Wilmington, North Carolina is located between the Cape Fear river and the Atlantic Ocean in southeast North Carolina, and the residents of the city have the distinct advantage of a beach just a 20-minute drive from the downtown area. Wilmington is subtropical; the winters are mild, and the summers have high humidity and temperatures usually range in the high 80’s to mid 90’s in that season. Also in that season (June to November) because of the proximity of warm Atlantic waters, the area is often hit by tropical storms and hurricanes. The North Carolina coast (and Wilmington) is key to one of the state’s largest industries: tourism. In 2005, travelers spent more than $2 billion in the coastal district. These communities are all vulnerable to tropical storms and hurricanes, and Wilmington is touched or hit head on by a hurricane about every two and a half hours.
Just a few of the hurricanes that have hit Wilmington in recent years:
Hurricane shutters are a fact of life in Southeast North Carolina, especially for residents of beach towns like Wilmington. Coastal properties must be ready to withstand any storm that may hit, and protecting your home and business is a top priority when preparing for a hurricane. Hurricane shutters are an economical, time-saving, and energy-saving answer to protecting your home from the driving winds, rain, and tornadoes that hurricanes and tropical storms bring.
Hurricane shutters on your home provide you with even more protection than you might think; because they are easily and quickly closed when a storm is on the way, they can also be used to provide security to your home as well. Just lock them down at night, and they make break-ins much harder and deter burglars. Also, they protect you from the pressure changes that occur rapidly during hurricanes. Uncovered windows can break, and pressure changes can then actually rip off roofs and tear walls down without some kind of protective covering. Missile impact is also a huge problem during high winds, and storm shutters are impact-rated to defend your home from this type of damage. Breakage from impacts is much less likely with storm shutters installed on your home.
If you live in the Wilmington area, you should fit your home with hurricane shutters today. There are many different kinds, from Bahama shutters to Colonial shutters, Accordions and Roll-down shutters, and one of them is sure to fit your needs.
