Tampa – Nationwide Insurance, North Carolina’s leading home insurer, together with Habitat for Humanity, broke ground today on the state’s first “Fortified…for safer living” disaster-resistant home.
The “Fortified” program is a national, all-risk initiative featuring innovative construction options to help safeguard families from natural disasters. The program is sponsored by the Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS), based in Tampa, Florida.
The new home, being built in Wilmington, North Carolina (913 South 10th Street), is the first Habitat home to be constructed according to “Fortified” criteria. It is also the first “Fortified” home to be built outside Florida, where the program debuted.
The “Fortified” program offers protection that generally goes beyond what is required by local building codes. The North Carolina “Fortified” guidelines are designed to better safeguard homes primarily against high winds and flooding, the state’s costliest natural perils. The “Fortified” designation must be granted by a qualified inspection service. Construction features in the Wilmington Habitat home include:
Non-combustible roof materials that also better withstand high winds;
Windows protected by shutters;
Securely anchored exterior structures, such as carports and porches;
Reinforced entry doors;
Building site and landscaping techniques that reduce wildfire and flooding vulnerability.
Doug Robinette, IBHS board member and Nationwide Insurance Senior Vice President of Claims, said, “Nationwide has a strong history as a partner to both Habitat and IBHS. We are excited that we have the opportunity to be a part of this first-time initiative to build safe and affordable homes for low-income families.”
Dave Gettles, Vice President in charge of Nationwide’s North Carolina operations, said, “This will be the third Habitat house that Nationwide has built in North Carolina. Following Charlotte and Raleigh, we are pleased to pioneer the ‘Fortified’ home project in Wilmington. Given the recent spate of hurricanes hitting our coast, we wanted to offer additional safety features that will help protect our coastal residents.”
Nationwide has committed $3.2 million to build 61 homes in 58 cities around the country, in partnership with Habitat for Humanity International.
“We’re excited Wilmington was chosen as a site to demonstrate the importance of natural disaster safety,” said Barbara Birkenheuer, Executive Director of Cape Fear Habitat for Humanity. “We’re equally pleased that Habitat was chosen for this endeavor.”
Simpson Strong-Tie Company, which has worked with IBHS on several “Fortified” projects, is donating connectors for the project, including hurricane straps, clips and anchor bolts.
Lowe’s Home Improvement Warehouse is funding the purchase of safety equipment, such as smoke detectors, for the home. The company will also give a 10 percent discount on materials purchased for this project from Lowe’s.
The “Fortified…for safer living” program kicked off in October 2000 with the construction of three homes in west central Florida. Two more “Fortified” homes were built in nearby counties last year. Another is under construction just south of the Tampa Bay area.
About The Sponsors
Nationwide Insurance is the largest insurer in North Carolina. Nationwide is also the fourth largest homeowner and fifth largest auto insurer in the United States. Nationwide Insurance is part of Nationwide, a Fortune 500 company with more than $117 billion in assets, providing a full range of insurance and financial services. Nationwide has been an active member of IBHS since 1994.
Habitat for Humanity International is a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing ministry. HFHI seeks to eliminate poverty housing and homelessness from the world, and to make decent shelter a matter of conscience and action. Cape Fear Habitat for Humanity serves New Hanover County.
Simpson Strong-Tie Company (subsidiary of Simpson Manufacturing Company) is the world’s largest manufacturer of steel connectors for wood construction, which improve structural resistance to wind forces, enhance the safety and durability of a structure, and save labor costs.
Lowe’s Home Improvement Warehouse founded Lowe’s Home Safety Council, a nonprofit organization, with the vision of creating safer American homes. Since 1993, Lowe’s Home Safety Council has invested more than $25 million to educate children, adults, seniors and families on how to improve the safety and security in their homes.
The Institute for Business & Home Safety is a national nonprofit initiative of the insurance industry to reduce deaths, injuries, property damage, economic losses and human suffering caused by natural disasters.
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