Storm panels — aluminum hurricane shutters and clear polycarbonate panels — are the most affordable rated hurricane protection available. A full home with aluminum panels typically costs 40–60% less than accordion shutters covering the same openings. If budget is the primary constraint and you are a full-time resident who will be present before a storm, storm panels are an excellent, code-compliant, insurance-credit-eligible solution.

The downside is deployment time and physical effort. Installing panels on a home with 15–20 openings takes 30–90 minutes, requires lifting and positioning each panel, and can be difficult for a single person on upper-floor windows. If a storm approaches faster than forecast, panels can become a liability rather than an asset.

Accordion shutters, roll down shutters, bahama shutters, and colonial shutters are permanently mounted and deploy in under a minute. For second-home owners who may not be present when a storm approaches, permanent shutters are the only practical option. For elderly homeowners or those with mobility limitations, the ease of deployment is critical.

Permanent shutters also provide year-round security benefits — accordion and roll down shutters are extremely difficult to force open, making them a meaningful deterrent against break-ins during hurricane evacuations when coastal neighborhoods are empty for days at a time.