Ahead of Hurricane Season, IBHS Urges Homeowners to Prepare Now to Reduce Storm Damage

News Releases

Richburg, SC, April 28, 2026 — As coastal communities expand and development continues to grow in hurricane‑prone regions, more families and homes are increasingly in the path of damaging storms each year. Ahead of National Hurricane Preparedness Week (May 3–9), the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) encourages homeowners in these high‑risk areas to take action now using its Hurricane Ready guidance, which translates decades of research into practical steps that can reduce storm damage and speed recovery. 

2007 Witch Creek & Poomacha Fires Claims Analysis

Wildfire

2007 Witch Creek & Poomacha Fires Claims Analysis In October of 2007, the Witch Creek and Poomacha wildfires decimated large parts of San Diego County, California. By the time these fires were fully contained, they had burned an estimated 148,000 acres and damaged or destroyed over 1,200 homes and 500 outbuildings. Research & Analysis The Witch Creek & Poomacha Wildfires Closed…

2007 Witch Creek Fire

Wildfire

2007 Witch Creek Fire In October 2007, the Witch Creek wildfire devastated large portions of San Diego County, California. In the aftermath, IBHS recognized a critical opportunity to learn from real-world outcomes. By studying these impacted communities, researchers gained valuable insights into how property protection measures influence wildfire damage—informing the landmark report Mega Fires: The Case for Mitigation.  Research…

2013 Black Bear Cub Fire

Wildfire

2013 Black Bear Cub Fire On March 17, 2013, the Black Bear Cub Fire in Sevier County, Tennessee, highlighted how structure-to-structure fire spread can rapidly escalate losses—even under moderate wildfire conditions.   Research & Analysis What began as a single cabin fire quickly spread through the Black Bear Ridge Resort, ultimately destroying 53 cabins and damaging 20 more.  Despite relatively low wildfire…

IBHS expands Wildfire Prepared program to 10 addtional states

News Releases

RICHBURG, S.C., April 14, 2026 – The Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) today announced the expansion of its Wildfire Prepared designation program to 10 additional states, bringing the total to 14, as demand grows for proven, research-based wildfire mitigation actions that help homeowners and builders in high-risk areas better protect their homes and neighborhoods from wildfire.

Pilot Study: Hail Impact Testing of Building Cladding

Hail

Home / Hail / Pilot Study: Hail Impact Testing of Building Cladding Pilot Study: Hail Impact Testing of Building Cladding Building cladding (commonly referred to as siding) primarily protects the wall assembly from rain, snow, and wind. As the outermost layer, it also shields the structure from ultraviolet (UV) exposure, temperature fluctuations, wind-borne debris, and…

IBHS and APCIA launch comprehensive new toolkit to help communities reduce wildfire risk

News Releases

SACRAMENTO, CA and RICHBURG, SC, March 25, 2026 – The Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) and the American Property Casualty Insurance Association (APCIA) today released a new resource to help local governments, fire services and other community organizations come together to implement coordinated wildfire mitigation programs in their communities. The Community Wildfire Risk Reduction Program Framework outlines how communities can organize, launch and sustain effective wildfire risk reduction efforts.

Asphalt Shingle Durability

Hail

Home / Hail / Impact Resistance of Synthetic Composite Shingles Asphalt Shingle Durability The roof is a building’s first line of defense against weather, and damage to roof coverings is a leading driver of insurance losses. One of IBHS’s key research objectives is to identify high-quality roofing products and provide consumers with clear, performance-based information.  Research Our analysis of asphalt…

With Severe Storm Losses Rising, IBHS Releases Thunderstorm Ready Guidance 

News Releases

Richburg, SC, Feb. 11, 2026 – As spring storm season approaches, the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) is calling on homeowners to take practical steps now to reduce avoidable damage from severe weather. According to Munich Re, thunderstorms across the central and southern United States—second only to the catastrophic Los Angeles wildfires—were the costliest insured disasters of 2025, illustrating the increasing toll of severe convective storms. 

Impact Resistance Test Protocol for Asphalt Shingles

Hail

Home / Hail / Hail Impact Performance of Low-Slope Metal Roofing Impact Resistance Test Protocol for Asphalt Shingles IBHS developed and maintains the IBHS Impact Resistance Test Protocol for Asphalt Shingles, which provides a scientific, repeatable laboratory test method for evaluating how asphalt shingles perform when exposed to laboratory hail impacts that mimic the properties of natural hailstones and the types of damage they…