Baltimore is located in central Maryland along the Patapsco River, a branch of Chesapeake Bay. The port was founded in 1706, which was well before the founding of the city of Baltimore. The Maryland colonial legislature made the area near Locust Point as the port of entry for the tobacco trade with England, making it an important early port. The Port of Baltimore is the farthest inland port in the U.S. with a 50-foot dredge to accommodate the largest ships. Baltimore has a humid, subtropical climate. Spring, summer and fall bring frequent showers and thunderstorms, with an average of 105 sunny days a year.
And because it’s so close to the water and because of its climate, Baltimore, believe it or not, is vulnerable to hurricanes and tropical storms from June to November. In 2003, Hurricane Isabel passed through Maryland, though the largeness of the storm produced tropical storm force winds throughout the state. About 1.24 million people lost power during the storm. The worst of its effects came from its storm surge, which resulted in severe beach erosion, and hundreds of buildings were damaged or destroyed from the flooding. Thousands of houses sustained moderate damage, primarily from the gale force winds, and the damage totaled about $945 million.
If you live in the Baltimore area, hurricane shutters are necessary on your home to prevent this type of damage. During tropical storms and hurricanes, most damage is caused by the winds and wind borne debris thrown by the storm. Hurricane shutters protect you from this damage and keep your home and your family safe. There are many different types of hurricane shutters that you can fit to your home:
Accordion shutters – just like the name implies, these are shutters that fold up accordion-style beside your windows when not in use. An affordable, safe hurricane shutter.
Colonial shutters – Double shutters that close in the middle, very popular for their Southern-style looks.
Rolling shutters – convenient and very much the most popular shutter put on new homes. The shutters roll down with the touch of a button, making them the fastest, easiest shutter to close when a storm is rolling in.
Bahama shutters – Island-style shutters that fasten at the top of windows and provide shade and sun protection when not closed. When closed, they provide your home with top notch storm protection.
No matter what type of hurricane shutter you choose, if you live in the Baltimore area, you should fit them to your home. Stay safe from the storms that plague the area, and make sure your home and family are as protected as they could possibly be.
