The year 2011 has been predicted to be a year of frequent hurricanes in the United States. The states that receive most of the major tropical cyclone impacts include: Louisiana, Florida, Mississippi, Texas, North Carolina and New York. These are the states that are the most vulnerable to hurricane devastation and it has been reported that approximately 2.1 million people reside in these states. It is important to be well-prepared for such an event if anyone lives in one of the aforementioned areas. A homeowner should make sure that their roof is ready to resist the power of such strong storms.

Hurricane awareness and preparedness is vital in the planning of what actions are necessary to decrease the risks or hazards that may occur. Common sense is also required when dealing with these threats. According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), before the onset of a tropical cyclone, all affected residents and businesses should formulate plans to secure their property, including the installation of straps or additional clips to fasten the roof to its frame structure. By doing this, a homeowner can decrease roof damage that could be caused by high winds. Reinforcing the roof prior to the arrival of the storm can help it withstand such strong winds.

Hurricane Strapping

This method is done to provide extra support to the roof. This type of strapping can defy winds of up to 100 miles per hour. The fastening apparatus or strapping is made of galvanized steel and will be fixed to the trusses and wall plates. Usually, the straps are nailed on to each truss. By putting these straps on the roofing structure, the homeowner reduces the potential damage of the strong winds brought by hurricanes. This type of reinforcement ensures that both family and neighbors are protected from the possibility of a flying roof.

House Roping

The good thing about hurricanes is that people have plenty of time to prepare because they know approximately when the storm will arrive. This gives homeowners ample time to securely fasten their roof. Basically, this type of reinforcement is to fasten down the house with a rope. This is a very inexpensive yet effective means to prevent serious damage from happening. In order to make this work, the homeowner must ensure that the rope can hold a 4,000-pound truck. The rope is then adhered to a concrete-filled post hole which is installed in the ground about four feet away from the wall. The distance is based on the principle that it is more difficult to pull out sideways than straight up. By performing this preparation, the homeowner is nearly guaranteed that the roof will still be there after the storm has passed.

Hurricane preparedness is vital to decrease the damage caused by extremely high winds. Knowing what to do before the disaster arrives is very important. These storms do not arrive unannounced and will not just arrive instantaneously; there are plenty of advanced warnings. Homeowners will know when the storm is predicted to hit their area. Being prepared is a significant factor in surviving this kind of disaster and the resulting damage that can occur. Strapping, roping and even fish netting are only a few examples of the types of reinforcement that can be done to resist the lifting capacity of high winds. Being prepared when the tropical cyclone season arrives means taking the necessary action to answer the question of: "Is your roof ready for hurricane season?" with an affirmative answer – yes!