FLORIDA’S FOUNDATION
Florida’s Foundation, Make Mitigation Happen! 1
Make Mitigation
Happen
Letter from
Director
Bryan Koon
Prior to joining Florida’s Division of
Emergency Management Director
Koon served as the Director for
Walmart’s Emergency Management
Department and worked at the White
House Military Office for seven years.
Director Koon also served as a surface
warfare officer in the US Navy.
Florida has been fortunate to
avoid major catastrophic damage
over the last few hurricane
seasons. While many become
complacent, this training and
booklet are meant to engage you
in actively preparing your home
for future hurricanes. It is a matter
of time before the next major
hurricane impacts Florida.
Will your home, your family and
you be ready to survive and
recover from the next major
hurricane to impact your
community?
Hurricane Mitigation
This guide provides insight into
proven, researched activities that
directly improve your ability to
recover from a hurricane. Please
take time to review the activities,
properly mitigate your home
against damage caused by high
winds and join the effort
throughout Florida to survive the
next hurricane.
Together we can demonstrate that
investing in the homes of our
citizens can improve Florida’s
recovery from future disasters.
Take the time to Get A Plan! and
prepare your home.
- Bryan Koon
Mitigating your home could translate to savings and peace of mind.
What
What is wind
mitigation? Wind
mitigation includes
specific activities to
strengthen your home.
This booklet will review
what can be done to
strengthen your home.
Page 2
Why
Every year Floridians
face damage to their
homes as a result of
high winds.
Page 3
Load Path
A continuous load path
and roofing protections
are the key components
of protecting the
structural integrity of
your home during a
storm. Learn a variety
of activities that can
help strengthen your
home.
Page 5
Protect Openings
Protecting openings by
shuttering or replacing
with high-standard
products.
Page 10
Florida Law and
Insurance Discount
Notification Form
Florida Statute 627.711
Notice of premium
discounts for hurricane
loss mitigation;
uniform mitigation
verification inspection
form.
Page 13
Preparedness
Checklist
Protecting your home
from high winds is a
part of being prepared.
Have a plan. Use this
checklist to help you
prepare for disasters.
Page 19
!
FLORIDA’S FOUNDATION
2 ! Florida’s Foundation, Make Mitigation Happen
Mitigation is defined as a noun
that is the lessening of the force or
intensity of something
unpleasant. Wind mitigation
specifically targets the structural
and nonstructural aspects that
prevent or lessen damage caused
by high winds that occur with
storms.
In Florida, our primary concern is
the wind damage caused by
hurricanes. Hurricane season
begins June 1 and ends November
30. That means for five of twelve
months of every year, Floridians
are at risk for exposure to high
winds. Also, it is not unusual to
have a hurricane or tropical storm
outside of hurricane season.
The first step is to have an
inspection of your home.
Obtaining an inspection generally
costs, but is well worth the
investment to fully mitigate your
home. Activities to mitigate your
home are research based
recommendations.
Multiple organizations including
the Florida Department of
Financial Services, Florida
Division of Emergency
Management, Florida’s
Foundation, Florida Alliance for
Safe Homes, and the Insurance
Institute for Business and Home
Safety all endorse the same
research based recommendations
and provide resources to inform
and assist homeowners. See more
information in the Disaster
Preparedness Organizations
section.
But what is wind mitigation?
What actions or changes
constitutes mitigating your home?
The primary damages from
hurricanes are wind and water
intrusion
1
. Water, as rain directed
by varying wind directions, enters
homes through gable ends, soffit
vents and poorly sealed windows
and doors. Once rain enters
homes mildew can develop
within days. Like water, wind
causes damage by entering the
home through poorly sealed
openings. Wind damages homes
by increasing pressure and
causing uplift forces on the roof.
1
Summary Report on Building Performance
2004 Hurricane Season
FEMA 490 / March 2005
WHAT IS WIND MITIGATION?
Shutters can be seen, so they are the first things most people think of when
protecting their home against high winds. But shuttering windows is only one of
the recommended activities. It’s what you can’t see that can make a big difference.
FLORIDA’S FOUNDATION
Florida’s Foundation, Make Mitigation Happen! 3
WHY MITIGATE?
FEMA’s Federal Insurance and
Mitigation Administration
participated in a study that
estimated the value of all
mitigation activities funded
between mid-1993 through
mid-2007. This study included
mitigation of floods, hurricanes
and earthquakes. The study
concluded a value of $4 saved in
response and recovery for every $1
spent on mitigation.
The Florida Department of
Finance states that 15% - 70% of
your insurance premium could be
attributed to wind-damage risk.
For the majority of homeowners,
their home is their largest asset,
the primary source of shelter and
holds unlimited sentimental value.
Truly the value of the mitigation
will only be seen if impacted by a
hurricane. Strengthening your
home against high winds will
hopefully prevent any catastrophic
damage to your home in the event
of a hurricane.
By protecting your greatest asset
you will minimize the expense of
recovery and speed the time it
takes to recover from a natural
disaster.
No amount of strengthening
of your home should ever
cause you to disregard
evacuation orders.
Safety
Too often people wonder why
damage occurred after a disaster.
Wind mitigation is meant to avoid
a hazard by reducing the amount
of damage to your home and
reducing the amount of debris that
may result in damage to other
homes and speed
cleanup efforts.
The steps to
mitigating your
home that follow
in this manual
are research-based activities that
will help minimize the damage to
your home. Ideally in the event of
a disaster, your home will be
waiting when you return.
The arm bands of hurricanes often
spawn tornados or generate gusts
of wind so strong that objects,
trees and other debris can cause
extensive damage regardless of
your mitigation efforts.
Recovery
Community recovery from a disaster
doesn’t take one or two years. It can
take five years before a community
recovers jobs, housing and revenue
lost from a disaster.
You evacuate to a shelter and then
come home - from here let’s
imagine two different scenarios.
Scenario A - A large piece of the
roof to your home is missing, there
is significant water damage to
three rooms of your house and
four windows are shattered.
Clearly this is not a safe
environment and mold will grow
within days.
Scenario B - There is minimal
damage to your roof due to a tree
leaning on your home. There is
minor water damage in your
living room and is manageable by
placing a tarp on your roof. You
are back in your home after one
night in a shelter.
Which scenario would you prefer?
Economic
627.711 F.S. requires
insurance companies to
notify homeowners of
premium discounts for
hurricane loss
mitigation and establishes a uniform
mitigation verification inspection
form.
If your home has undergone a
wind inspection you are
potentially eligible for insurance
discounts or credits.
Beyond insurance savings - the
value of your home increases and
there are cost savings when a
disaster occurs. These savings are
dependent on many different
variables and cannot be predicted.
FLORIDA’S FOUNDATION
4! Florida’s Foundation, Make Mitigation Happen
Types of Mitigation
Shutters can be seen, so they are the first things most people think of when
protecting their home against high winds. But shuttering windows is only one of
the recommended activities. It’s what you can’t see that can make a big difference.
Water Barriers
Providing a sealed
roof deck will
prevent significant
water intrusion if
pieces of your roof
coverings (shingles)
are blown away.
This also provides
additional
insulation to make
your home more
energy efficient.
Don’t forget your
soffit vents!
Anchoring, Roof-to-Wall
Reinforce your
foundation-to-wall,
floor-floor
(multistory homes)
and wall-to-roof
connections to
establish a
continuous load
path. A continuous
load path allows
your home to resist
high-wind forces as
a unit. Weak links
in a load path are
generally where
damage occurs.
Gable Ends
Gables that are
taller than 4 feet
will benefit from
reinforcing the
framing and
bracing the top and
bottom of the gable.
Generally, a
licensed
professional
engineer is best to
design a gable end
bracing system
appropriate for
your specific
location and home
construction.
Window Openings
There are many
options for window
openings.
Shatterproof glass
windows are
expensive, but
eliminate the need
to shutter before a
storm.
Clear, lightweight,
cloth, electric and
roll-down shutters
exist to assist
persons with
varying disabilities.
Doorways
Doors, including
garage doors, are
best replaced with a
hurricane-rated
door.
For existing garage
doors additional
bracing can be
applied. Hurricane-
rated garage doors
are heavier and
often in a storm
power is lost, so
electric openers
won’t work.
FLORIDA’S FOUNDATION
Florida’s Foundation, Make Mitigation Happen! 5
Establishing a water barrier is
cost-effective when replacing your
roof. At that time it is easiest to
replace damaged boards and place
a water barrier on the roof deck.
Allowable methods and products
vary based on local building
codes, so please check with your
local building department.
First, inspect the roof deck. If any
boards are warped, damaged or
deteriorating, replace them.
Secure all boards with an 8d ring
shank nail. Re-nail sections if
needed. A ringed shank (grooves
in the nail) provides more secure
grip and prevent forces pulling the
nails out of the wood.
Recommended spacing is a
maximum of 6 inches on-center.
Follow manufacturers guide for
spacing in high-wind areas. Once
the integrity of the roof deck is
confirmed you can seal the deck.
On the roof deck you can tape the
horizontal and vertical seams with
a 4” or wider self-adhering
membrane tape followed by a
synthetic underlayment. Self-
adhering tape may have difficulty
adhering to the surface due to the
texture, any wax added and
general job-site conditions. A
primer may be needed to secure
attachment of the tape.
For the underlayment, the
Institute for Business and Home
Safety recommends a code
compliant 30-pound ASTM D226,
Type II underlayment and
attached using annular ring or
deformed shank roof fasteners
with minimum 1-inch diameter
caps. Metal caps are
recommended where wind speeds
may exceed 140 mpg.
When buying asphalt shingles
verify the technical standards for
the product. The highest standard
is currently over 130+mph winds
and should be installed using the
number of fasteners recommended
by the manufacturer for high-wind
areas. In some areas, local
building code requires more
fasteners than the manufacturer’s
recommendation.
Other roof coverings, such as
metal panels and tiles (clay and
concrete), require strict adherence
to manufacturer’s and local
building department’s
recommended installation to
ensure required uplift resistance.
Water Barriers
Water can devastate a home by direct damage and by fostering the growth of
mold and mildew. The best mitigation is to prevent water from entering your
home.
8d ring shank nail
!!
! ! grooves / rings
The following specifications apply to the 2007
Florida Building Code. Once the 2010 Florida
Building Code becomes effective
specifications will vary.
FLORIDA’S FOUNDATION
6! Florida’s Foundation, Make Mitigation Happen
Chimneys over 5 feet above the
roof and/or on the side of the
home should be anchored. It is
best to have a licensed engineer to
ensure adequate stability.
There also now options for roof
vents that have passed wind-
driven water tests and prevent
water intrusion. Consider
replacing existing roof vents.
If you are not considering a roof
replacement or any major roofing
repairs, you may still strengthen
your existing roof by re-nailing the
sheathing using 8d ringed shank
nails and by providing a water
barrier on the underside of the
roof deck.
Spray-on polyurethane foam
adhesives provide additional
anchoring of the roof deck and is
an acceptable water barrier. This
is messy! Documentation of
application from a properly
trained and qualified applicator is
generally required for insurance
discounts.
Gable Vents
Winds from hurricanes and
thunderstorms can vary directions
and push water into vents causing
extensive mold and mildew
damage. Vents should be covered
with a nonporous material.
Covering gable vents can be
difficult due to the height of most
gables ends, but you should be
able to access the vents from the
attic. Vent covers can be installed
inside the attic.
Soffits and Vents
Like a roof deck, soffits should be
inspected for damage, cracks,
weaknesses and deteriorated
material. Building standards for
soffits have changed for high-wind
prone areas and you should check
with your local building
department to verify current
standards. When strengthening
the roof-to-wall anchors, you will
have to remove the soffits, and it
will be the perfect time to replace
the soffits and ensure proper
installation.
Follow manufacturers instructions
for installation in high-wind
zones. Ensure soffits are properly
anchored to the overhang and to
the wood along the building
length. Spacing of anchors should
be 12 inches of center.
A polyurethane sealant can be
used to secure aluminum or vinyl
soffits and seal the gap between
the track and wall.
Wood soffits have not had a high
failure rate during storms and are
generally properly anchored, but
the same techniques of anchoring
and applying sealant can be used
to further secure wood soffits.
Insurance savings vary by
company, location and your
specific home. If you have
multiple mitigation features, the
percentages below cannot be
combined. In general, water
barrier improvements include the
following savings:
Roof Covering:
Approved shingles - 11%
Concrete roof - 82%
Secondary Water Barriers:
Self-adhesive tape and foam - 6%
FLORIDA’S FOUNDATION
Florida’s Foundation, Make Mitigation Happen! 7
A continuous load path, in
laymen's terms, is the function of
your house as whole, not
components of a foundation, walls
and a roof. By anchoring the
walls to the foundation, the first
floor to the second floor and the
walls to the roof, you establish a
connection of roof to foundation
and your home can resist the
various forces that exist when
winds push on your roof and
walls, and penetrate your home.
Continuous Load Path
To Resist Uplift Forces
Roof to Wall Connection
Upper Wall to
Lower Wall Connection
Lower Wall to
Foundation Connection
These connections are not required for uplift but
may be required to transfer shear loads.
Roof member to top plate connections
Top plate to stud connections
Stud to sill plate connections
Sill plate to foundation connections
A roof tie-down, like roofing, is
easiest done with new
construction, re-roofing or major
remodeling. On existing homes
this generally encompasses the
removal of the soffit to expose
where the rafters meet the wall
framing. Most homes have a
standard connection on one side of
the beams. For high-wind
resistance, metal connectors are
bolted to both sides where the
rafter and the wall frame meet.
A double wrap connector is a
continuous connector in the shape
of a modified U to fit the framing.
Many varieties of connectors are
manufactured to meet the wide
variety of connections that could
exist between the rafters and the
walls. Every connection, every
joint must be secured.
Local building departments
generally require permits which
will leave the soffits uncovered
until a post-inspection of work is
completed. Work closely with
your local building department to
minimize this exposure time.
Upper wall to lower wall
connections exist with a multistory
home. This connection is not
required for single story homes.
The connector/hurricane
strapping for the upper wall to
lower wall connection is a solid
steel connector that requires the
removal of siding on existing
homes.
Upper Wall to
Lower Wall Connection
Lower Wall to
Anchoring, Roof-to-Foundation
Anchoring your home is time consuming and labor intensive, but worth the
investment to establish a continuous load path.
The following specifications apply to the 2007
Florida Building Code. Once the 2010 Florida
Building Code becomes effective
specifications will vary.
FLORIDA’S FOUNDATION
8! Florida’s Foundation, Make Mitigation Happen
Wall to foundation connectors and reinforcements
generally require the removal of siding on existing
homes. Block and brick walls require steel rod
supports to be added. Like roof to wall
connections, every joint should be secured. Seek
the guidance from a licensed contractor or engineer
with experience in mitigating for high-winds.
Porches that are connected to the house or that
share a common roof should be mitigated and
attachments strengthened.
Enclosed porches should be
shuttered as well to minimize
uplift forces.
Reinforce wood porch frames
much as you would the roof-to-
wall and wall-to-foundation for
the home. A variety of
connectors and strappings are made to support
frames at the base and roof joints.
Aluminum porches and screen frames (often found
around pool decks) are not designed to withstand
hurricane force winds. As most aluminum porches
are attached to the boards at the eaves of homes,
the best mitigation is to ensure the board is well-
reinforced to the roof structure to ensure the board
continues connection to the home if the aluminum
frame is damaged.
Insurance savings vary by company, location and
your specific home. If you have multiple
mitigation features, the percentages below cannot
be combined to estimate an overall discount.
In general, anchoring your home includes the
following savings:
Roof-to-wall connectors:
Clip anchors - 35%
Single wrap anchors - 35%
Double wrap anchors - 35%
FLORIDA’S FOUNDATION
Florida’s Foundation, Make Mitigation Happen! 9
Gable ends respond to pressure
within the house by bowing in and
out. This action looses the
connections to the wall and roof.
When reinforcing the roof-to-wall
connections at the gable ends, also
make sure you reinforce the
connections at the base of the
gable end to the wall below.
Mitigating gable ends includes
two primary activities. First, by
reinforcing the connections to the
roof and the wall below. The
second activity is to place four
horizontal beams two to three feet
from the point of the gable end.
Horizontal beams should be at
least six feet and long enough to
connect to at least three
attic floor framing boards and
extend 2 1/2 feet past the third
board. If there is a gap in
connecting the horizontal beam to
the gable wall, which is more
common in block homes, use a
wood shim to close the gap. The
reinforcement of horizontal beams
against the gable minimizes the
bowing that occurs as pressure
within the house varies during a
storm.
In the picture above, the added
horizontal frames are painted
white so the mitigation is clear.
When installing the horizontal
beams, it may be best to install the
lower beams first to extend the
walking surface in the attic. Make
sure you do not pinch wires
between the boards as this may
result in a fire hazard.
In some cases, an engineer may
recommend multiple vertical
beams attached to an existing stud
and connecting to the horizontal
beam
. This creates a U-shape
against the gable end wall.
Connect the beam with an L-shape
strap and reinforce with a block of
wood at the joint to further
compress the connection. The top
of the retrofit stud should be cut
square and does not have to match
the pitch of the roof. Further
secure the retrofit stud by
applying construction adhesive
along the sheathing (wall of the
gable end).
Gable Ends
Gable ends over 4 feet tall should be reinforced. Gables are typically the
highest point of a home and are exposed to the highest-force winds.
The following specifications apply to the 2007
Florida Building Code. Once the 2010 Florida
Building Code becomes effective
specifications will vary.
F
FLORIDA’S FOUNDATION
10! Florida’s Foundation, Make Mitigation Happen
Glazed openings refers to any
opening that has a glazed surface.
This includes windows, glass
doors and glass block. Panel
shutters are the most common
type of covering for glazed
openings and are available in a
wide variety of materials and
mounting options.
Panel shutters are mounted either
by tracks or by small metal posts.
Either option is a permanent
feature to your home. For many,
the appearance of tracks or posts
on the side of their home is not
aesthetically pleasing. Most
recognize it is a valuable safety
feature for high wind prone areas.
For those bothered by the
appearance of tracks or posts,
another option for windows and
glazed surfaces within doors is to
buy windows and doors with
impact-resistant glass. These are
more expensive and are not shatter
proof. Replacement of impact
resistant glass can be expensive.
Replacement of cracked surfaces is
a necessity in securing your home
for high-wind storms.
While having impact-resistant
glass windows prevent the need to
shutter before a storm, impact-
resistant glass windows are
heavier, may be difficult to open
for daily use and enjoyment, and
do not prevent debris from
entering a home if fractured. So
the recommended mitigation is to
shutter your home. Panels come
in steel, lightweight aluminum,
plexi-glass and cloth. In addition,
shutters can be permanent fixtures
and have a traditional appearance
(good for registered historical
homes and structures), be
accordion, or be automated and
roll down and lock with the click
of a button.
Water can intrude around shutters
and cause damage to frames both
inside and outside the home.
Make sure you inspect all
openings before and after a storm
to ensure water has not penetrated
the walls of the home. If water
penetrates the home and is left
untreated, mold and mildew will
grow quickly.
Glazed Openings
Shutters have to be installed or closed before the arrival of a storm. As this
requires action on the part of the resident, a variety of products exists to
address varying abilities and preferences of residents.
The following specifications apply to the 2007
Florida Building Code. Once the 2010 Florida
Building Code becomes effective
specifications will vary.
FLORIDA’S FOUNDATION
Florida’s Foundation, Make Mitigation Happen! 11
The picture above shows tracks
installed above and below the
opening. Before a storm arrives,
the resident will slide and secure
the panels into the tracks. The
tracks are permanent installations.
The pictures above shows the post
installed around a window that
will be used to anchor the panel
shutter. These posts are
permanent installations and
shutters are fastened with a wing-
nut.
A quick, effective and easy shutter
is a plywood board. There are
various clips and braces that can
be added to hold plywood in
place. Plywood is cheap and easy
to customize the size to fit any
window. While thick plywood is
an effective shutter, insurance
companies are not required to
provide discounts for plywood
shutters.
If you want to install shutters
yourself, first consider what type
of shutter you want to install, any
obstacles or outcrops around
windows (including window sills
and window AC units) and local
building code permits. In some
Florida communities shutters
require local building permits.
This is required to ensure effective
and proper installation.
The anchor used for securing
shutters is largely dependent on
the type of wall (wood or block)
and the type of shutter to be
installed. If installing shutters
yourself, make sure you follow all
installation recommendations
issued by the manufacturer.
Before installing shutters, inspect
the framing around the windows
and doors to ensure the framing is
in good condition. If necessary,
replace or reinforce framing and
apply weathering strips or caulk to
create a good seal around the
windows and doors.
In many cases even shuttering a
window will not prevent water
intrusion. Sealing the window
and framing is as important as
shuttering.
Areas around doorways that have
decorative glass and/or glazed
surfaces should be shuttered. The
picture above demonstrates a
decorative feature that required
shuttering of the entire area. Even
though the glazed area is small,
the decorative features weaken the
wall and its ability to withstand
high winds.
To qualify for insurance savings,
all windows and doors must be
shuttered or replaced with wind
rated equivalent. Insurance
savings vary by company, location
and your specific home. If you
have multiple mitigation features,
the percentages below cannot be
combined to estimate an overall
discount.
In general, anchoring your home
includes the following savings:
Basic shutters - 35%
Hurricane rated shutters - 44%
Homes that are built after 2001:
Basic shutters & Hurricane rated
shutters - 6%
FLORIDA’S FOUNDATION
12! Florida’s Foundation, Make Mitigation Happen
Wind Resistant Doors !
Wind resistant doors are generally
heavy, solid doors.
The most obvious
feature of wind
resistant doors is
that it opens out.
Wind resistant doors
also have at least
three and generally
four mounting
brackets with screws that are 2 1/2
to 3 inches long. This will ensure
the door is connected to the door
frame as well as the wall framing
behind the door frame.
When replacing your door, ensure
the framing is solid and if
necessary replace and reinforce the
framing. It is important to ensure
the door is installed to
manufacturer’s specifications.
The hinges strengthen only one
side of the door. On the other side
is a bolt lock that should also be
secure. The bolt lock should be 1”
long to extend far enough into the
frame to hold the door in a closed
position.
Shuttering
French doors or double doors
should be shuttered. French doors
often fail at their connection point
because the center beam is not
designed to sustain the force of
high winds.
When shuttering your home make
sure you have multiple access
points.
Garage doors should be shuttered,
replaced with a wind rated door or
in some cases can be reinforced by
adding a bracing bar behind each
panel. Using your car to brace
your garage door will only result
in your car being damaged with
impact from the garage door. In
addition, any glazed surface
panels should be replaced with
solid panels before the storm.
Wind rated garage doors are
generally solid doors with extra
bracing. The added weight of a
solid door requires reinforced
tracks and a stronger garage door
opener.
Often during a hurricane, power is
lost for a period of time. If there is
a major storm, power may be out
for days. Make sure the garage
door opener has a manual release.
Also, given the added weight of a
wind rated garage door, the
garage door should not be your
primary exit. It may be difficult to
open the door after a storm.
The insurance savings for
doorways are part of savings for
shuttering and glazed surfaces.
Doorways
For ease of accessibility, main doors should be replaced with hurricane rated
doors. Garage doors should also be replaced. In some cases, existing garage
doors can be braced.
The following specifications apply to the 2007
Florida Building Code. Once the 2010 Florida
Building Code becomes effective
specifications will vary.
FLORIDA’S FOUNDATION
Florida’s Foundation, Make Mitigation Happen! 13
Florida Statute: 627.711 Notice of premium discounts for
hurricane loss mitigation; uniform mitigation verification
inspection form.—
(1)Using a form prescribed by the Office of Insurance Regulation,
the insurer shall clearly notify the applicant or policyholder of any
personal lines residential property insurance policy, at the time of
the issuance of the policy and at each renewal, of the availability
and the range of each premium discount, credit, other rate
differential, or reduction in deductibles, and combinations of
discounts, credits, rate differentials, or reductions in deductibles, for
properties on which fixtures or construction techniques
demonstrated to reduce the amount of loss in a windstorm can be or
have been installed or implemented. The prescribed form shall
describe generally what actions the policyholders may be able to
take to reduce their windstorm premium. The prescribed form and a
list of such ranges approved by the office for each insurer licensed
in the state and providing such discounts, credits, other rate
differentials, or reductions in deductibles for properties described in
this subsection shall be available for electronic viewing and
download from the Department of Financial Services’ or the Office
of Insurance Regulation’s Internet website. The Financial Services
Commission may adopt rules to implement this subsection.
(2)(a)The Financial Services Commission shall develop by rule a
uniform mitigation verification inspection form that shall be used
by all insurers when submitted by policyholders for the purpose of
factoring discounts for wind insurance. In developing the form, the
commission shall seek input from insurance, construction, and
building code representatives. Further, the commission shall provide
guidance as to the length of time the inspection results are valid. An
insurer shall accept as valid a uniform mitigation verification form
signed by the following authorized mitigation inspectors:
1.A home inspector licensed under s. 468.8314 who has completed
at least 3 hours of hurricane mitigation training approved by the
Construction Industry Licensing Board which includes hurricane
mitigation techniques and compliance with the uniform mitigation
verification form and completion of a proficiency exam;
2.A building code inspector certified under s. 468.607;
3.A general, building, or residential contractor licensed under s.
489.111;
4.A professional engineer licensed under s. 471.015;
5.A professional architect licensed under s. 481.213; or
6.Any other individual or entity recognized by the insurer as
possessing the necessary qualifications to properly complete a
uniform mitigation verification form.
(b)An insurer may, but is not required to, accept a form from any
other person possessing qualifications and experience acceptable to
the insurer.
(3)A person who is authorized to sign a mitigation verification form
must inspect the structures referenced by the form personally, not
through employees or other persons, and must certify or attest to
personal inspection of the structures referenced by the form.
However, licensees under s. 471.015 or s. 489.111 may authorize a
direct employee, who is not an independent contractor, and who
possesses the requisite skill, knowledge and experience, to conduct
a mitigation verification inspection. Insurers shall have the right to
request and obtain information from the authorized mitigation
inspector under s. 471.015 or s. 489.111, regarding any authorized
employee’s qualifications prior to accepting a mitigation
verification form performed by an employee that is not licensed
under s. 471.015 or s. 489.111.
(4)An authorized mitigation inspector that signs a uniform
mitigation form, and a direct employee authorized to conduct
mitigation verification inspections under paragraph (3), may not
commit misconduct in performing hurricane mitigation inspections
or in completing a uniform mitigation form that causes financial
harm to a customer or their insurer; or that jeopardizes a customer’s
health and safety. Misconduct occurs when an authorized mitigation
inspector signs a uniform mitigation verification form that:
(a)Falsely indicates that he or she personally inspected the
structures referenced by the form;
(b)Falsely indicates the existence of a feature which entitles an
insured to a mitigation discount which the inspector knows does not
exist or did not personally inspect;
(c)Contains erroneous information due to the gross negligence of
the inspector; or
(d)Contains a pattern of demonstrably false information regarding
the existence of mitigation features that could give an insured a
false evaluation of the ability of the structure to withstand major
damage from a hurricane endangering the safety of the insured’s life
and property.
FLORIDA’S FOUNDATION
14! Florida’s Foundation, Make Mitigation Happen
Notice of Premium Discounts for Hurricane Loss Mitigation
OIR-B1-1655 (02/10) 1
FL HO0002 0410
Dear Homeowner,
Hurricanes have caused tens of billions of dollars in insured damages and predictions
of more catastrophic hurricanes making landfall in Florida have triggered increases in
insurance premiums to cover potential future losses. Enclosed is information regarding
wind loss mitigation that will make your home more resistant to wind and help protect
your family during a catastrophic event. In addition to reducing your hurricane wind
premium by installing mitigation features, you may also reduce the likelihood of out of
pocket expenses, such as your hurricane deductible, you may otherwise incur after a
catastrophic event.
What factors are considered in establishing my premium?
Your location: The closer you are to the coast, the more vulnerable you are to damage
caused by hurricane winds and this makes your hurricane-wind premium higher than
similar homes in other areas of the state.
Your policy: Your insurance policy is divided into two premiums: one for damage caused by
hurricane force winds (hurricane-wind) and one for all other damage (all perils), such as fire.
Your deductible: Under the law, you are allowed to choose a $500, 2%, 5% or 10%
deductible depending on the actual value of your home. The larger your deductible, the
lower your hurricane-wind premium, however, if you select a higher deductible your out-of-
pocket expenses in the event of a hurricane claim will be higher.
Improvements to your home: The state requires insurance companies to offer discounts for
protecting your home against damage caused by hurricane winds. Securing your roof so it
doesn’t blow off and protecting your windows from flying debris are the two most cost
effective measures you can take to safeguard your home and reduce your hurricane –wind
premium. These discounts apply only to the hurricane-wind portion of your policy.
The costs of the improvement projects vary. Homeowners should contact a licensed
contractor for an estimate. You can find a Certified Contractor in your area by visiting
the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation online at
www.myfloridalicense.com.
Your maximum discount: Discounts are not calculated cumulatively. The total discount is not
the sum of the individual discounts. Instead, when one discount is applied, other discounts
are reduced until you reach your maximum discount of 88%.
*** Important Information ***
About Your Personal Residential Insurance Policy
2
OIR-B1-1655 (02/10) 1
FL HO0002 0410
How can I take advantage of the discounts?
Homeowners will need a qualified inspector such as a general, building, or residential
contractor licensed under Section 489.111, Florida Statutes, or a professional engineer
licensed under Section 471.015, Florida Statutes, who has passed the appropriate
equivalency test of the Building Code training program as required by Section 553.841,
Florida Statutes, or a professional architect licensed under Section 481.213, Florida
Statutes, or a building code inspector certified under Section 468.607, to inspect the
home to identify potential mitigation measures and verify improvements. For a listing of
individuals and/or inspection companies meeting these qualifications contact your
insurance agent or insurance company.
Description of Feature
Estimated* Premium
Discount Percent
Estimated* Annual
Premium ($) is
Reduced
by:
Roof Covering (i.e., shingles or tiles)
•
Meets the Florida Building Code
•
Reinforced Concrete Roof Deck (If this feature is
installed on your home you most likely will not
qualify for any other discount.)
11%
82%
FLORIDA’S FOUNDATION
Florida’s Foundation, Make Mitigation Happen! 15
3
OIR-B1-1655 (02/10)
FL HO0002 0410
Estimated* Premium
Discount Percent
Estimated* Annual
Premium ($) is
Reduced
by:
0%
35%
35%
35%
47%
0%
6%
0%
0%
35%
44%
FLORIDA’S FOUNDATION
16! Florida’s Foundation, Make Mitigation Happen
4
Homes built under the 2001 building code and later
OIR-B1-1655 (02/10)
FL HO0002 0410
Description of Feature
Estimated* Premium
Discount Percent
Estimated* Annual
Premium ($) is
Reduced
by:
Homes built under the 2001 Florida Building Code or
later edition (also including the 1994 South Florida
Building Code for homes in Miami-Dade and Broward
Counties) are eligible for a minimum 68% discount on
the hurricane-wind portion of your premium. You may be
eligible for greater discounts if other mitigation features
are installed on your home.
68%
Shutters
•
None
•
Intermediate Type —shutters that are strong
enough to meet half the old Miami-Dade building
code standards
•
Hurricane Protection Type -- shutters that are
strong enough to meet the current Miami-Dade
building code standards
0%
6%
6%
FLORIDA’S FOUNDATION
Florida’s Foundation, Make Mitigation Happen! 17
FLORIDA’S FOUNDATION
18! Florida’s Foundation, Make Mitigation Happen
Local Disaster Related Organizations
National disaster response organizations, local community response organizations, faith-based
organizations and long-term recovery organizations all play a significant role in recovering from a
disaster.
Florida knows the value of volunteers!
Support your local disaster organizations...they’ll be there when you need them.
Special Thanks to....
Florida Division of Emergency
Management, Florida’s Disaster Fund,
Insurance Institute for Business and
Home Safety, Blueprint for Safety, Federal
Alliance for Safe Homes, Federal
Emergency Management Agency, Florida
Building Commission and the Florida
Interfaith/Inter-Agencies Networking in
Disaster for pictures and technical
guidance.
Florida’s Foundation
Kay[email protected]g
Kay Kammel, President
820 East Park Avenue
Building E, Suite 100
Tallahassee, FL 32301
800.825.3786
Important Message from Florida’s
Foundation...
Our mission is to strengthen Florida by making positive
changes in the lives of Florida’s families through initiatives,
like disaster mitigation. In our daily role of providing
administrative oversight of Florida’s Disaster Fund we are
directly invested in ensuring Florida’s citizens, particularly
those whose homes are their primary asset, are able to
withstand a disaster and return safely to their pre-disaster
lives.
It is this goal that we developed this program to inform you,
Florida’s homeowners, of the multiple resources available to
assist in fortifying your home. We hope you find this manual
useful and informative.
As Floridians, we all live one-half of the year (June 1 -
November 30) in hurricane season. Together we can build
smarter and minimize the devastation of mother nature.
FLORIDA’S FOUNDATION
Florida’s Foundation, Make Mitigation Happen! 19
Preparedness Checklist
❍ Get A Plan!
www.FloridaDisaster.org
❍ Have current information
www.FloridaEvacuates.com
❍ Supply kit, including food,
water, clothing (for all types of
conditions), and toiletries
❍ First aid supplies, disinfectant
and medications
❍ Radios, flashlights, air-horn
❍ Garbage bags and waterproof
containers for storage
❍ Dust mask and other tools
❍ Toys, books and games
❍ Important documents,
including insurance, medical
records, bank account and social
security information
❍ Contact information of family
and friends
❍ Specific items needed for your
family including items for infants,
elderly and disabled
❍ Vehicle tanks filled with fuel
❍ Let others know your disaster
plans, especially those out of state
and out of immediate disaster area
❍ Keep driveway accessible
with overhead clearance for
emergency vehicles
❍ Obtain a NOAA weather
radio and check often to make sure
it is still working, replace batteries
❍ Home clearly labeled with
number for emergency crews
❍ If there are special needs,
including medical (insulin,
oxygen) make sure you are on the
county’s special needs listing
before a disaster warning
❍ Stay informed and heed
warnings from local and state
government officials
❍ If you want to help volunteer
for recovery, sign up before a
disaster warning, get trained and
be ready to assist when called - do
not just show up on at a disaster
response site.
Disaster Specific Items
❍ Wind: Anchor lawn items,
including furniture, grills and
potted plants by bringing indoors
or sinking in swimming pool
❍ Wind: Remove gravel and
replace with mulch
❍ Wind: Put up hurricane
shutters and gable/soffit vent
covers
❍ Fire: Extinguishers in house
and easy to access
❍ Fire: Smoke alarms working
❍ Fire: Areas kept free of clutter
and debris, including pruning
limbs and clearing underbrush
❍ Fire: Trim hedges and tree
limbs away from house
❍ Fire: Plant only low-
flammability plants near home
❍ Flood: Elevate air
conditioning unit and other major
appliances
❍ Flood: Clear all drains
❍ Flood: Installed back-flow
valves on primary drains
❍ Earthquake: Anchor
bookcases, file cabinets, mirrors
and fuel tanks.
"
Florida Division of Emergency Management
2555 Shumard Oak Boulevard
Tallahassee, FL 32399-2100
Florida’s Foundation
Kay[email protected]g
Kay Kammel, President
820 East Park Avenue
Building E, Suite 100
Tallahassee, FL 32301
800.825.3786