Most consumers would agree that there are immense benefits to having windows and doorways fitted with hurricane shutters or some form of protection during hurricane season.  However, there are a few issues and risks associated with their installation and usage that should be addressed to ensure complete safety.

Unpredictable and often life-threatening events occur during intense weather like hurricanes.  One of these is fire.  Every person inside of a building should understand the quickest and most effective way to escape should a fire break out while hurricane shutters are installed and closed.  Fire extinguishers should be present and members of the household should be well versed in their use. 

Adding to the topic of fire is the risk of the actual shutters themselves catching on fire from other causes.  Because many residents leave the shutters on for extended periods of time, even when there are no impending hurricanes, the risk of the wood that some shutters contain poses a fire hazard. 

For this very reason, many counties require that residents remove the plywood covering windows after a specified number of days of a hurricanes passing.  In other areas the county asks that the shutters be stored (if they are not permanent fixtures) within a fixed time period.  Some counties have implemented a fine in order to enforce these laws.