BATON ROUGE — Louisiana is in the middle of hurricane season, and roofing is a vital aspect of keeping your home safe during severe weather. The Louisiana Fortify Homes Program is offering grants up to $10,000 for homeowners to upgrade their current roof to meet standards set by the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety, according to its website.
The grant will be through a lottery system. Registration for the newest round of grants opens at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 18. It will close at 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 20.
Homeowners can make a profile on the website during this time frame or update an existing profile to register. Homeowners need to log in to their profile before they can submit an application.
Another option homeowners can choose is to self-fund their Fortify Homes roof project. To do this, find a Fortified professional on the grant’s website and contact your insurance agent about adding the Fortified endorsement to your policy.
There are several requirements for eligibility, and homeowners are encouraged to check their eligibility before applying for the grant. Some of the program requirements include:
- Homeowners applying for a grant should wait to see if they are selected to participate before contacting an evaluator or contractor.
- Homeowners selected for a grant will be responsible for paying evaluation fees for the entire evaluation process.
- Homeowners are only eligible for their primary residence and must verify if they have a homestead exemption on the property during the application process.
- Homeowners must provide proof of an active residential insurance policy with wind coverage. If they live in a Special Flood Hazard Area as designated by FEMA, they must also provide proof of flood insurance.
- New construction homes, condominiums and mobile homes are not eligible.
What is a Fortified Roof?
A Fortified roof, according to the program’s website, is a roof that meets standards based on years of research from the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety. The roof helps to protect from strong winds, hail, and hurricanes or tornadoes.
• Stronger edges: The program requires specific materials and installation methods, including a wider drip edge and fully adhered starter strip. This can help prevent wind from going underneath the roof and tearing it off.
• A sealed roof deck: Roof decks are sealed to help prevent water damage normally caused by exposed wood decking if roof coverings come off.
• Better attachment methods: The program uses ring-shank nails, which can double the strength of the roof.
• Impact-resistant shingles: To protect against hail, this option in the program requires stronger shingles.
Homeowners can also visit www.fortifiedhome.org for more information on the roofing standard.
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