IBHS News Releases

IBHS and the DCA are establishing the Homeowners Incentives Team to develop a comprehensive set of public- and private-sector inducements for homeowners to make their homes less vulnerable before a hurricane or other disaster strikes. These incentives, which could come from banks, insurers, real estate agencies, energy companies, building materials manufacturers and resellers, local government and employers, will apply throughout the state for both new construction and retrofit projects for existing homes.

Team members will be drawn from key industries and agencies in Florida that have a stake in housing and community welfare. No similar program exists anywhere else in the country.

Douglas Buck, Director of the DCA’s Division of Housing and Community Development, said the incentives should motivate homeowners to take steps to protect themselves and their homes that they might not take otherwise.

"Incorporating materials and techniques that make a home more resilient to disasters may add only three to five percent to the cost of new construction," said Buck, "but homeowners often prefer to spend that money on more visible features. At the same time, retrofitting an existing home can be prohibitively expensive for many homeowners."

"We intend to develop a package of incentives that will make disaster mitigation more affordable and, therefore, more attractive to homeowners," he said.

Rear Admiral William F. Merlin, U.S. Coast Guard (Retired) will coordinate the work of the Homeowners Incentives Team, according to Harvey G. Ryland, president of IBHS.

"Admiral Merlin’s many years of service in Florida give him a significant understanding of the natural hazards that threaten citizens in the state," Ryland said. "And his hands-on experience in dealing with disasters makes him an excellent choice to head this disaster protection initiative."

The Homeowners Incentives Team is the latest in a series of initiatives established through the state of Florida’s "Breaking the Cycle" program, a $21 million initiative that was launched in August 1997 to help Floridians strengthen their homes and communities against natural disasters.

As part of "Breaking the Cycle," the DCA is retrofitting selected homes insured by the Florida Windstorm Underwriting Association (FWUA) in order to increase their resistance to wind and thereby reduce their vulnerability to wind damage. The state will inspect these homes free of charge to determine what retrofit work is necessary and then offer forgiveable loans to have the work performed.