Storm Depot announced that it has alrady opened its first Retail Hurricane Protection Outlet in Jensen Beach, Florida. The store is the first of a planned 12-store chain to be in place before the start of the 2007 Hurricane season. The company stated that its planned stores will be located through out the Treasure Coast, encompassing Martin, St. Lucie and Indian River Counties, and will also be located in Palm Beach County. The 12 stores will sell a wide selection of hurricane shutters, hardware and related materials, which are all approved under the Florida Building Code. Look for this to spread throughout the gulf coast.

Each store is expected to contribute $550,000-$900,000 in revenue. The company stated that each store will offer installation services through licensed professionals.

Hurricane season starts June 1 and ends November 30 with the peak of the season being the August - September period. CSU Department of Atmospheric Science issued his first forecast for 2007 on December 8, 2006. The forecast calls for an above average hurricane season with 14 named storms, 7 hurricanes with 3-4 being intense hurricanes. They have also called for a 25% higher chance of landfall occurring in Florida than the historical average. According to the University of Colorado’s Forecast team, 2007 will be an above average year for hurricane activity. Their report states, “We foresee an above-average Atlantic basin tropical cyclone season in 2007. We anticipate an above-average probability of United States major hurricane landfall.”