Homeowners are looking for ways to protect their properties and lower their insurance premiums in a world where extreme weather events are occurring more frequently. In Louisiana, a new initiative called the Louisiana Fortify Homes Program (LFHP) is providing homeowners with the opportunity to do just that. This program, combined with the expertise of local construction professionals like Mackie One, is set to revolutionize the way Louisianans protect their homes.
The Louisiana Fortify Homes Program
The LFHP was established by state lawmakers, who allocated $30 million to the program. It allows eligible homeowners to apply for grants of up to $10,000 to retrofit their roofs to meet the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS) Fortified Roof Standard. This standard is a voluntary, beyond-code construction and re-roofing method that strengthens homes using locked-down roof edges, a sealed roof deck, ring-shank nails, and impact-resistant shingles. Structures built or retrofitted to the Fortified standard can withstand winds up to 130 mph, torrential rain, and hail up to 2″ in diameter.
The Role of Insurance
The LFHP is not just about strengthening homes; it’s also about reducing insurance premiums. Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon has stated that insurance companies will be required to provide actuarially justified discounts to policyholders who build or retrofit structures to comply with the IBHS Fortified standard. This could lead to significant savings for homeowners, with discounts ranging from 20 to 52% on the wind portion of their homeowner’s insurance.
Partnering with Mackie One
To take full advantage of the LFHP, homeowners will need to work with LFHP-approved contractors. This is where Mackie One comes in. As a family-run business with decades of experience in providing commercial and residential services in the greater New Orleans area, Mackie One is well-positioned to help homeowners navigate the LFHP process and carry out the necessary work to fortify their roofs.
The Bigger Picture
The LFHP is part of a broader effort by Louisiana policymakers to signal to insurance companies that the state is taking windstorm and hurricane mitigation efforts seriously. By strengthening properties to the fortified standard, Louisiana is showing insurance companies that it recognizes the risks posed by hurricanes and named storms and is taking proactive steps to address them.
The Louisiana Fortify Homes Program, in conjunction with homeowners insurance and the expertise of companies like Mackie One, offers a promising way for Louisiana homeowners to protect their homes and save on their insurance premiums. As the program rolls out, it will be interesting to see the impact it has on the state’s resilience to extreme weather events and the affordability of homeowners insurance.
