This should really piss you off.
Sixteen years ago States along the coast began implementing a plan called Fortified, including Alabama. According to an article written by Megan Kimble of the Houston Chronicle: “Alabama offers $10,000 grants to homeowners to upgrade their roofs – and requires insurers to give discounts of 25% to 55% to those who do”. That program started 16 years ago!! What the hell did elected officials in Texas do?
Nothing. Not a goddamn thing and now we are paying for it. Literally. We are now in crisis mode with premiums out the roof, excessive deductibles, and companies threatening to leave the Sate. In the upcoming legislative session bills will be filed to protect the insurance industry at our expense. While other States were actively working to lower the risk our elected officials did nothing to protect our homes. This article is another in her series concerning home insurance. It’s a VERY good read. I should be available to read here. It might make you mad. Let me summarize:
- While other states on the coast, like Alabama, took action 15 years ago to reduce the risk to homeowners, Texas did nothing, at all, except pass the cost of the risk to consumers.
- Other states give incentives to homeowners to “fortify” their homes and requires reduced insurance premiums.
- A bill has been filed in Texas to create a program similar to Alabama’s “Fortified” but does NOT require a reduction in premiums
- Of the country’s 70,000 Fortified homes, only 200 are in Texas and half of those were built by Habitat for Humanity.
- While Texas officials were busy cutting regulations and chasing social issues we were left to find our own insurance solutions.
- I love this quote “Home builders along the coast say they already follow stringent building standards and don’t need more.”
- “In coastal Alabama and North Carolina – both states that incentivize Fortified standards – researchers say homes certified through the program have shown a 20% reduction in losses compared to non-Fortified homes.”
- Alabama offers $10,000 grants to homeowners to upgrade their roofs – and requires insurers to give discounts of 25% to 55% to those who do. That program started 16 years ago!!
So take some time to read the article then make plans to attend our next meeting.
Discover more from Bay Area Houston
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Bay Area Houston 
While I appreciate the information included in this article, I find it offensive that the writer felt the need to use God’s name in vain. It seemed that you were addressing a broad audience and writing an article that should not include profanity or slang! Just my opinion.