Jaime Zabala and Fernanda Ferrell-Zabala with Thomas Connie Ruth, center, last year’s Hero Giveaway winners. PROVIDED

One local business is giving back to the community through a Hero Giveaway, which equips a home with hurricane protection.

Advanced Hurricane Technology Head of Marketing Fernanda Zabala said the business employs veterans who came up with the idea of a Hero Giveaway last year when the first giveaway — AHT’s patented 55mm rolldown hurricane shutters — were awarded to Thomas and Connie Ruth of Cape Coral.

Due to popular demand, Advanced Hurricane Technology is thrilled to announce an extension for its 2024 Hero Giveaway. All community heroes now have until May 6 to register for a chance to win free hurricane protection. The lucky winner will be revealed on May 10.

She said AHT seeks to protect lives and investments and also protect those that protect us.

“It is a contest open to military veterans, active veterans, immediate families and first responders,” she said.

It is open to residents of Lee and Collier county who own a home. The selection process is done by a third party. The recipient will receive a full home’s worth of shutters that are installed for them around the beginning of hurricane season.

Applications are being accepted at ahtworldwide.com. Installation will be planned for completion before the onset of hurricane season.

“Last year we had about 30 entries and we were really happy with Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Ruth, Cape Coral residents,” Zabala said.

Mr. Ruth, she said, is a disabled Navy veteran with health issues.

Now with a push of a button, his motorized shutters will help keep them safe.

“It’s something we want to do for the community. It is to make sure we are being part of the community that we live in and serve,” she said.

AHT also has given back to the community through Zabala’s book “Rosie and the Hurricane.”

“Cape Coral has a special place in my heart. I was a Naples resident, my family is in Naples, business in Fort Myers,” she said, adding she was prompted to write the book after Hurricane Ian.

The book tackles some of the fears of a hurricane coming, as well as living through a hurricane and teaching kids about preparedness. She read the book to a second-grade class at Oasis Elementary South School, and they left a mark on her heart.

“They are so incredibly resilient. They suffered through trauma and were able to turn that trauma into laughter,” Zabala said.

As a family company, they really value giving back to the community.

“The book is a big part of that,” she said.

The company now has a nonprofit – AHT – Education and Advocacy Fund, Inc., which will continue the journey of giving back to the community. The hope is to raise enough funds to provide the books free kindergarten through second grade students in Lee, Collier, and Charlotte counties.

“We have big plans for next year to continue to help in hurricane preparedness,” she said.

AHT educates people on how hurricanes can cause destruction.

“It’s not just debris, wind — what causes the most amount of damage is the difference in positive and negative pressure that pushes and pulls on roofs, doors, and windows,” Zabala said.

The company offers hurricane roll downs, accordions, and hurricane screens to protect the home.

In addition, Zabala said her father patented an end retention system that prevents the positive and negative pressure from pulling shutters off of their track.

“It helps to provide that extra level of security,” she said making it safe from the three main dangers of a hurricane.

The hurricane roll down shutters are motorized.

“It’s the best and strongest product we have in the market and easiest to deploy,’ Zabala said.

In addition, it has a WiFi hub making the deployment of the shutters accessible from anywhere.

“You can be traveling, snowbirds in their homes up north and know a hurricane is coming and deploy the shutters from a push of the button,” she said.

Accordion shutters are the most affordable product. Zabala said although not motorized, they are easy to open and shut on a horizontal opening and shutting motion. They are relatively easy to operate and have a secure lock to ensure they stay shut.

The hurricane screen is another patented product known as the super span as it covers larger spans up to 27 feet wide depending on the individual’s zone.

“It’s perfect for lanais. They do a fantastic job for lanais. It allows you to look out, but difficult to look in,” Zabala said. “It’s a privacy screen in addition to having hurricane protection.”

The AHT sales people can take a look at the home and share what the best product is for the specific openings of a home.

“We also work closely with HOA restrictions on products and colors,” she said.

Those interested in learning more about the hurricane protection can call 239-594-7722, visit ahtshutters.com, or visit the showroom at 16501 Old Airport Haul Road, Fort Myers.

Zabala said the large manufacturing plant allows individuals to come to the factory, test the product and get a behind the scenes look at how they are made.

“I am an engineer and I like to know how things work. On average our tickets are about $12,000 for a home. If I am going to spend that much money, I want to know what goes into the product that I am buying,” she said.

From the time of purchase to installation, they like to stay between four to six weeks, which is greatly dependent on the permit filing process and HOA approval, both of which are out of their control.

“We not only install, but we manufacture,” she said.

Zabala said there is no wrong time to look into shutters for a home.

“We live in a state that can pretty much guarantee to have at least one storm where you would want to protect your home,” she said. “There is no wrong time to do the research and come up with a decision with the right product for you.”

Zabala encourages individuals to really research who is installing the product on their home, as the product is only as good as the installation.

“If it is not installed well, it will not work well for your home,” she said. “We really put quality first and foremost. The products that we sell are products we use to protect our own families and our own homes.”