If you are like hundreds of homeowners here in Eastern North Carolina you may be shopping for a new roof, post Hurricane Florence. If that is the case, keep reading to learn about Fortified Homes.
It has been painful to witness the millions/billions of dollars in destruction to homes and businesses, and the loss of personal family memories. Your adult children’s first grade Christmas ornament will no longer adorn your Christmas tree, and countless other memorabilia has been destroyed or irreparably damaged.
As soon as possible take these steps:
- Call your insurance company.
- When you can safely return home, photograph/video the damage, and then get the wet stuff OUT — rugs, furniture, wall sections. Mold will delay your return much longer than other problems.
- Cover (perhaps with a tarp) any broken openings to your home to protect the interior from further water damage.
- Contact FEMA to register for help at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing and speech impaired.
Fortified Homes
RICHBURG,SC- October 19,2010- IBHS Research Center wind test demonstration subjected two full-scale houses to thunderstorm and straight-line wind conditions common in the MIdwest. The homes are essentially the same, except that the house on the left was built using conventional Midwestern construction standards and the house on the right was built to the IBHS FORTIFIED for Safer Living® standard for Midwest construction. (Scott Iskowitz/IBHS)
Before you sign on the line to replace your roof with another traditional shingle roof, please take a few minutes to learn about “fortified homes”. You can learn more at here.
One advantage to a fortified roof is a sealed roof deck which can significantly reduce the risk of leaks during wind driven rainstorms. After the tornadoes in Alabama in 2011, a study by the University of Alabama determined that homeowners on Mobile Bay who replaced their homes with a fortified home found that their property values also increased.
NCIUA
On a pilot program basis, the North Carolina Insurance Underwriting Association (NCIUA) is providing special roof mitigation coverage for policyholders in rating territories 110 and 120 which encompasses the Outer Banks and Barrier Islands. The NCIUA is providing this coverage by working together with the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) to allow policyholders to upgrade their roofs when replacement is needed after a covered loss, subject to the terms and conditions of the policy and attached endorsements. If you have NCIUA as your carrier visit this website: https://disastersafety.org/fortified/nciua/.
- If you do have NCIUA; call 833-262-4247, you will be assigned a coordinator to walk you through the process. If you are eligible for a fortified roof, you will have access to contractors who have received fortified building training, or you can use your own contractor.
- If you don’t have NCIUA, follow this link to find a certified fortified evaluator in your state.
The Wall Street Journal did an article explaining the difference in a fortified home after Hurricane Harvey.
Spend those hard-earned insurance dollars wisely by taking the time to educate yourself about all your options. Be patient. We will rebuild and be a stronger community.
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