Surviving a Hurricane: Good Fortune, Good Protection

Hurricane Charley blew ashore over the western coast of Florida on August 13, 2004, with winds topping 145 miles per hour. Punta Gorda, a town north of Fort Myers, was the hardest hit.

"It is hard to describe seeing an entire community flattened," Florida Governor Jeb Bush told reporters at the time, after taking a helicopter tour of the area.

Punta Gorda residents Ann and Greg Scotten sought refuge from the hurricane under a mattress in their laundry room. When the storm passed, they emerged to survey the damage. Windows had broken, debris was strewn everywhere. Yet while many neighboring homes were destroyed, theirs was not beyond repair.

They are grateful, of course, for their good fortune. A shift in wind could have put their house in the path of the hurricane's eye and irrevocably changed their lives.

They're also grateful for a bit of unexpected protection from Hunter Douglas. The Silhouette® window shadings, with the Signature S-Vane™, covering their bedroom window remained in place during the storm.

"The material was sliced in various places by roofing tiles from neighboring houses," recalls Ann. "And it was plastered with leaves and dirt, but it did not shed or tear away from the top.

"The shadings, which suspend fabric vanes between two sheer fabric facings, shielded objects in the room-lamps, pictures, and furniture-from flying debris. The Scottens say they'd always appreciated the beauty of Silhouette window shadings, but now they have a new appreciation for its strength and durability.


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