Louisiana’s new Fortify Homes Program launched Monday.The state plans to offer two rounds of 500 grants, each totaling up to $10,000. Homeowners who apply are required to repair or replace their homes to the FORTIFIED Roof standard set by the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety.”(A) fortified roof is what we call an above code standard,” Dan Mills, CEO of the Home Builders Association of Greater New Orleans, said. “It’s a little bit stronger than the codes that we have in Louisiana today, which we just passed in January and became law. We have very strong codes here, but fortified uses independent evaluators. They’re focused on the edge strip around your roof. They’re focused on sealing and securing the waterproof aspect of the roof. They’re focused on the nails, which provide stronger uplift resistance from wind and fortified shingles. (They are) stronger shingles, architectural shingles that will protect the roof.”The application process opened at noon, specifically for people insured by Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corporation. Grants will be handed out on a first-come, first-served basis.Those looking to learn more about the program and apply can do so here.Mills said if selected for the program, there are several steps a homeowner will have to follow. “If you’re going to go with a fortified roof, then you must have an evaluator come out and inspect your home first,” Mills said. “For a few hundred dollars, they’re going to see if your home is eligible. If it’s eligible, they will work with the roofing installer to make sure that it’s installed according to those standards, and they will issue a certificate that must be renewed every five years.”Thanks to a new state law, insurance providers are now required to offer discounted rates to people who have a fortified roof.”It’s a great opportunity, and the goal of this program is to increase the number of resilient roofs within our housing stock to a level that will attract insurance carriers to come back,” Mills said.However, many homeowners replaced their homes after Hurricane Ida devastated Southeast Louisiana in 2021. Ross Shales, a local insurance agent, told WDSU that there could still be discounts available to those individuals.”That new roof, you may actually be able to shop better having a new roof because most of the companies, for example, SURE Insurance opened back up last week, and they’re requiring a roof that’s five years old or newer,” Shales said. A second application process will open at a later date for homeowners insured by providers other than Citizens. Another 500 grants will be awarded at that time. In the meantime, the Home Builders Association of Greater New Orleans will host a homeowner’s seminar, where the Fortify Homes Program will be discussed, on Oct. 18 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.Anyone wishing to attend can RSVP here.
Louisiana’s new Fortify Homes Program launched Monday.
The state plans to offer two rounds of 500 grants, each totaling up to $10,000. Homeowners who apply are required to repair or replace their homes to the FORTIFIED Roof standard set by the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety.
“(A) fortified roof is what we call an above code standard,” Dan Mills, CEO of the Home Builders Association of Greater New Orleans, said. “It’s a little bit stronger than the codes that we have in Louisiana today, which we just passed in January and became law. We have very strong codes here, but fortified uses independent evaluators. They’re focused on the edge strip around your roof. They’re focused on sealing and securing the waterproof aspect of the roof. They’re focused on the nails, which provide stronger uplift resistance from wind and fortified shingles. (They are) stronger shingles, architectural shingles that will protect the roof.”
The application process opened at noon, specifically for people insured by Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corporation. Grants will be handed out on a first-come, first-served basis.
Those looking to learn more about the program and apply can do so here.
Mills said if selected for the program, there are several steps a homeowner will have to follow.
“If you’re going to go with a fortified roof, then you must have an evaluator come out and inspect your home first,” Mills said. “For a few hundred dollars, they’re going to see if your home is eligible. If it’s eligible, they will work with the roofing installer to make sure that it’s installed according to those standards, and they will issue a certificate that must be renewed every five years.”
Thanks to a new state law, insurance providers are now required to offer discounted rates to people who have a fortified roof.
“It’s a great opportunity, and the goal of this program is to increase the number of resilient roofs within our housing stock to a level that will attract insurance carriers to come back,” Mills said.
However, many homeowners replaced their homes after Hurricane Ida devastated Southeast Louisiana in 2021.
Ross Shales, a local insurance agent, told WDSU that there could still be discounts available to those individuals.
“That new roof, you may actually be able to shop better having a new roof because most of the companies, for example, SURE Insurance opened back up last week, and they’re requiring a roof that’s five years old or newer,” Shales said.
A second application process will open at a later date for homeowners insured by providers other than Citizens. Another 500 grants will be awarded at that time.
In the meantime, the Home Builders Association of Greater New Orleans will host a homeowner’s seminar, where the Fortify Homes Program will be discussed, on Oct. 18 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Anyone wishing to attend can RSVP here.