Hurricane Sally caused widespread destruction in Alabama in 2020, yet a significant number of homes stood strong. Houses built with Fortified home standards had fewer repairs and lower insurance claims.
A recent study from the University of Alabama, shared by the Insurance Journal, revealed how this approach saved millions.
What is a Fortified home?
The Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety designed the voluntary Fortified program to protect homes from severe storm damage.
Per IBHS, a Fortified home follows guidelines that focus on stronger roofs, sealed roof decks, and reinforced doors. The construction goes a step further than standard building codes to make homes better prepared to survive hurricane winds.
Fortified standards also help ensure that the roof, walls, and foundation connect firmly, per the UA study. A certified inspector reviews the retrofits. If they meet all the guidelines, the home earns an official Fortified designation.
Why is having a Fortified home important?
The UA research, published by the Alabama Department of Insurance & Center for Risk and Insurance Research, covered 40,195 insured homeowners. The survey sample included 7,417 Fortified houses.
Stay hydrated and refreshed this holiday season — without any sugar or harmful additives Nuun’s zero-sugar hydration tablets are a perfect, guilt-free way to enhance your water throughout the day. You’ll get five essential electrolytes for everyday hydration — with zero grams of sugar. Plus, Nuun tablets are certified vegan and gluten-free, and they’re the perfect size to keep in your car, purse, or anywhere you'll want a healthy, restorative drink. Learn more → |
The study found Fortified Gold homes had fewer insurance claims — down 76%. And when there was damage, repair costs dropped by up to 24%.
"It worked like gangbusters," Alabama insurance commissioner Mark Fowler said, per Insurance Journal.
According to the study, if every home had joined Fortified Gold, families could have saved $34.6 million on repairs they had to pay themselves. Insurers would have saved another $111.8 million in storm payouts — a 75% decline.
How Fortified standards help beyond storm protection
Fortified upgrades protect your home long before a storm hits. In Alabama, many insurers give up to 55% off windstorm premiums for Fortified homes, per the Fortified website.
There's a reason dermatologists personally use this daily moisturizing sunscreen more than any other brand Dermatologists see and understand skin at a much deeper level than the rest of us, and they know that the perfect SPF both protects and corrects your skin. That's why they trust, recommend, and personally use EltaMD more than any other brand. EltaMD's clinically tested formulas are designed with dermatologists to meet the needs of any skin type or condition. They're also designed for consistent daily wear to build long-term resilience with a moisturizing, lightweight, non-comedogenic texture — plus hyaluronic acid to help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Learn more → |
|
How much money do you plan to spend on home improvement projects this year? Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. |
Under $1K 😎 You can also get help to pay for these upgrades. The Strengthen Alabama Homes program offers up to $10,000 in grants for Fortified retrofits.
And when you sell, buyers are more often willing to pay about 7% more for a house with these protections in place, according to a study published in Resilient Cities and Structures.
Other states — like Georgia, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and the Carolinas — offer similar incentives. They include discounts and grants that make it easier for more families to strengthen their homes.
Even as storms intensify, building homes to withstand them can lead to fewer losses. While upgrades to boost resilience may require upfront investment, not preparing now can cost much more down the road.
Fortified homes prove small upgrades today can save thousands tomorrow. Similarly, making your home a smart home can improve efficiency and save money on utilities. Learning more about critical climate issues can also help you better plan for what's next.
Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Cool Picks
