Wind-Driven Building-to-Building Fire Spread

Research The distance between structures and the density of housing in communities significantly impact how fires spread in areas where the wildland and urban environments meet (WUI). In high density neighborhoods during a severe wildfire, extreme burning conditions lead to a higher number of structures to burn. Once a few buildings ignite, a domino effect…

IBHS’s Wildfire Prepared Home launches as first-ever designation to distinguish homes mitigated against wildfire

Paradise, Calif., June 22, 2022– Wildfire Prepared Home™, the first-ever wildfire mitigation program to allow homeowners to achieve a designation showing they’ve taken the science-based actions required to meaningfully reduce their home’s wildfire risk, is now open and accepting applications from single-family homeowners in California.

Prepare now to reduce storm damage this hurricane season

Richburg, S.C., April 26, 2022 – Ahead of National Hurricane Preparedness Week (May 1-7), the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) encourages home and business owners to act early this year to Be Hurricane Ready by preparing their properties to be more resilient against storm damage. The nonprofit research organization’s free Hurricane Ready guide and downloadable checklist offer research-backed steps to strengthen residential and commercial properties for hurricane season, easing possible impacts from supply shortages and lack of available housing.

IBHS Celebrates Leaders in Resilient Construction

Richburg, SC, April 12, 2022 – The Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) announced recipients of its annual FORTIFIED Volume and Pioneer Awards today at an event celebrating a breakout year for the FORTIFIED program. FORTIFIED service providers – and particularly Volume Award recipients – were instrumental in the program reaching two key milestones. In 2021, FORTIFIED celebrated its 30,000th designation and set a program record for annual designations by helping nearly 12,000 families better protect their homes from severe weather.

Resilience leaders highlight climate adaptation pathways for affordable housing

Richburg, S.C., February 8, 2022 – Before severe weather threatens, the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) encourages Americans to prepare their homes and businesses with targeted actions to reduce the impact of storms and be thunderstorm ready. Every year, severe thunderstorms lead to hail-damaged roofs, wind-damaged garage doors and roofs, and all too often, structural damage that forces people from their homes and workplaces. IBHS’s Thunderstorm Ready and Thunderstorm Ready–Business guides can help home and business owners proactively protect their properties this spring to reduce the potential for costly damage and disruption.

Dr. Kelly Hereid

Dr. Kelly Hereid Kelly is the Director of Catastrophe R&D at Liberty Mutual in the Corporate Enterprise Risk Management group. Prior to joining Liberty in 2020, Dr. Hereid was a research scientist at Chubb, starting in reinsurance with Chubb Tempest Re in 2012 and moving to the primary side natural catastrophe unit in 2018. She…

Mark Bove

Mark Bove Mr. Mark Bove is a meteorologist & SVP Natural Catastrophe Solutions in the Reinsurance Division of Munich Reinsurance America. His responsibilities include evaluating commercially available catastrophe risk models & tools, providing technical expertise on underwriting property catastrophe risk and exposure accumulation issues, and the development of new property catastrophe insurance products. Mr. Bove…

Sarah Dillingham

Sarah Dillingham Senior Meteorologist & Senior Director of Product Design Sarah is currently the Sr. Director of Product Design & Sr. Meteorologist leading the team responsible for helping communicate IBHS’s science to a wide range of audiences. Prior to joining IBHS, she spent nearly 9 years at The Weather Channel where she served as a…

Back to the Basics: Wildfire

Back to the Basics: Wildfire [Members Only] Duration: 45min This module will provide an explanation of the anatomy of wildfires, explore the threats they pose and identify the damage they cause to communities and the built environment. Having a better understanding of these natural hazards is key to preventing avoidable suffering and supporting thriving communities.…