It is obvious that hurricane shutters are made to protect the windows and homes from hurricane or severe storm. These shutters are absolutely necessary for places with common occurrence of hurricane like the Midwest in the US. However do bear in mind that no window coverings in the world could be 100% full proof. Having said that in my opinion it is still a good practice to install these shutters if the area that you live in are hurricane prone. Just like other types of window coverings there are different types of hurricane shutters to choose from. Here are some of them.
The first is storm panel shutter. They are usually made out of steel and enforced aluminum. These shutters are placed around the window or door and they are bolted in. They are not a permanent fixture as a lot of folks remove them after the hurricane season is over. They usually come with a few overlapping pieces for better enforcement and strength. These shutters are the easiest to install and is the most affordable.
The second type is the roll down shutter. These shutters are installed above the window so when you need it you just need to roll it down. They are usually a permanent fixture as you could simply raise it up when not needed. Most of them are made of out metal and they are also used to stop burglars from gaining entry into your home through the window. Some folks install the motorized version which is a lot more convenient but expensive.
Then there is the accordion shutter. Just like the name sake the shutter can folds and unfolds like an actual accordion. The shutters come in either 2 pieces or a single piece and they are installed on the windows. Some comes with locks and keys so you can safely secure them when needed.
Next is the colonial shutter. These shutters come in pairs and are installed vertically on both sides of the window. When needed you simply to fold the pieces together to protect the window. The colonial shutters are pretty attractive and can be used to add to your home décor apart from protecting your home from hurricanes.
Finally there is the Bahama shutter These shutters originate from the Caribbean Islands and they been used for ages over there mainly to protect the homes from severe storm. These shutters although resemble the colonial ones but the Bahama is not as robust. So it is recommended that you get the higher end shutters as the cheaper ones tend to be light and weak so it will fail during a thunderstorm.