Storm protection has evolved almost as much as storm prediction over the years. Here's some of the latest items designed to keep you, your family and your property as safe as possible.

Window protection

Translucent fabric storm panels and pull down shutters are the latest trend and newest technology offered in window, entrance and porch protection.

George Brearey with Hurricane Shield Systems in Beaufort said accordion shutters, aluminum panels, polycarbonate panels and fabric panels are the choices now available.

"The hottest seller down in Florida is the fabric shutter," Brearey said. "The material used is the same type material that is used in trampolines, and it is offered in a variety of colors. When it is not in use, it rolls up and is hidden."

Tim Sutton with Atlantic Breeze in Morehead City said new technology in non-fabric shutter material provides a more durable, lighter weight product that requires no power to operate.

"Newer materials used are much stronger - they're virtually unbreachable," Sutton said. "And they no longer require electricity and are easy to operate."

An alternatives to plywood over windows is polycarbonate panels, available at home improvement stores. These panels are opaque, lightweight and reusable.

"They come in common sizes, four by eight and four by six, and can be cut to fit with a fine tooth circular saw," said Richard Brunston, the store manager at the Lowe's in Surf City. "They are 200 times stronger than glass and weigh a lot less than plywood - 16 pounds versus 84 pounds of plywood the same size. The store sells anchors and clips and the channels to self-install the panels."

Garage protection

Russ Morgan with AluCraft America, Inc. also recommends strengthening garage doors - the largest and weakest opening in many homes - prior to a hurricane's approach.

"If your garage door was built prior to 2006, it may not be adequate," Morgan said. "There are braces made of lightweight, aircraft-grade aluminum, which can be installed easily in less than five minutes per brace, and they can secure the door for a fraction of what it would cost for a new hurricane-resistant garage door."

Generators

Adverse weather conditions often lead to power outages, and generators have long provided a short-term solution.

They still do the same, but now they do it with less noise.

"Over the last couple years generators designed for home use have gotten quieter and bigger, so they can provide plenty of outlets and will usually run up to eight hours on a tank of gas," Mike Bredice, from Lejeune Honda Kawasaki, said.

He also said electric start versus pull-start generators have become more popular for ease of use.

Thomas Bland, with Onan-Coastal Diesel Service, Inc. in New Bern, said newer generations come with another great feature.

"Generators are being designed much quieter and they have code indicators for trouble-shooting, so it is easier to diagnose what is wrong," Bland said.

Emergency equipment and supplies

Carteret County Planner Amanda Kendrick-Webb was busy showing off a new product called Heater Meals. These self-heating boxed meals with a three-year shelf life do not require electricity and come in a variety of offerings like southwest chicken with rice and beans; green pepper steak with rice; chicken and noodles in gravy; and vegetarian pasta fagioli. Outdoor supply stores are advertising the meals online.

All Lowe's home improvement stores have a hurricane island with an array of the latest products to help prepare for a storm, Brunston said. He said the latest in illumination products is light emitting diode (LED).

"A lot of products for lighting have gone to LED because it's so much more efficient," Brunston said. "You can get hours and hours of light on one set of batteries."

Weather Ready Lights says its LED flashlights will operate approximately 225 hours on one set of batteries.

The store's hurricane island offers an array of products such as: National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather Radio; batteries; flashlights; a first aid kit and tarps.

"As a company, we have an emergency command center, so once we know where a storm may hit, supplies will be diverted to that area to prevent shortages," Brunston said.

There is also an array of high tech equipment available online such as thermoelectric coolers, which run on 12-volt auto batteries; solar chargers for cell phones; collapsible water carriers that will handle five gallons of water and fold up when not in use; hand crank flashlights and radios; mosquito repellant wipes; battery-powered fans; and self heating washcloths that clean and moisturize - a product that can come in handy when there is no water and the temperature keeps rising.

Brunston said the biggest thing most people are not prepared for is storing water. He also suggested each home have a couple of tarps on hand in the event of leaks or damage to serve as temporary damage control.