for grasping, it seems. So in looking for perches, etc. that are easier for her to perch or sit on, we've found one that she loves loves loves. She has two of them in her cage now, and loves them so much she goes into the cage voluntarily to sit on them, chew the wood, and rub her head on them. These are wide natural wood perches, about 3 inches wide, 6-7 inches long, with a flat surface on one side, and the other side curved with the bark still on it. She loves the curved side with the bark, the textured surface keeps her leg/foot from sliding and hopefully comfortable, and she chomps on the bark, rubs her head on it.
Guess that's about it!
Mary
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