FORTIFIED Wise™–Roofer High Wind Training Sessions Aug. 8 in Tulsa

TULSA, July 27, 2018 – As more Oklahoma communities focus on building resilient, FORTIFIED homes to mitigate the risk of high winds, the demand is surging for experienced roofers trained in FORTIFIED Home™ construction standards.

To meet this need, the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) will be conducting FORTIFIED Wise™–Roofer training sessions (afternoon workshop) for its FORTIFIED Home™–High Wind program on Aug. 8, 2018 at the Home Builders Association of Greater Tulsa.

“Your home’s roof is the first line of defense from severe weather impacts such as thunderstorms, straight-line windstorms and tornadoes up to EF-2 strength,” said Mark Zehnal, IBHS senior roofing specialist. “Our FORTIFIED Home program is based on more than 20 years of building science research, which is the foundation for its professional training certifications. With extreme weather events becoming more frequent and costly, the demand for stronger, safer homes and communities throughout Oklahoma has never been greater.”

Homeowners should contact their insurance agent or visit the Oklahoma Department of Insurance website at www.ok.gov/oid/ to learn about possible incentives available for homes in Oklahoma that are designated under the FORTIFIED Home program.

Zehnal added, “Oklahoma roofing professionals should attend our upcoming FORTIFIED Wise workshop so they can advocate and adequately influence structural integrity in their local communities. Our training sessions will focus on the critical aspects of installation and documentation for roofing a new or existing home to meet our FORTIFIED Home–High Wind standards. This course is ideal for experienced roofers looking to expand their business and benefit from the growing demand for FORTIFIED construction in Oklahoma.”

The Aug. 8 training sessions are sponsored by the Disaster Resilience Network with a grant from State Farm. To learn more about the upcoming Tulsa FORTIFIED Wise roofing workshop and to register online, please visit DisasterSafety.org/fortified/events.