June 7, 2007

It was both ironic and tragic that on June 1, the first day of hurricane season, a 72-year-old woman was killed in a house fire because shutters covered most windows and blocked her escape.

She didn't put the shutters up because Tropical Storm Barry had formed that day. Rather she had done so weeks earlier because she was planning to leave the Hollywood home unattended for the summer.

Regardless, it underscores the dangers of allowing shutters to remain over windows for extended periods. If fire breaks out, you could easily be trapped.

Most cities and homeowner associations prohibit shutters or plywood over windows until a storm is approaching. Then, after the threat has passed, the window protection must be quickly taken down. In addition to fire, a lack of ventilation could be harmful in the event of fumes from cleaning fluids or bacteria build-up from standing water.

That doesn’t stop some folks from leaving shutters up to avoid the installation hassle.

Some safety suggestions:

No matter when shutters are up, always leave yourself an out, meaning make sure you have more than one door you can exit. And, of course, avoid using candles and combustible materials.

At least in Broward County, if you are 65 or older or physically unable to install shutters, call Volunteer Broward, 954-522-6761. It has a program where volunteers put up and take down shutters, though the person requesting help will need to be screened and sign a liability form. “We don’t put shutters up until we’re in that 3-5 day cone of probability,” said Audra Vaz, the organization’s assistant director, adding that residents must already have county-approved shutters.

Though they’re not cheap, accordion shutters allow you to unlatch from inside and get out posthaste.

And here’s another safety alternative: A company called Storm Stoppers, The Plywood Alternative, offers a lightweight corrugated plastic that covers windows like plywood, only instead of being nailed into place it is secured with Velcro-like fasteners. It allows lots of light to filter in and, in the event of fire, “simply open the window, push out and you are free,” says company president John D. Smith. The cost for original 3/8" is about $4.50 per square foot.

Ken Kaye

South Florida Sun Sentinel

June7, 2007

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