By the Anchormen crew · October 2, 2026
Most storm damage we see after a hurricane didn’t come from the storm hitting the house. It came from things that weren’t tied down hitting the house, and from windows that weren’t covered in time.
Three days is enough to fix both, if you use them in the right order.
72 hours out: shutters or plywood?
If you own storm shutters, find every panel and the hardware now. Missing wing nuts and bent tracks are the most common reason shutters don’t go up. If you don’t have shutters, plywood is the fallback. Book a board-up now, because once the cone is over Tampa Bay, every crew’s schedule fills in hours.
48 hours out: tie down or bring in
Walk the yard and sort everything into two piles: what fits in the garage or shed, and what doesn’t. Anything in the second pile needs an anchor and a strap.
A strap at every carport post keeps the frame from lifting.
24 hours out: cover and close up
This is when shutters and plywood go up. Earlier, and you lose light and air for days if the storm turns. Later, and you are working in rain bands with a ladder. Take photos of every window and anchor point for your insurance records.
Need help before the storm?
We hang existing shutters, board up with plywood we keep in stock, and strap down everything else, 24 hours a day when a storm is coming.
After the storm
Check straps and anchors before you take panels down. A storm can loosen a strap without breaking it, and a loose strap won’t hold the next time. If anything shifted, call us to re-tension or replace it.
