A first-of-its kind study by the University of Alabama’s Center for Risk and Insurance Research (CRIR), commissioned by the Alabama Department of Insurance, has shown coastal homeowners with Fortified homes are better protected from hurricanes than those living with standard construction.
The peer-reviewed study analyzed the real-life effectiveness of the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) Fortified mitigation program, a voluntary construction and re-roofing standard designed to strengthen and protect homes from high winds and heavy rain, during Hurricane Sally.
The study found that Fortified homes had fewer insurance claims, lower repair costs, and less overall damage compared to regular homes. Homes built to the Fortified Roof standard had 73% fewer claims, 15% lower claim amounts, and 72% lower total losses. Homes built to the Fortified Gold standard did even better, with 76% fewer claims, 24% lower claim amounts, and 67% lower total losses.
If all regular homes had been upgraded to these Fortified standards, homeowners could have saved up to 65% on damages not covered by insurance, and insurance companies could have saved up to 75% in payouts.