Storm Solutions warns Florida homeowners not to wait for hurricane protection

Storm Solutions is urging Southwest Florida homeowners to act before hurricane season peaks, saying impact windows, doors and shutters take time to manufacture and permit, while insurance changes can freeze as soon as a storm is named. The company says waiting until a hurricane is on the way can make both protection upgrades and coverage changes too late to complete.

Why it matters: - Southwest Florida homeowners in Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Bonita Springs, Estero and Naples have a narrow window to secure hurricane protection before storm activity intensifies. - Impact windows and doors are built to order, permitted, installed and inspected before use, which makes them impractical to buy at the last minute. - Insurance coverage changes can also shut down quickly once a named storm enters the watch area, leaving homeowners with fewer options to protect property or adjust policies.

What happened: - Storm Solutions, Inc. is warning homeowners to make decisions about impact windows, doors and shutters now as hurricane season enters its most active stretch. - The company says two deadlines usually arrive before a storm does: manufacturing lead times for custom products and insurance restrictions triggered by named storms. - A spokesperson for Storm Solutions said many homeowners call in September asking for windows to be installed within days, but permitting and construction timelines make that unrealistic.

The details: - Impact-rated windows and doors are not stocked inventory. - Each unit is measured for a specific opening, built to order, then permitted, installed and inspected. - Once a forecast cone appears over Southwest Florida, showroom traffic rises, installation calendars fill and product supply tightens across the region. - Florida insurers impose a binding moratorium once the National Hurricane Center names a storm and a tropical storm or hurricane watch is issued. - During that period, insurers will not write a new policy, raise limits or process coverage changes. - University of Florida extension guidance says the opportunity to buy or change coverage ends once a named storm is inside a designated watch zone. - Most Florida homeowners carriers apply binding restrictions statewide, so a storm approaching one part of Florida can freeze coverage changes in another part of the state. - New flood policies through the National Flood Insurance Program carry a 30-day waiting period, making a last-minute purchase ineffective. - Storm Solutions says hurricane shutters and panels cost less, install faster and protect existing glass. - The company says its shutters meet or exceed Miami-Dade Notice of Acceptance standards under the Florida Building Code. - Storm Solutions points homeowners to Florida's My Safe Florida Home program, which offers a free wind mitigation inspection and a matching grant for qualifying improvements including impact windows, impact doors and shutters. - Program funding is awarded based on availability, and homeowners are directed to check current application status and eligibility rules before applying. - Homeowners can also use a wind mitigation inspection report with their insurer to check whether all available opening-protection discounts are being applied. - Storm Solutions says it does not use subcontractors. - The company says factory-authorized employees perform installations. - Products carry a 20-year factory warranty and a five-year Storm Solutions warranty. - Storm Solutions operates a showroom on Metro Parkway in Fort Myers and offers free estimates.

Between the lines: - The warning reflects a broader Florida reality: hurricane prep is limited not just by weather, but by supply chains, permitting, and insurance rules. - The timing pressure is especially high in late season, when demand rises and insurers are most likely to restrict changes. - For homeowners who cannot complete impact-window projects quickly, shutters become the fastest practical option.

What's next: - Homeowners who want impact windows, doors or shutters may need to move before the next named storm or watch advisory changes the insurance landscape. - Buyers interested in My Safe Florida Home grants should verify current funding and eligibility now, not after a storm is on the map. - Homeowners considering coverage changes should review policy options before hurricane watches trigger binding restrictions.

The bottom line: - In Southwest Florida, hurricane protection is a pre-season decision, not a storm-day purchase.