Florida Hurricane Damage Mitigation Program “My Safe Florida Home”
August 7th, 2006
My Safe Florida Home is working on being open for business within 60 days of its July 1 creation. They are preparing to accept applications and scheduling the first home inspections during the month of August.
About the Florida Comprehensive Hurricane Damage Mitigation Program.
To help Floridians identify how they can strengthen their homes against hurricanes and to reduce hurricane damage exposure in our state, the Florida Comprehensive Hurricane Damage Mitigation Program will offer free home inspections by qualified hurricane mitigation inspectors to eligible homeowners.
You must apply and obtain approval in order to receive the free inspection. Requesting or obtaining an inspection does not guarantee or automatically qualify you for a grant. Floridians whose homes have undergone a wind certification and hurricane mitigation inspection approved by the Department of Financial Services will then be eligible to apply for matching grants up to $5,000.
We will have information available by August to inform Floridians when they can begin to apply for free inspections.
STEP ONE: FREE HOME INSPECTIONS
To help Floridians identify how they can strengthen their homes against hurricanes and to reduce hurricane damage exposure in our state, the Florida Comprehensive Hurricane Damage Mitigation Program will offer free home inspections by specially qualified wind-resistance inspectors to eligible homeowners. You must apply to the Program and be approved in order to receive the free inspection. Requesting or obtaining an inspection does not guarantee or automatically qualify you for a grant.
1. Who will be eligible for free home inspections?
- A Floridian whose primary residence is a single-family, “site-built” home
- plus valid homestead exemption
- plus insured value of not more than $500,000.
OR
- A Floridian whose primary residence is a unit in a residential building of up to four units
- plus valid homestead exemption
- plus insured value of not more than than $500,000.
All unit owners in a residential building must agree to participate in the program to be eligible for free inspections.
Properties NOT eligible for free home inspections include:
- • Mobile homes or manufactured homes
• Second homes
• Rental properties
• Apartments
• Businesses
2. When can I request an inspection?
We will have information available by August 2006 to inform Floridians when they can begin to apply for free inspections.
3. How do I request an inspection?
Visit http://www.mysafefloridahome.com or call the Department’s toll-free consumer helpline 800-342-2762 to request an application be mailed to you.
4. Who can I use to do an inspection?
When your application is approved, the Department of Financial Services will notify you who will be available to perform the inspection. The new law requires the Department to assemble a group of qualified inspectors who have undergone background checks, have verified inspection experience and have received specialized training in strengthening homes against hurricanes.
5. What will the inspection report tell me?
The new law specifies that the inspection report must:
- Outline what eligible improvements may be made to your home to increase resistance to hurricane wind damage.
- Provide a range of how much each improvement would cost to do.
- Explain what insurance discounts may be available for each improvement.
- Offer a hurricane resistance rating scale that shows the home’s current ability, and future ability with improvements, to withstand hurricanes. NOTE: There are seven categories of improvements that are eligible for matching grant dollars. The inspector’s report will detail each of these as they relate to your home.
6. Does obtaining a free inspection obligate me to make any repairs or upgrades to my residence?
No.
So far, more than 12,000 Floridians have contacted “My Safe Florida Home” through their website and our toll-free helpline to find out more about how they can make their homes safer against hurricanes. Find out more information at http://www.mysafefloridahome.com
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