The FORTIFIED Home™ program, run by the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS), provides construction and retrofit guidelines to strengthen homes against severe weather. It includes three tiers:

• FORTIFIED Roof: Reinforces the roof system.
• FORTIFIED Silver: Adds enhancements like reinforced windows and doors.
• FORTIFIED Gold: Implements a continuous load path—integrating roof, walls, and foundation for maximum resilience.

Alabama’s Department of Insurance administers the Strengthen Alabama Homes (SAH) program, which provides significant financial and insurance incentives for homeowners:

• Grants up to $10,000 for eligible primary residences to retrofit to a FORTIFIED standard.
• Insurance Premium Discounts:
• FORTIFIED Roof: ~25–35%
• FORTIFIED Silver: ~35–45%
• FORTIFIED Gold: ~45–55% off the wind portion of homeowner’s insurance.
• Tax Deduction: Homeowners may deduct the lesser of 50% of retrofit costs or $3,000 from their gross income.

• Inception & Reach:
• The program began around 2015–2016. Since then, over 8,700 homes have received retrofits through more than $86 million in grants.
• Coverage & Adoption:
• Alabama has over 50,000 FORTIFIED-certified homes—comprising a large majority (~80%) of all such homes nationwide.
• Effectiveness:
• Homes built or retrofitted to FORTIFIED standards experienced 55–74% fewer insurance claims, with 14–40% less severe losses—as demonstrated during Hurricane Sally in 2020.
• Insurance Market Stabilization:
• The initiative has helped stabilize Alabama’s insurance market, with substantial premium reductions and more insurers willing to write policies in previously high-risk areas.

• How to Apply:

1. Go to:  https://www.strengthenalabamahomes.com/
2. Register online and upload required documents (e.g., proof of homeowner’s insurance and tax details).
3. Hire a certified FORTIFIED evaluator.  Southeast Roofing & Construction is a Fortified Contractor.
4. Receive and compare three contractor bids.
5. Work completed by certified contractors; grant funds are paid directly to them.
6. Once work passes inspection, the home is certified FORTIFIED.

• Certification Renewal:
• FORTIFIED certification must be renewed every five years to maintain insurance benefits.
• Community Experiences:
• Many residents report fierce demand upon application openings—"like getting Taylor Swift tickets," as one official put it.
• Reddit users recount how the program helped fully retrofit homes, significantly reduced insurance costs, and was considered well worth the effort.

This program has proven cost-effective and resilience-building, offering:

• Direct financial support for homeowners.
• Major insurance savings and better insurability.
• Measurable reduction in damage and claims.
• A blueprint that other states—like Louisiana, Mississippi, and South Carolina—are already modeling.