January 22, 2025

By Ezra Amacher
Louisiana residents who upgrade their roofing beyond code construction will be eligible for grants that reduce their insurance premiums.

Louisiana Fortify Homes Program was established last year but without any funding. This month lawmakers passed a bill that included $30 million for the program. The LFHP offers homeowners up to $10,000 to fortify roofs in order to comply with the Fortified Roof Standard of the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety.

In a press conference held on June 14, Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon announced that the application process will begin in October.

Another law passed by lawmakers requires that insurance companies offer discounts to customers who retrofit or build structures to meet IBHS Fortified standards.

Smart Home America claims that Louisianans can save up to 52% when they retrofit their home or construct it according to the standards.

The Fortified standard will apply to all properties, whether they are commercial or residential. Mike Huval believes that the legislation will motivate more property owners to meet Fortified standards without a grant.

The bill requires that insurers provide a Fortified Roof standard endorsement for homeowner’s policies if damage occurs to their home.

The endorsement will be offered when a policy is written or renewed for a home that has not been reinforced after December 31.

Long-term solutions are available

Fortified uses ring-shank nailing, impact-resistant shingles, and roofing edge locking. The Fortified method for construction and roof re-roofing is stronger than the code. Real-world tests and lab results show Fortified buildings can handle winds of up to 130mph, torrential rainfall, and hail as large as 2 inches.

Donelon stated that “Fortified” is the long-term solution.

Unlike Louisiana, the Fortified Endorsement program in Alabama is not funded from the general state budget, but by the insurance sector. Alabama lawmakers passed a new law in 2020 requiring that every homeowner have a Fortified endorsement.

In Alabama, over 35,000 houses have met Fortified Standards. 6,000 were built with grant funding.

Donelon stated that “Within 8 seconds, Alabama was without funds.” They broke Taylor Swift’s record.

Louisiana budget constraints did not fund Fortified until this year when Louisiana legislators entered their legislative session with a $1.6 billion surplus.

Louisiana, like Alabama, will have a “first-come-first-served” application process.

The homestead exemption is only available for primary homes owned and occupied by the owner. Mobile or condominiums cannot qualify.

LFHP will require proof of flood and wind insurance if your home is located in a flood-prone area unless it has been damaged by a storm, non-hurricane wind or hail.

The homeowner may hire a contractor approved by LFHP to reinforce the roof.

The IBHS reviews the evaluation and issues a Fortified certificate.

If their roofs need to be repaired, grant recipients may have to cover the costs out of pocket. Roof replacements cost on average more than $11,000.

According to Fred Malik of FORTIFIED, the managing director at IBHS, a Louisiana homeowner should expect to spend an extra $1,200 to $2,000 for evaluator’s fees.

If Louisiana’s properties meet the standard fortification, insurers will know that it takes hurricane and windstorm mitigation very seriously.

Kirk Talbot, as insurance companies from around the nation look to Louisiana, said: “From an outsider’s perspective, our building code has really been tightened up, showing that we are aware of the problem.” “We are aware that hurricanes, named storms, and other large-scale events are likely to make landfall in Louisiana. We are taking action.”

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