There doesn’t seem to be any doubt that weather patterns are changing around the world and specifically here in the United States. This summer saw record high temperatures in Florida, California, and many other regions. Further, record rain and storm surge from hurricanes has caused hundreds to lose their lives and billions in property damage. This may make a homeowner decide to not add a solar system to their home because the solar system itself may get damaged. However, as you will learn here, a solar system is perhaps the best thing you can do to protect your home and family in the event of a large storm or natural disaster. So, how can solar panels protect your home in a storm?
I live on the Gulf Coast of Florida. My wife and I love it here. It’s beautiful. The people are great. And there is so much to do. Especially if you like to hike, bike, kayak, fish, hunt, go boating or otherwise just enjoy nature. But it is also one of the most dangerous places to live in our country. Particularly in the last few years. We lived in Estero, FL which borders Ft. Myers to the south. That area took a direct hit from Hurricane Ian in September of 2022. It is impossible to describe the devastation. Thousands of homes were lost, it caused $112 billion in damage, and 150 Floridians lost their lives.
In July of 2024, we moved back to Largo, FL which is on the Gulf Coast nestled between St. Petersburg to the south and Clearwater to the north. We lived here for 6 years before moving to Estero. In those 6 years there was just one major storm, Hurricane Irma, which by comparison caused very little damage to our area. However, there were 83 deaths and 65% of the homes in the Florida Keys were damaged.
Then in September of this year (2024), Hurricane Helene showed us that we had not seen the worst. Homes along the Gulf were damaged by the storm surge. Flooding was unprecedented for the beach area. Many have lost everything inside their homes and perhaps will need to tear it down and rebuild. Over 200 people lost their lives as this storm ravaged the Carolinas and Tennessee. Early estimates are that damage will total over $200 billion.
Solar Can Save Your Home and Even Your Life
These storms were very powerful and of course, people are concerned with installing solar on their roof in the event such a storm hits their area. There are other types of weather events such as hailstorms, tornados, and even earthquakes. What I will boldly tell you is that a solar system on your home would be your best protection from damage in any of these types of weather events. Not just during the storm, but if you have a back-up battery system along with solar, you will still have power. That alone could save your life.
The video below shows interviews of homeowners with solar systems in Southwest Florida that experienced Hurricane Ian in September of 2022. Hear what they had to say about owning a solar system during a Category 5 hurricane with sustained winds that reached 150 mph.
You may still be skeptical about how solar can protect your home. You might agree that having power if the grid goes down would be an advantage. But can solar panels protect your home and withstand hurricane force winds or survive a hailstorm? Let’s explore that further.
Can Solar Panels Protect Your Home and Roof in a Hailstorm?
Hailstorms can damage roofs, there is no doubt. Newer solar panels have been designed and manufactured to withstand violent hailstorms and become a protective layer for your roof. The same is true with tree limbs and other debris blown onto your roof by a storm’s winds. The debris might otherwise cause damage to a roof. But it will have a much harder time getting through your solar panels.
After watching this video of some extraordinary testing methods, you should have no doubt as to the durability of solar panels.
Can Solar Panels Protect Your Home During Hurricane Force Winds?
The newest solar panels are designed to withstand extreme weather conditions, including hurricane-force winds. Many solar panels are engineered and tested to endure wind speeds of up to 140-160 mph, which covers most Category 4-5 hurricanes.
Installation: Properly installed solar panels with secure mounting systems are crucial for withstanding high winds. The racking system, which holds the panels in place, must meet local building codes, especially in hurricane-prone areas. All solar system installations must be approved and inspected by local building departments to ensure they meet these standards. Building codes in hurricane-prone regions, such as Florida or the Gulf Coast, often have stricter requirements for solar installations to ensure they can survive hurricanes.
Panel Design: Modern solar panels are built to be highly durable, with tempered glass and reinforced framing. Some models are rated to resist even higher wind speeds, depending on local standards such as in the Miami-Dade County area in Florida.
Another factor is how solar panels sit on your roof. Typically, there is a 4” to 6” gap between the solar panel and the surface of the roof. If strong winds hit your roof, it will find its way under your solar panels, and the reinforced mounts will effortlessly keep the solar panels attached to your roof.
Solar panels installed on a roof can change how wind interacts with the surface. Instead of wind directly hitting the roof, the panels act as a barrier that can deflect some of the wind, potentially reducing its direct impact on roofing materials.
In a similar way to how they protect a roof from sun exposure, solar panels can shield parts of the roof from wind-driven debris, rain, and hail, which can help extend the life of the roofing materials underneath.
When properly installed, solar panel racking systems are securely attached to the roof, potentially adding a layer of rigidity and support. The racking systems are designed to be aerodynamic, so they minimize wind resistance, helping to prevent uplift forces.
Drone Fly Over After a Hurricane
Watch this video posted on YouTube by Northwest Florida Daily News to show homes damaged from a hurricane in the Florida panhandle in 2019. The production quality is low so you have to watch for 45 seconds or so before you see the difference between two neighborhoods. The 1st shown has homes that do not have solar. The roofs were stripped down to the plywood on most roof planes. The homes in the neighborhood across the street all have solar. You’ll see other roof planes that do not have solar panels on the same house showing bare plywood. This demonstrates that solar panels indeed protect a roof from high winds.
What’s interesting is that the solar panels not only protected the roof area under the panels, but they protected the whole roof plane. How could that be? Solar panels can alter the airflow over a roof. By acting as barriers, they can deflect or reduce the intensity of wind that might otherwise hit the uncovered shingles. While they don't fully block all wind forces, they can create turbulence that reduces direct wind pressure on areas adjacent to the panels.
In high-wind events like hurricanes, solar panels can also reduce the wind uplift on surrounding roof areas. The panels and racking systems help redistribute wind forces, which may lessen the upward pressure that could cause shingles to lift or detach.
The Biggest Reason Why You Should Have Solar in a Storm?
The point of all the above was to demonstrate that solar panels can survive major, life-threatening storms. But the biggest benefit to having solar with a battery back-up system is that you will still have power to your home during and after the storm. This isn’t just for convenience. It could actually save your home from damage. One story that came out of Hurricane Ian in 2022, was that a man and his son were able to operate shop vacs during the storm to prevent water damage to their home.
Having power after the storm means that you can see at night, refrigerate and cook food, and stay abreast of developments in your area. You can also become a safe haven for friends and neighbors that may have to leave their home due to lack of power or damage.
Update Post Hurricane Helene & Hurricane Milton
How Well Do Rooftop Solar Systems Survive A Hurricane?
From CleanTechnica.com
Sunnova Energy International a leading financier of residential solar system in the United States claimed that, "98% of its rooftop solar systems were completely unaffected by the strong winds of Hurricane Milton and Hurricane Helene. That seems like a pretty good result. While I can’t say that I think 1 out of 50 systems being affected is great, I presume there are cases where the roofing wasn’t up to snuff or the installation work wasn’t done great or the property just got smashed by a truly severe wind. In any case, a 98% chance your solar PV system doesn’t have a blemish or a crack from a hurricane (or two) is quite good."
From Cleanenergy.org
Residential Solar Plus Battery Storage
Solar plus battery storage can also allow you to shelter in place during and after the storm as power companies work to restore power. When so many were without power for a week or more after Hurricane Helene, those with solar plus battery storage systems were able to keep the lights on. And a Florida neighborhood built to withstand hurricanes fared well recently during Hurricanes Helene and Milton: the homes were built above the flood zone and equipped with solar connected to withstand hurricane wind speeds. Additionally, batteries were installed with an emergency mode setting so they would stay charged to 100%. Batteries can be set to be fully charged during the storm, and the solar panels can recharge the batteries after the storm passes.
Let US Help You Protect Your Biggest Investment
Do not be hesitant to install solar because of damage from storms. Protecting your family home from damage is why you should install solar with battery backup because solar panels indeed can protect your home in a storm.
If you would like a free analysis of how solar could benefot you please call me direct at 619-252-9670. All I need is your address and copy of a recent electric bill. Then we'll meet via Zoom and I'll show you what I came up with.
