Should You Open Your Windows During A Tornado

Being prepared is the all-time pick for any natural disaster, and hurricanes are no exception. Unfortunately, at that place are a lot of misconceptions about hurricane protection and preparedness.

Should I Open My Windows During a Hurricane?

For case, one of the biggest myths is that cracking your windows during a hurricane volition stabilize the pressure in your home. However, the final thing you lot want to practise in the middle of a hurricane is to open your windows.

Here'due south some reasons why you lot should keep your windows tightly sealed during a storm:

Opening your windows during a storm allows wind, water and debris to enter and cause interior damage to your dwelling.

Even swell your windows tin have detrimental effects on your home, allowing in wicked winds, pelting and storm droppings. In fact, respected sources such as the National Weather Service propose tightly sealing windows during a hurricane as 1 of their cadre safety action steps.

For starters, opening your windows during a storm will just increase the likelihood of wet and flood damage. Even a few inches of water in your abode can consequence in thousands of dollars of costly repairs. If you don't already have a flood insurance policy , the price tag will likely be even higher.

Additionally, when your windows are open, flying droppings is more likely to enter your home. This will not but cause damage to the inside of your abode , but it can as well cause injury to yourself or your family.

Opening your windows during a hurricane or tornado tin cause large-scale structural damage to your house.

When air enters your dwelling house with a significant corporeality of forcefulness, it will need a mode to exit. If the wind is potent enough, it may blow the roof off of your home! How? Wind travels over top of your home at extremely high speeds. Combine this with additional wind inside your dwelling, and you're causing an effect that's similar to the strength that allows airplane wings to generate lift.

Even if your roof doesn't blow off, opening your windows can yet cause extensive damage the interior structure of your home. Houses aren't airtight— with openings all throughout for wind to travel— possibly causing neighboring windows or doors, even entire walls, to blow out. Hurricane windows which are tightly sealed should be safe, merely for optimal protection, find a room in your home without windows, such as a bathroom or closet, and don't come out until the storm has passed.

The impairment caused past opening your windows tin also affect your neighbors' homes.

Non only would a "wing abroad" roof— or office of your roof— threaten all your home'due south contents and your family inside, but nearby properties may be affected. If part any piece of your dwelling house, let'south say a door or shingles, collide into your neighbor's home, the harm could spread beyond just your lawn.

Taping or padding your windows during a storm is pretty much useless.

Upward until the 1980s , the National Hurricane Center advised putting masking record on your windows as additional protection against storms. After a serial of tests, the official regime advice was modified, finding it did piffling to protect against storm harm.

Interior padding of whatever sort won't help either, as if the window is comprised, winds and pressure are certain to blow it away. The best way to add together extra protection surrounding the windows is to add together hurricane shutters to the outside of your home, ones which have been rated for storm strength— and definitely non something you built from scratch. Instead, take these steps to hurricane proof your abode , such as reinforcing your roof and beefing up your doors.

Keeping your Windows Tightly Sealed

When a hurricane hits, the final thing yous should exercise is open your windows. Always proceed your windows tightly closed during a hurricane.

Opening your windows during a storm is not just costly, but it tin can be incredibly dangerous to your home and your family. Unfortunately, even tightly sealed windows might not be enough to protect you against a hurricane— if they aren't storm-rated.

How secure are your windows? Protect your home with specialized hurricane shutters or impact-tested glass.

It'south never been easier with Storm Solutions. Nosotros accept a guide to help you measure your windows and get a quick guess today. Download the guide today!