Hurricane Preparedness Week May 9: Strengthen buildings

May 5-11 is Hurricane Preparedness Week, and Thursday’s advice is to make sure buildings are up to code and able to withstand the punishment of a storm. If you plan to ride out the weather in your home, make sure it is in good repair and up to local hurricane building code specifications. Many of these retrofits do not cost much or take as long to do as you may think. Have the proper plywood, steel or aluminum panels to board up the windows and doors. Remember, the garage door is the most vulnerable part of the home, so it must be able to withstand the winds. Also keep in mind that loose objects left outside can become airborne and present their own danger, so now is the time to secure them.