As hurricane season begins, the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) has recognized 44 FORTIFIED service providers and nonprofits helping to prepare communities for severe weather with its annual FORTIFIED Awards. The awards recognize those who have contributed to the record-setting number of FORTIFIED Home designations, helping thousands of homeowners strengthen their homes against storms.     

A voluntary beyond-code construction and reroofing standard based on decades of research, FORTIFIED strengthens areas of a home vulnerable to high winds and heavy rain. Lab studies and real-world events show FORTIFIED significantly reduces damage from winds up to 130 mph. More than 65,000 homeowners have chosen to seek a FORTIFIED designation, with Alabama, North Carolina and Louisiana leading the way. The FORTIFIED program requires third-party verification that the standard has been met and can lead to insurance incentives and tax credits for homeowners.

“FORTIFIED service providers – especially our Volume and Pioneer Award recipients – are the guides to make a homeowner’s FORTIFIED journey easy and obtainable,” said IBHS President and CEO Roy Wright. “Service providers and non-profits pave the path to more storm-resistant housing.”

Certified FORTIFIED home builders, roofing contractors and evaluators who have generated at least 100 designations are eligible for a FORTIFIED Volume Award. This year’s FORTIFIED Volume Award recipients include:  

Diamond Volume Award (2,500-plus Designations)

• Bethel Engineering Inc.
• Knockout Home Inspections

Crown Volume Award (1,000 to 2,499 Designations)

• D.R. Horton, Inc.
• Fortified Inspections

Crystal Volume Award (500 to 999 Designations)

• Disaster Smart Consulting, Inc.  
• Pilot  
• Roof Doctors 

Spotlight Volume Award for evaluators (100 to 499 Designations)

• Arcane Inspection Services 
• Coastal Design Group, LLC   
• Coastal Trim & Accessories  
• Fortified Professional Services 
• Gulf Coast Home Inspections Inc. 
• H&H Adjusters Inc 
• JDL Homebuilders Inc. 
• NC Fortified 
• Projust Services 
• Property Loss Consultants LTD 
• Superior Home Inspections, LLC 
• The Inspection Specialist 
• 21st Century Home Inspections 

Spotlight Volume Award for roofing contractors (100 to 499 Designations)

• All Weather Roofing  
• Ben Murphy Company  
• B&M Roofing and Construction  
• Coastal Roofing & Siding, Inc.  
• D.R. Horton, Inc. - Mobile County  
• DSLD – Alabama 
• Fortified Exteriors  
• Foster Contracting 
• Gallop Roofing & Remodeling 
• Habitat for Humanity of Autauga and Chilton Counties 
• Habitat for Humanity of Greater Birmingham 
• Habitat for Humanity Tuscaloosa 
• Lennar Homes 
• Mueller Bros 
• Painting Perfection by Garcia 
• Southern Premier Roofing 
• Taylor Made Services  
• Truland Homes 

IBHS also honored organizations working to introduce resilient construction into new markets. This year, FORTIFIED Pioneer Awards were presented to Guardian Inspections, Habitat for Humanity of Bowling Green/Warren County (Kentucky) and Habitat for Humanity Pennyrile Region (Kentucky) who are working together to show resilient construction is necessary and affordable in Southwest Kentucky.

TUV SUD Global Risk Consultants also received a FORTIFIED Pioneer Award for its work as a third-party evaluator for the FORTIFIED Multifamily program, helping more than 1,000 families across the country to have the opportunity to live in apartments or condos constructed to the FORTIFIED standard.

IBHS also presented FORTIFIED Social Media Awards for the first time, recognizing FORTIFIED service providers who connect homeowners to the science behind FORTIFIED in unique ways. Inaugural FORTIFIED Social Media Award recipients include: 

• Hopson Inspections
• Knockout Inspections
• Ready Roofing Company
• HDMK Inspection Services – NOLA
• Monarch Roofing
• Perdomo Roofing and Sheet Metal LLC
• Hallman Roofing and Siding
• Ben Murphy Roofing
• Patriot Roofing Company LLC

“In a year forecasters predict could be active, it’s important to remember there are steps we can take to protect our homes from hurricanes,” said FORTIFIED Director Fred Malik. “Thankfully, FORTIFIED Award recipients are providing resilient construction solutions for home and business owners to strengthen their properties from Mother Nature’s fury.”