Plus, FORTIFIED homes show true insurance savings
Florida reinsurance remains at reasonable prices for the second hurricane season in a row, a new study helps prove insurance savings from FORTIFIED-built homes, there’s a new push for federally-backed mortgages to accept …
The impacts of severe hurricanes are often wide-reaching and multifaceted, and Helene and Milton’s paths of devastation in Florida will be no exception. With so many residents suffering flood damage and without flood insurance to help repair their homes, what …
Help for new and existing homes
Why were some homes in Hurricanes Helene and Milton heavily damaged while others sustained little or no damage? Much of the answer lies with the building materials and techniques used in their construction. I’m …
By Fred Malik, Managing Director of FORTIFIED at the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety
As communities across Florida begin to rebuild in the wake of Hurricanes Helene and Milton, it is important to understand the role that resilient …
The latest forecasts
Springtime means rising water temperatures in an Atlantic Ocean that is already warmer than usual and with it, a rising hurricane risk to match. Colorado State University (CSU) released its annual hurricane forecast for this upcoming storm …
by David Grindley, MCE, PE
Buildings with damaged siding may now need code-required upgrades when they’re repaired. That’s one of the notable changes in the 8th Edition of the Florida Building Code (2023), which went into effect on December …
Latest FEMA report on Ian
FEMA has released a fourth Mitigation Assessment Team (MAT) report on Hurricane Ian, assessing storm and flood damage to Florida homes from the September 2022 Cat 5 hurricane. It’s a follow-up to the previous reports …
As hurricane claims grow
Homeowners insurance companies continue to adjust their Florida portfolios as Hurricane Ian claims climb another $2 billion in three months, a global reinsurance company says the growing number of coastal residents is driving Florida’s increasingly expensive …
Vegetation seemingly helped counter storm surge
A final report on Hurricane Ian submitted to the Florida Building Commission contains conclusions and recommendations that provide new insight on the Category 5 storm’s damage and what changes may be needed to the …
Storm surge, rather than wind caught communities off-guard
An interim report submitted to the Florida Building Commission on May 10 says that Southwest Florida coastal communities impacted by last September’s Hurricane Ian were “ill-prepared” for the storm surge and flooding, …