Every year, hurricanes are formed in the ocean and wreak havoc when reaching land. This usually occurs between the months of June until November in the Atlantic and from May to November in the northern Pacific Ocean.

There is nothing you can do when a category 2 or 4 hurricane is approaching fast. You may have to board up the windows and the doors then hide in the basement or seek higher ground until the weather improves.

Of course, boarding up using wood doesn't offer that much protection for the home. This is the reason that hurricane shutters as well as hurricane glass have been invented. Shutter contractors urge homeowners to have these in place even before the hurricane season begins.

One of the models available is the Bahamas shutter. This is a one-piece louvered shutter that can easily be attached above the window that can also be used to provide shade when the weather is sunny outside.

These are usually constructed in homes situated in the Caribbean or in California hence the name. The slit in the middle of each layer allows air to enter freely into the house.

When the rain is pouring down outside, you can just point the adjustable louver downward from the outside to prevent water from entering the house.

Bahamas shutters are generally made of aluminum. These are very stylish and can be painted to match the color of the house. Just make sure you check on the fasteners every so often to make sure there's no rust - truly the enemy of these kinds of shutters!

This type of shutter can be used for almost every type of window except those that have the arch design.

Hurricane shutters are available in home improvement stores. If the one you want is not available or there is no size available, then it is time to get in touch with a contractor.

This type of hurricane shutter can be installed within minutes of the contractor delivering the customized version for the home. It will just take a few days for someone from the company to come in and take the measurements for the windows.

Normally, these people will charge $18 to $30 per square foot so the individual will have to do the math to find out how much it will cost for every window in the house.

It will be a good idea then to get in touch with a few to be able to get a quote and then comparing the prices if you're really after a bargain.

The only problem with the Bahamas shutter is that it is unable to protect the windows well when the winds are very strong and there is flying debris everywhere. This also cannot be used to protect the doors so another type of shutter has to be used here.

Storm shutters are a necessity for those who live in the Midwest or southern states of the United States. Those who are deciding to move to these places should inquire if the house has some sort of protection against hurricanes.

Should the house not have the adequate defenses, perhaps investing in Bahamas shutters will be a good idea not only for protection from bad weather also to keep the home cool when it is windy outside.