The Storm Stoppers® Story:

Storm Stoppers were invented in September of 2004 by Orlando entrepreneur John D. Smith.  Mr. Smith had invented and patented Collegiate Hubcaps and Collegiate Fanwaves, and started marketing them on college campuses in 2000.  Collegiate Hubcaps were held onto wheels with 3M Dual Lock fasteners.  Collegiate FanWaves were made of white corrugated plastic.  In 2002 Smith was interviewed on CNBC Squawk Box by CNBC’s Mike Hegedus.

In the fall of 2004, the State of Florida was hit by several major hurricanes. Stymied by the lack of plywood available, Smith decided to invent his own hurricane protection.  Using the white corrugated plastic from his Clever Fan Waves, Smith secured it to his home's window frames with the 3M Dual Lock fasteners from his Collegiate Hubcaps. The new invention worked, protecting Smith’s Orlando home from flying debris during Hurricane Frances.

Shortly after Hurricane Frances hit Orlando, Hurricane Ivan was approaching the west coast of Florida, on a similar track like Hurricane Charley. Orlando TV stations were reporting that no plywood was available. In a Public Service Announcement-type message to help Orlando homeowners, on September 10, 2004, WESH Channel 2’s Bill Shafer did a feature story on Smith's Storm Stoppers invention. Smith's phones rang off the hook with customer demand, and a new industry was born.  

Send mail to sales@storm-stoppers.com with questions or comments about this web site.
Copyright © 2004 Storm Stoppers^®