Storms don’t need to make headlines to wreak havoc on your home

When a hurricane makes landfall, it seems like the whole country watches.? A major storm, like Hurricane Ian, can cause more than $100 billion in damage, so it’s easy to understand why. Yet, hurricanes are not the only severe weather events that can result in billions of dollars in damage and immeasurable impact on people’s lives and livelihoods. In fact, in 2023 only two of the 28 billion-dollar weather-related disasters were tropical systems.?

Last year, nineteen severe thunderstorm outbreaks each caused over a billion dollars in damage. These storms either produced hail of at least 1-inch in diameter, winds of at least 58 mph, or a tornado. Collectively, they impacted more than 20 states and caused over $50 billion in damage. As storms like these come in greater frequency, property owners are looking for ways to protect their homes and businesses.?

The good news is we know how to make buildings stronger and reduce the risk of storm damage.?? Researchers at the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS), have identified areas of homes and commercial buildings vulnerable to storms, as well as effective ways to strengthen them. Two critical investments homeowners can make to minimize damage from severe weather are re-roofing to the FORTIFIED Roof? standard and installing a garage door wind-rated for speeds above 130 mph.??

Based on decades of research by IBHS, FORTIFIED Roof requires stronger roof deck attachment, a sealed roof deck and edges that are locked down to keep the roof on and the wind and rain out of the home. The method has proven effective during lab research and against real-world hurricanes, including Hurricane Sally. Approximately 17,000 FORTIFIED homes were threatened by that storm in 2020, yet more than 95 percent experienced no significant damage.??

The same FORTIFIED features that protect against hurricanes also minimize damage from severe thunderstorms, and even low-level tornadoes. These details were put to the test in January 2023, when a tornado struck a FORTIFIED home in Selma, Alabama.?In this video by Smart Home America , the homeowner explains how the tornado peeled vinyl soffits and fascia from his home, and feeling as though his roof was under attack. Yet, the stronger roof attachment and locked down edges performed as expected and the home emerged intact.????

After securing your roof, the next step to a Thunderstorm Ready home is ensuring you have a properly rated garage door. IBHS completed extensive research that shows the impact can be tremendous. In fact, in one study of post-storm damage determined that during the Moore and Joplin tornadoes only 10 percent of damaged homes had roof structural damage without damage to a garage door.?

Property owners can further reduce their risk by completing affordable DIY projects now, ahead of spring storms, by downloading the IBHS Thunderstorm Ready guide . Even low-cost options, like trimming trees, can make your home or business more prepared for severe weather. Get started today.?

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