Anyone who has lived in Florida for any length of time will know the benefit of storm shutters on their property.  Anyone who saw the aftermath of Katrina either in person or on the TV knows the damage a storm can do.  Not only does the wind and the rain take its toll on your property, but the flying debris whipped up can be devastating.  Storm shutters go some way to protecting your home from storm damage.  Not only to they protect expensive windows, they protect the whole house by keeping it weather tight. 

The job of the shutter is to protect your home from storms and flying debris, we know that.  But it also protects the interior of the house from the build up of air pressure that can occur if a window breaks during a storm.  The combination of pressure inside and storm force winds outside combine to tear the roof off most homes that it affects. 

There are many kinds of storm shutter to choose from.  Roll Shutters, either cranked or motorized are the most popular.  They stay out of the way until you need them, then can be quickly deployed when you do.  They are generally made of steel and can survive most things being thrown at them.  These can also double as security items for commercial buildings as they are an effective deterrent for criminals.   

Colonial or Bahama shutters are an excellent choice for the older home as they are designed to fit in with the architecture and remain unobtrusive.  These balance looks and practicality, but can be troublesome to secure in first or second floors. 

Accordion shutters work in a similar way to roll shutters in that they fold away when not in use and can be quickly deployed from the outside when necessary.  They aren't quite as subtle though and will need careful design and installation so they don't dominate the look of your home. 

The simplest way to protect your home in a storm is with storm panels.  You see these often when there is news of a storm coming.  They are portable panels that fit on the outside of your windows and are either screwed in, or fit into pre-made sills.  They have the advantage of leaving the exterior of your home intact when not in use and can be fitted quickly and easily.  They aren't as tough as roll or accordion shutters, but will go a long way in improving the survivability of your home in a storm. 

Another option is impact glass.  This is specially toughened glass that is weather and UV proof and offers good protection from the elements.  These are a great solution if windows are being replaced at the same time.  The disadvantage is that the glass is expensive to replace.