Article

How to keep your displays dry during hurricane season

Destructive weather events like hurricanes can ruin displays, which need to keep running to display emergency messages. You need to take a few precautions to make sure your display keeps dry and running.

Image courtesy of iStock

September 17, 2019 by Bradley Cooper — Editor, ATM Marketplace & Food Truck Operator

Editor's Note: an earlier version of this article ran on Digital Signage, a Kiosk Marketplace sister publication.

The hurricane is rapidly heating up and shows no signs of slowing down. Hurricane Dorian is the most recent storm to emerge, killing at least 44 people in the Bahamas, according to a report by Fox News. It also left 350,000 residents and businesses without power in North and South Carolina on Sept. 6, according to a report by CBS News.

These destructive weather events can also potentially cause great damage to outdoor displays, which are regularly exposed to the elements. It is absolutely crucial that end users take steps to protect their displays, not just to make sure they continue operating but also to allow them to deliver emergency messages to residents in the path of hurricanes, tornados and other severe weather conditions.

Digital Signage Today spoke with Alex Foreman, marketing manager for outdoor signage manufacturer Watchfire Signs to get some key tips on how to keep displays from falling apart during the hurricane season.

Q. What are some ways to minimize damage during hurricanes or rough weather?

A. Do not turn the display off. Leave your sign running because it allows the internal fans to continue providing proper ventilation and prevents condensation from building up inside the cabinet. Also, a fully powered up sign is a community asset, allowing you to share important public safety announcements as long as there is still power.

Never cover the face of your digital display. Tarps or plastic against the face of the sign in high winds can cause damage to the LEDs or louvers.

Covering your sign seems like the logical way to protect your sign, but that will only increase the likelihood of it damaging the LEDs. The best way to minimize the damage is to leave the power on to keep the fans running and the sign dry.

Q. How can displays be used to keep citizens safe with live updates?

A. Public service announcements can be programmed at a moment's notice. You can let citizens know how far away the hurricane, announce a mandatory evacuation, provide evacuation route information, and provide assistance information for people.

Leaving the power on will allow you to use your display for important public safety announcements. Coordinate your efforts with the local emergency management agencies and the American Red Cross.

Q. What are some ways to keep out moisture from outdoor displays?

A. As mentioned, the best way to keep moisture from getting in your outdoor digitals signs is to make sure your sign stays on to keep the fans running and your sign dry.

About Bradley Cooper

---

Bradley Cooper is the editor of ATM Marketplace and Food Truck Operator. He was previously the editor of Digital Signage Today. His background is in information technology, advertising, and writing.

Connect with Bradley: