• Walk around your home and inspect your windows for vulnerabilities.
• Take pictures of your home for insurance purposes and to document the appearance of your home before an event so you are prepared to participate in the Home Damage Assessment Program.
• Make sure all doors and windows are caulked or weatherstripped. 
• Have a plan in place to properly shutter or board all your windows. Metal hurricane-resistant shutters are preferred. Make sure shutters have the Miami-Dade County Product Approval or a Florida Building Code Produce Approval. Shutters should be installed by a licensed professional and inspected by a government agency such as your city's building code department. If you use plywood, make sure it is at least 5/8" thick and use the proper anchors and support beams.
• If you're skilled and think you can make your own plywood shutters, view this video produced by the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes. It is a step-by-step guide to make and install shutters in one weekend. 
• If you already have shutters, make sure they are in good working condition. For accordion or roll-down shutters, test them annually to ensure they open and close easily. Clear track of obstructions and lubricate. For panel shutters, check for excessive wear or rust on connectors.
• Do not tape windows as this does not prevent them from breaking nor does it provide any measure of security.
• Do not leave any window open for equalizing pressure between the inside and outside of your home. It is not necessary and could be a dangerous mistake.
  

Updated May 2012