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Tampa, FL – When homeowner John Holmes of Ruskin received a grant to have his home rebuilt after it had received repeated flood damage, he got more than he bargained for. Through a partnership among County government, the Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS), local businesses and other organizations, Holmes' new house will be “Fortified” with innovative hazard mitigation features.
Last year, Hillsborough County's Hazard Mitigation staff worked with several local residents to receive grant money available through the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Federal Emergency Management Agency for Tropical Storm Josephine and El Nino losses. This money is being used to demolish five homes that received coastal flooding damage and seven homes that received inland flooding. They will be rebuilding them with basic hazard mitigation improvements, bringing them up to and above the County Building Code.
IBHS has partnered with the County on the first home to be rebuilt at 801 Bayview Drive in Ruskin to add several cutting-edge mitigation techniques. This project is part of a new home building program that IBHS launched called "Fortified… for safer living". The program includes a system of construction upgrades to better protect homes from high winds, floods and wildfires. IBHS is providing engineering expertise and making arrangements for supplies and materials necessary for the “Fortified” upgrade. IBHS worked with three local builders to construct the first three “Fortified” homes in Pinellas County last year. Two other new “Fortified” home projects are under way in Pasco and Duval Counties.
"Fortified" features include noncombustible roof materials that better withstand high winds; windows, skylights and patio doors that are shuttered or use impact-resistant glass; securely anchored exterior structures, such as carports; reinforced entry and garage doors; and building site and landscaping techniques that reduce wildfire and flooding vulnerability.
Partners on this project include Hillsborough County's Planning & Growth Management and Community Improvement Departments, IBHS, HUD, FEMA, the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council, Project Impact, the Florida Alliance for Safer Homes, Builders Association of Greater Tampa, and the State Department of Community Affairs. The contractor is Disaster Response Team, Inc.
Ground has been broken on the project, which is expected to be complete in May. A ribbon-cutting will be held at that time, which will include elected officials and partnership representatives and a tour of the home with an explanation of the hazard mitigation techniques used and their benefits.
For more information about hazard mitigation techniques, visit the "Fortified… for safer living" website at: www.fortifiedhome.net.
IBHS is an initiative of the insurance industry to reduce deaths, injuries, property damage, economic losses and human suffering caused by natural disasters.
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