Category -- Less than $300

• Gather outdoor furniture, garbage cans, potential debris, etc., and move them inside. Encourage your neighbors to do the same.
• Replace gravel/rock landscaping material with shredded bark.
• Keep trees and shrubbery trimmed. Cut weak branches and trees that could fall against the house. When trimming, try to create a channel through the foliage to the center of the tree to allow for air flow. Keep climbing roses and vines trimmed back.
• Screened porches and other similar areas are usually first to suffer damage, so make sure the porch is properly attached. (The industry has no standards yet for adequate performance of porch screens in hurricane winds.)
• Reinforce the double-entry doors with heavy-duty door and head bolts, and use a security dead bolt lock with 1-inch minimum bolt throw length.
• Reinforce the double garage door and tracks.
• If you find that the roof sheathing is not adequately attached:
• Use adhesive to attach the sheathing to the rafters
• Use extra 8d (8 penny) nails or #8 screws if you need to re-roof.
• Brace the gable end walls and roof trusses.

Category -- Between $300 and $1,000

• Cover all large windows and patio doors with securely fastened storm shutters made from plywood.
• Replace double garage door with hurricane-wind load-tested garage door.