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Deerfield Beach, Fla. - The Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) has named Broward County/Deerfield Beach, Fla., as the second Showcase Community in its national disaster mitigation program. The designation was announced today at a news conference by Don Sullivan, who is executive vice president and chief administrative officer of State Farm Fire and Casualty Company and a member of the IBHS board of directors.
IBHS is selecting communities from around the country to participate in the program which will vividly demonstrate the benefits of a community-wide disaster reduction effort.
"The Showcase Community project reflects the strategic vision of IBHS and its insurance company members as we seek to make communities more resilient in terms of withstanding natural disasters," said Harvey G. Ryland, IBHS president and chief executive officer.
Partnerships will be established with government, business, civic, voluntary and professional associations to develop a comprehensive mitigation strategy, including the development of incentives for incorporating mitigation into new construction and retrofitting existing structures.
The program will also include education projects to heighten awareness of the natural hazards the communities face and what can be done to reduce the emotional and financial devastation they cause. Broward County and Deerfield Beach have agreed to the 14 criteria for participation in the IBHS Showcase Community program.
These criteria include adoption of the most recent version of one of the model building codes, a risk assessment of natural hazards, the development of public-sector incentives for mitigation to complement private-sector financial incentives that IBHS and its partners will develop, and incorporation of natural hazard awareness and education into the school curriculum.
As part of this program, State Farm broke ground in Deerfield Beach for the construction of a residential-style demonstration home. This house will incorporate more than 100 construction features designed to better protect people and reduce property loss in the event of a hurricane, water damage, fire or other perils.
Broward County/Deerfield Beach joins Evansville, Ind., as a pilot community for the IBHS Showcase Community project. These communities also will support IBHS’s program to complete the non-structural retrofit of all nonprofit child care centers in their respective jurisdictions.
IBHS considers public/private cooperation essential to reducing the loss of life and property from natural disasters. The organization therefore selected Broward County/Deerfield Beach as a pilot Showcase community not only because of its demonstrated commitment to mitigation, but also because it provides an opportunity to work with all levels of the public sector - federal, state, county and community. Broward County/Deerfield Beach also participates in mitigation programs sponsored by the Florida Dept. of Community Affairs, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the American Red Cross.
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