After the devastating 2004 hurricane season (which was followed by Katrina and Rita in 2005) the Protecting People First Foundation commissioned ABS Consulting to study the impact of hurricanes on various window-protection technologies. 

They studied Shutters, Hurricane Screens, Impact Resistant Glass (Laminated), Plywood -- and Safety and Security Window Film

In short, they found that the differences in performance of the technology is dramatic in some cases -- and that structures that had security window film installed survived storms in which the next-door structure that did not have it was destroyed or heavily damaged.  

The catastrophic chain-of-events begins with wind-borne debris that breaks a window, allowing the wind to rush in. Air going in needs to go out and the easy way out is UP, pulling off a roof. The same negative impact could happen from a debris strike by an urban tornado.

Once the envelop of a structure is breached, the researchers found that it led to a significant increase in the internal ir pressure that can result in a wide range of damage including total building collapse and structure failure.  Security film kept structures both secure and dry.

The above photo shows how security window film prevented a breach of a sky window at the Bon Secours St. Joseph Hospital in Port Charlotte, Florida.

Above that is a photo of a window locking system sheered off by the force of Hurricane Charley in 2004.