Hurricane Protection Testimonies

We recently had the misfortune of getting a direct hit by Wilma on Marco Island.  We did not evacuate so we could be in our home to monitor any damage.  We had installed 14 of our windows with your Storm Stoppers® panels which replaced plywood panels.  We installed your panels two days before Wilma hit.  Although we suffered roof damage and loss of our pool cage, we had no window damage thanks to your product.  Wilma was classified as a Category 3 storm with sustained winds of 125 with higher gusts.  We found the panels easy to put up and to take down, unlike the plywood.  I am also sending photos of our home with the panels up.  We wanted to let you know how your Storm Stoppers® panels worked for us.  Thank you.

Karen and Greg Salvi

Marco Island, Florida

October 26, 2005

Storm Stoppers® on home prior to Hurricane Wilma:

11/4/05

On Thursday before Hurricane Wilma struck our area, I found out about the incredible Storm Stoppers® offered by Hurriguard of North Palm Beach.  On a lark, I decided to give them a call.  I was surprised when owner Mike Columbo agreed to meet me at home after work.  He measured my windows and later that evening provided an estimate.  The estimate was thousands of dollars less than any other shutters I had considered.  The best part was he said he could install Storm Stoppers® the next day!

When I returned home Friday night I was greeted by great looking shutters and numerous neighbors asking about them.  Saturday and Sunday we waited for the storm to hit.  The opaque material allowed plenty of light to enter my house, so there was no claustrophobia during the weekend.

The construction of the Storm Stoppers® looked like they would live up to the specs explained in company videos and literature.  I was a bit wary of the “Dual Lock” type fasteners but the company claims had all proved true thus far.  As the first part of Wilma past, we all breathed a sigh of relief as no real damage occurred.  Little did we know that after the eye passed, the worst was yet to come.  The second part of the storm was extremely intense and caused much damage in my neighborhood.  The house directly behind me had its roof torn off and suffered severe damage.  As I hunkered down in my house, debris pounded the new Storm Stoppers®.  My roof creaked and the house shook.

Finally the storm passed and I went out to survey the damage.  Not one of the Storm Stoppers® sustained any damage and the “Dual Lock” fasteners had held better than the screws on plywood.  As a matter of fact, my decorative shutters were torn off the house, while the Storm Stoppers® did their job and didn’t budge.  I lost my screen porch, the decorative shutters, and a bit of soffit.  It was very minor damage compared to other houses in my area.  That evening I took the Storm Stoppers® down and was amazed at how light-weight they were and how easy they were to remove and store.

I am now a true believer.  I highly recommend these Storm Stoppers® and Hurriguard.  Mike, now I need a stack of your brochures and business cards as I’m continually approached for information on this remarkable storm protection.  Thanks for being there.

Jeff Prahm

Production Manager

Clear Channel Creative Services Palm Beach

November 17, 2005

Dear Storm Stoppers®:

Hurricane Wilma hit south Florida on October 24th.  The week before my morning show partner Jon Howe and I interviewed John Smith from Storm Stoppers because he was set to be in South Florida for a Home and Garden Show from 10-21 through the 23rd.  We were looking for interesting items to showcase, and Storm Stoppers fit the bill.  John claimed to have an alternative to plywood...a thin, opaque plastic that was lightweight, easy to handle, and fit on your windows and doors with velcro. (Now I know from experience it was 3M Dual Lock, which is a very high tech industrial fastener that just FASTENS like velcro.)  Anyway, as the interview was finishing, I said "John, how soon can I get these?" and he said "how soon do you want them?"  Long story short, I went home, measured my windows, all 10, plus a door, and called and gave him the measurements. The next morning at about 6:30, John, even though the home show had been cancelled due to the impending storm, actually drove to West Palm Beach from Orlando, and delivered my Storm Stoppers to me at the radio station!  I looked at the material, and thought that it would never work...if I could lift it with one hand, what would 100 mile an hour winds do to it!  2 days later, my handymen installed the "shutters" in about an hour and a half...I was amazed.  My house was light, I didn't feel closed in at all, and I could open the windows under the Storm Stoppers to let in the air and still feel safe.

That was on Friday October 21st.  3 days later, Wilma hit us. The last part of the storm was especially vicious, tearing roofs off, tearing PLYWOOD off, but not my Storm Stoppers.  5 blocks away, a Lutheran church was imploded by wind and totally destroyed.  I wasn't at home during the storm as I had to work, but after it passed I called my next door neighbor and she went to look.  Not one Storm Stopper® had come off my house. Once again, I was amazed...and very pleased.  There is no way I could have afforded accordion shutters for my home, and no way I personally could handle plywood...it's just too heavy.  For thousands of dollars less than accordion shutters, I now have an easy to apply and remove barrier against hurricanes.  An added bonus:  my city didn't get its power back for 2 weeks after Wilma.  I felt completely safe opening all my Storm Stopper windows in the pitch dark.  Storm Stoppers are definitely the way to go for window and door protection.  PS...I'm not removing them until November 30!

Pam Crosby Co-Host of The Morning Report NewsRadio 1290 WJNO West Palm Beach, FL

November 1, 2005

Dear Storm Stoppers®,

I bought Storm Stoppers® shutters right before Hurricane Wilma. I purchased them from your authorized Retail Dealer Hurriguard from North Palm Beach.  I had them on my house during Hurricane Wilma, and as you know, the second half of Wilma winds were in excess of 125 m.p.h.  The Storm Stoppers® held up, including one of the front window Storm Stopper® panels being hit by a flying tree branch. I find the Storm Stoppers® very easy to install and extremely safe. I have recommended them to friends who have purchased them.                                                                                             

Sincerely,

Arnold Berkenfeld

Lake Worth, FL

July 26, 2005

Dear John and Friends at Storm Stoppers®:

We are taking the time to send you this note to thank you for making our Hurricane Preparation so easy!  After weeks of research and visiting every Home Show out there...getting price quotes of up to $4800.00 for protection, it was refreshing to have your Rep visit us with a working sample and most importantly an amazing price.  We were able to cover TWO HOUSES for less than a THIRD of the price of ONE COMPETITIVE QUOTE for ordinary hurricane shutters.  Both my neighbor and I purchased Storm Stoppers®.  They were delivered the same day (we got in before the rush) and the installation was a snap!

We installed two houses over one weekend.  Between the three of us, one cleaned the windows, one measured, one cut...and we all applied the 3M fasteners.  We placed them on the window frames, and the amazing part is how wonderfully bright the inside of the house is when Storm Stoppers® are up.  One of the windows was just two inches smaller than your largest panel.  That window was so large, yet able to have one piece of product...most of the quotes we received were not able to include that window...and although it is tremendous, Storm Stoppers® are still easy to apply and remove.

Now comes the best part.  After the 24 hours (that you suggest keeping up Storm Stoppers® after the initial install) it took us UNDER A MINUTE PER WINDOW to REMOVE THEM!  They are lightweight and easy to store.  Light enough for my 13 year old son to help with.  We then gave Storm Stoppers® a test run...to see how long it would take us to apply them in the event a Hurricane Warning is in effect.  Each house took us under a half hour.  WOW, how cool is that.

The best part is my other neighbor next door was so impressed...he's due for delivery this week.  I have a feeling that our subdivision will be a walking billboard for Storm Stoppers® in the near future.

Well John, you and your Team are a blessing and we wish you all the success imaginable.

Good luck and God Bless,