Because applying tape to your window will not offer any type of protection to your home against the wind. It can also be very difficult to remove the tape after the storm. This time would be better spent cleaning up anything in your yard that can be picked up and blown around in high winds, to keep those things from smashing windows. Plywood CAN be considered a “Code-Approved” hurricane protection product, but only when it’s installed with very specific hardware pieces and methods. It’s safe to say that 99% of homeowners using plywood are not following the “Code-Approved” methods of installation. Plywood is not an effective alternative, warns IBHS, and should only be used as a last-minute, “better than nothing” line of defense. The chances are pretty good that the plywood sheets will get wet, will warp, and won’t be adequate for protecting against dangerous projectiles. Plywood also can get wet, moldy, and require storage.