Ocean City is an Atlantic Ocean resort town in Worcester County, Maryland. It’s a popular destination for vacationers in the midwest, and has a small population – 7,173 permanent residents at the 2000 census, although during the summer weekends the city swells to an amazing 320,000 – 345,000 people. Ocean City has a mild humid subtropical climate, with mild, wet winters. During the hot summers, the ocean breezes keep the coast cooler than inland locations, which is a relief during the humid days. The Outer Banks of North Carolina lie to the south and east of the city, and the entire area is vulnerable to tropical storms and hurricanes.
In 2010, Hurricane Earl threatened the area, while a quarter of a million people were expected to show up there for Labor Day weekend. The waves stirred up by a hurricane saw one fatality and nearly 500 rescues, and Hurricane Earl caused about $100 million in damages in the United States alone.
Homes in the Ocean City area should be fitted or retro-fitted with hurricane shutters. In an area that has a history of being brushed or hit by tropical storms or hurricanes, the best way to protect your home is to install hurricane shutters. Living on or in close proximity to a beach has many advantages, but you must be prepared for the storms that are guaranteed to come. Exterior shutters can help you feel safe in the middle of a raging storm, so protect your home, and don’t let severe weather compromise your enjoyment of your lifestyle.
When you fit your home with hurricane shutters, they not only provide you with protection from the storm, they can also lower your heating and cooling bills. When closed, storm shutters keep out the damaging effects of the sun, and provide you with shade in the summer, and less heat-loss through windows in the winter. And depending on which kind you choose, even when open they can provide shade for your home. There are a wide range of products to protect you and your home from the effects of nature, whether it is hurricane force winds or scorching heat.
No matter what type of shutter you decide upon, if you live in Ocean City, Maryland or the surrounding area, you should fit them to your home. Historically, the area is hit or brushed by a hurricane once every couple of years, and it is best to plan ahead and be safe.