The Stormcatcher Hurricane Screen Blog

Hurricane Damage

Parker — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 16:54:48 +0000

Most of us who live in wind or hurricane prone parts of the country know that there are 5 categories for the strength of a hurricane. What a lot of us don’t know is what the wind speeds for each category is. Below you’ll find the wind speeds associated with each category as well as a brief description of conditions that occur in each category. This is known as the Saffir-Simpson Scale and assigns the 5 categories based on both wind speed and damage potential.

Tropical Storm – 39 – 74 mph.

Category 1 – Winds of 74 – 95 mph.

Storm Surge 4-5 feet above normal. Damage to signs, unanchored homes, shrubbery and trees. Minor coastal flooding.

Category 2 – Winds of 96 – 110 mph.

Storm surge 6 – 8 feet above normal. Some trees blow down. Damage to some doors, windows, and roofs. Flooding to piers. Considerable damage to mobile homes

Category 3 – Winds of 111 – 130 mph.

Some structural damage to residences and utility buildings. Mobile homes destroyed. Flooding near coast destroys small structures. Flooding may come well inland

Category 4 – Winds of 131 – 155 mph.

Some complete roof structure and curtainwall failure. Major beach area erosion. Inland flooding.

Category 5 – Winds of 156 and up.

Major damage to many structures. Buildings and roofs blown away. Major and severe flooding events. Massive evacuations of residences could be required.

References: www.nhc.noaa.gov/HAW2/english/basics/saffir_simpson.shtml

Hurricane Names For The 2010 Season

Parker — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 20:49:32 +0000

We hope that you’ll stay tuned to our website for not only your hurricane protection needs, but for useful hurricane preparedness and information tips as well. As we all know, the 2010 hurricane season is approaching. Initial forecasts are telling us that this is going to be a busy one. Here are the 2010 names of the hurricanes that could be heading toward Florida soon:

Alex
Bonnie
Colin
Danielle
Earl
Fiona
Gaston
Hermine
Igor
Julia
Karl
Lisa
Matthew
Nicole
Otto
Paula
Richard
Shary
Tomas
Virginie
Walter

Be safe and be smart!

BMC West Endorses Storm Catcher

Parker — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 15:08:26 +0000

Houston, Texas is the largest new construction market in the country. It is also an area that felt the wrath and devastation of Hurricane Ike. Recently, Warren Clark of BMC West, wrote an article which appeared in the Houston Custom Home Builders Resource Guide. This publication reaches over 30,000 people and is the premier construction publication in the Houston Area. Here is a blurb from the article which is being reprinted with the permission of Warren Clark and BMC:

“Storm Smart Industries, the nation’s largest manufacturer of hurricane protection systems, has recently introduced a hurricane wind abatement system in Texas that is already a mainstay in Florida. The system and installation options are practical and easy to use. “It’s a flexible material that protects your home just as a bullet-proof vest protects the human body. Even though you take a hit, the bullet-prove vest keeps you alive. The Storm Catcher storm protection systems are based on the same principals”.

The article goes on to explain all of the benefits of all of the Storm Catcher hurricane screen systems in depth, and is aimed at educating the largest construction market in the country on the merits of our products. We’d like to say thanks to BMC and Warren for writing this article, and hope that those who read it find it informative.

Innovation Continues

Parker — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 15:34:10 +0000

In an effort to continue to improve its product line, personnel from Storm Smart Industries recently completed training on the newest State of the Art – Sinclair “TRIAD” Wedge Fabric Welding System. The equipment purchased in the first quarter of 2010 will allow Storm Smart Industries to continue to make dramatic improvements in the production of its Storm Catcher Wind Abatement Hurricane Screens as well as, to further expand its product line into the Solar Screen and Bug Screen industry. Brian Rist, CEO stated; “with the implementation of this new technology we should be able to improve quality, expand our product line all while lowering our production time and costs.

Storm Catcher Hurricane Screens Now Have An HVHZ Approval

oldsparkyl — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 16:28:59 +0000

Last year, Storm Smart Industries began the testing process to gain an HVHZ approval for its Storm Catcher hurricane and storm screen products. We tested these products at the Fenestration Testing Lab in Miami. We are proud to announce to you that the products passed wtih flying colors and we now have a HVHZ approval. The new FL number is 13227. During this round of testing we tested some new products as well as our strap and buckle and grommet screens.

What this means is that we’ll be able to use our products in the HVHZ zones, as well as in non-HVHZ zones where only HVHZ products are speced in. This is exciting news and we believe all of our dealers will benefit from this greatly. We will announce more about this soon, so stay tuned to our website and newsletters for more information.

Early Hurricane Forecast Indicates an Active Season in 2010

oldsparkyl — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 14:31:15 +0000

Below is a copy of a an initial forecast made by Dr. William Gray and Dr. Phillip Klotzbach of Colorado State University. Although we had a relatively inactive hurricane season in 2009, it’s very possible that the upcoming 2010 season will be very different. Here is the link to the original post on the News Press Website:

http://www.news-press.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2009912100327

We have also re-printed a few of the key exerpts from the story. Read on…

12:25 P.M. — FORT COLLINS, Co. — An early extended-range forecast for 2010 calls for above-average Atlantic basin hurricane activity, according to the Tropical Meteorology Project at Colorado State University.
The report marks the 27th year for the CSU hurricane forecasting team, which is now led by Philip Klotzbach and William Gray.
The team anticipates a range of 11-16 named storms, 6-8 hurricanes and 3-5 major hurricanes (Saffir/Simpson category 3-4-5) with sustained winds of 111 mph or greater.
For the first time, the team is calling for a range in its December early season forecast since the report is based on Atlantic basin conditions that can change substantially by the start of the hurricane season on June 1.
“Our early December statistical forecast methodology shows evidence over 58 past years that significant improvement over climatology can be attained,” said Klotzbach, the lead author of the forecasts.
“We foresee a somewhat above-average Atlantic basin hurricane season,” Gray said. “We anticipate the current El Nino event to dissipate by the 2010 hurricane season and warm sea surface temperatures are likely to continue being present in the tropical and North Atlantic during 2010 – conditions that contribute to an above-average season.”

For the 2010 Atlantic basin hurricane season, the CSU hurricane forecast team predicts: A 64 percent chance that at least one major hurricane will make landfall on the U.S. coastline in 2010. The long-term average probability is 52 percent. For the U.S. East Coast, including the Florida Peninsula, the probability of a major hurricane making landfall is 40 percent (the long-term average is 31 percent). For the Gulf Coast from the Florida Panhandle west to Brownsville, the probability is 40 percent (the long-term average is 30 percent). The team predicts the probability of a major hurricane making landfall in the Caribbean as 53 percent (average for the last century is 42 percent). Along with today’s report, the team has updated the Landfall Probability Web site that provides probabilities of tropical storm-force, hurricane-force and major hurricane-force winds making landfall at specific locations along the U.S. East and Gulf Coasts within a variety of time periods. U.S. landfall probabilities are available for 11 regions and 205 individual counties along the U.S. coastline from Brownsville, Texas, to Eastport, Maine. Probabilities are also available for Central America and the Caribbean. With the help of Bridgewater State College in Massachusetts, the website is available to the public at http://www.e-transit.org/hurricane.
The hurricane team’s forecasts are based on the premise that global oceanic and atmospheric conditions – such as El Nino and tropical Atlantic sea surface temperatures – that preceded active or inactive hurricane seasons in the past provide meaningful information about similar trends in future seasons. The team will issue seasonal updates of its 2010 Atlantic basin hurricane activity forecast on April 7, June 2 and Aug. 4.

Citizens Insurance to Raise Rates

oldsparkyl — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 19:20:01 +0000

Many of us are familiar with Citizens Insurance and their policy that requires homeowners with homes valued at $750,000 and higher to have hurricane protection. What you may not know is that those rates will be increasing soon.

Here is a link to an article that appeared in the Fort Myers News Press:

http://www.news-press.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=200991030075

We hope you find this to be informative.

Slide Screen – Fast, Easy, Simple Hurricane and UV Protection

oldsparkyl — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 14:44:16 +0000

Are you looking for strong, easy to deploy, Florida Building Code approved storm protection? Would you like a product that can be used for privacy and sun control as well?

In the event of a hurricane, you’ll have plenty of things to worry about. Running around looking for tools, fasteners, plywood or panels shouldn’t take up all of the valuable time that you will need to prepare yourself and your family for this very serious situation. Storm Smart Industries is proud to present its newly updated slide screen product.

This new product utilizes the same code-approved track system already utilized in deploying the Storm Catcher Hurricane Wind Abatement Screen. A second screen, designed specifically to keep the sun and its damaging UV rays from heating the glass or interior of your home, simply slides into the same track when weather is hot. Should a storm threaten the area, You can pull out the shade screen and slide in the Storm Catcher screen for Florida Building Code approved hurricane protection.

Storm Smart CEO, Brian Rist, states “The two weather conditions which impact Florida the most are hot sun and dangerous wind-based storms. This solution provides for both climates equally. There are no tools needed. You will simply pull out one screen and slide in the other based on weather conditions.”

You can read more about this product at: stormcatcher.com/prod_slide_screen.php

Grow your hurricane protection business with Storm Catcher

oldsparkyl — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 17:48:54 +0000

If you would like to get into the hurricane protection business, or add to your current line of products – Storm Catcher can help. Read on:

We’re still going and growing!

The last couple of years have been slow in the hurricane protection industry due to a lack of storms, little new construction and the economic downturn. However, we at Storm Smart Industries, Inc. have been growing, expanding our production facilities and continue to develop new, innovative products. For the fourth year in a row we have made the Inc. 500 list of the fastest growing companies in the U.S. We are proud of this record and encourage you to continue to be a part of the largest hurricane protection company in the U.S.

Our dealer network continues to expand and our dealers can count on us to provide superior, cutting-edge products, and the best technical support and customer service in the industry. While many manufacturers are dropping out of the industry and their dealers are going out of business, we continue to thrive and our dealers continue to enjoy a profitable relationship with us. We intend to maintain our status as Number One in the industry with the best products and customer service guarantee.

Rolling Screens Top Seller

Our Storm Catcher Rolling Screens continue to be our top seller. Able to span 24 feet and coming in manual or motorized versions, the rolling screen is changing the face of the rolling shutter industry. Being able to see through it gives a big advantage over traditional aluminum rolling shutters and due to the screen’s light-weight, (8 ounces/sq yd) many large openings do not require a motor; saving you up to $1,000.00 per unit compared to a similar-sized aluminum unit.

Ideally suited for waterfront restaurants, bars, hotels, etc. the screen blocks bright sunshine and driving rains. Customers can enjoy their dinner and drinks while watching the sunset and can remain in outside areas when afternoon storms roll in.

New Testing For HVHZ

We are pleased to announce we have completed another round of testing; this time for the High Velocity Hurricane Zone (HVHZ). We tested our grommet screen, strap-and-buckle and slide screen to much higher pressures and everything passed. This means you will now be able to do high rises and balconies and lanais in the HVHZ zone. We will be submitting our test results to the Florida Building Commission in the next few weeks to get an approval number. We will send out an email announcement when we have the official approval.

New Slide Screen Track Extrusion

During this round of testing, we tested a new track extrusion for the slide screen. This track has a much smaller profile than the track we have been using, and at the same time, it is as strong or stronger. The new slide screen track is 1 7/8″ wide and has a “C”-shaped channel to take the slide screen. It is now available in white and beige.

By: James Jarrett

Houston Chronicle Story About Fabric Hurricane Protection

oldsparkyl — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 15:09:50 +0000

The Houston Chronicle recently wrote a story on hurricane screen protection. It is an informative article and much of the information pertains to The Storm Catcher line of hurricane screen materials. Here is a link to the story as it appeared.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/realestate/homes/6591432.html