Home / Wind / Building Performance in Southwest Florida During Hurricane Ian Hurricane Isaac (2012) Hurricane Isaac made landfall near the mouth of the Mississippi River in southeastern Louisiana on August 28, 2012, as a Category 1 hurricane. While Isaac’s peak winds were relatively modest, its expansive wind field, prolonged tropical storm conditions, significant storm surge, and…
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Noncombustible Zone 0: Minimizing Pathways to Home Ignition The Most Important 5 Feet Around Your Home Research from the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) shows that the 5-foot area immediately surrounding a home—known as the Noncombustible Zone 0, Home Ignition Zone (HIZ), or ember-resistant zone—is one of the most important areas for reducing…
Home / Wind / Hurricane Michael (2018) Hurricane Michael (2018) Hurricane Michael made landfall near Mexico Beach and Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, on October 10, 2018, as a Category 5 hurricane with sustained winds of 161 mph. It was the strongest hurricane on record to strike the Florida Panhandle and only the fourth Category 5 hurricane to make…
Home / Wind / Hurricane Gustav (2008) Hurricane Gustav (2008) Hurricane Gustav made landfall near Cocodrie, Louisiana, on September 1, 2008, followed just 12 days later by Hurricane Ike, which struck the north end of Galveston Island, Texas, on September 13, 2008. Together, these storms provided IBHS and the University of Florida with an unprecedented opportunity to study the real-world performance…
Home / Wind / Hurricane Harvey Building Performance Report Hurricane Harvey (2017) Hurricane Harvey made landfall near Rockport, Texas, on August 25, 2017, as a Category 4 hurricane with sustained winds of 130 mph. Although the storm’s wind field was relatively compact, its slow forward speed exposed coastal communities to hurricane-force winds for several hours, resulting in widespread structural…
New Orleans, LA, June 23, 2026 – The Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) recognized the companies and organizations leading the growth of disaster-resistant construction during the 11th Annual FORTIFIED Awards. This year’s awards highlight the expanding impact of the FORTIFIED program and the service providers helping more homeowners than ever build stronger, more resilient homes.
RICHBURG, SC, June 9, 2026 – The Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) today announces updates to its Wildfire Prepared program, introducing formal standards for multifamily properties and neighborhoods alongside updated requirements for single-family homes.
RICHBURG, S.C., May 20, 2026 — The Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) today announced its FORTIFIED® program has surpassed 100,000 designations nationwide, marking a major milestone in reducing storm losses and strengthening community resilience. The achievement underscores growing adoption of IBHS’s science‑based construction and re-roofing standard as states, insurers, manufacturers, and communities align around proven strategies to break the cycle of disaster losses.
Home / Wind / Continuous Load Path Wind Damage Amplifiers: Porches, Patio Covers, & Overhangs Porches, patio covers, and overhangs are often seen as simple additions. But in high winds, the design and maintenance of these structures can be the difference between a home experiencing minor damage or catastrophic failure. Because they are frequently treated as secondary structures, porches and patio…