 Does Window Film Protect my Home?
Some window film manufacturers claim their products to be tested to "Dade Protocols," which misleads the purchaser into believing film offers a measure of protection against high velocity wind events.
There is no aftermarket applied window film system to our knowledge which has been tested and offers adequate protection to warrant the approvals of either the Dade County Building Department, nor the Florida Building Commission . Accepting such claims without first verifying their validity with your local building department or either of the aforementioned agencies responsible for establishing and enforcing local and state building codes may give the user a false sense of security and may result in serious injury or death.
It is always advised to request the specific approval numbers issued either by the state or the county.
David R. Lampman
 The truth about Ultraviolet Rays (U.V.) and Hurricane Screens
How long will hurricane screens last?
The answer is simple, the screens are affected by U.V. light, but 98% of all hurricane screens are in storage for most of the year and used only a few days if any.
For the other 2% who deploy and leave their screens up for an extended period of time, such as “snow birds”, black is the color you wish to order.
Black hurricane fabric contains carbon in it. Carbon has a tendency to reflect U.V. rays as opposed to absorb them. Many beige screens have some black thread in them so this helps, but does not last nearly as long as black screens.
Noted U.S. hurricane forecaster expects busy season
ORLANDO, Florida (Reuters) - The noted Colorado State University forecast team expects an above average Atlantic hurricane season and may raise its prediction of 13 tropical storms and seven hurricanes when it updates its outlook next week, the team's founder Bill Gray said on Wednesday.
La Nina cool-water conditions in the Pacific and higher sea surface temperatures in the eastern Atlantic are contributing to enhanced conditions for hurricane activity, Gray told Reuters at the U.S. National Hurricane Conference.
"We're expecting an above average season," Gray said. "The big question we have is, are we going to raise the numbers from our December forecast? We might."
"We're not going to lower the numbers," he said.
The average hurricane season produces about 10 tropical storms and six hurricanes -- a standard that was blown out of the water in the record-busting season of 2005, when 28 storms formed, including the hurricane that swamped New Orleans, Katrina.
The Colorado State team issues forecasts several times a year. In December, it said it expected the 2008 season starting June 1 to produce 13 tropical storms, of which seven would become hurricanes and three would be major hurricanes with winds of at least 111 miles per hour (178 km per hour).
Gray said La Nina, a cooling of waters in the eastern Pacific that can enhance conditions for hurricane activity in the Atlantic, will be "on the cold side."
"Also, the sea surface temperatures in the eastern Atlantic particularly off Iberia and off northwest Africa, they are very warm, much like they were at this time in 1995 and 2005 when we had very active seasons," he said.
Reporting by Jim Loney, editing by Michael Christi
original article located at:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080402/us_nm/storm_hurricanes_forecast_dc
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