Alabama’s fortified-roof grant program offers up to $10,000 per home; officials say discounts and outreach are increasing take-up

Travis Taylor, director of the Office of Risk and Resilience in the Alabama Department of Insurance, told the Georgia House study committee that Alabama’s Strengthen Alabama Homes mitigation program provides grants of up to $10,000 to help homeowners install roofs that meet IBHS Fortified standards.

Taylor said the program began after Hurricanes Katrina and Ivan, is funded through a portion of insurance-agent fees retained by the state and other public–private partners, and runs roughly $17,000,000 a year. The grants are paid directly to certified contractors after work is completed and require that the homeowner own and occupy the property; if the home is in a special flood hazard area, the owner must also carry flood insurance.

"The ROI, down on the coast is about 6 years now," Taylor said, explaining that insurance discounts on the wind portion of coastal premiums make fortified roofing cost-effective for many homeowners.

Taylor said the program relies on the Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) Fortified standards and uses IBHS-certified evaluators and contractors. Applications for Mobile and Baldwin counties are processed in quarterly online "drops"; Taylor said the application slots are in high demand and typically fill within minutes.

He described program outcomes and partnerships: about 9,500 grant-funded projects completed to date, roughly $94,000,000 invested in the program so far, and an estimated 55,000 fortified homes statewide (including owner-funded retrofits). The program also issues block grants to nonprofits such as Habitat for Humanity and has supported community projects in Selma, Birmingham and other cities.

Taylor said the office has a small staff — seven people including the director — and that he personally approves grant disbursements. He said the agency maintains certification records for contractors and evaluators and coordinates fraud investigations with the state fire marshal when needed.

On discounts, Taylor told committee members that a 20% reduction on the wind portion of a premium is common but that some carriers offer higher discounts—he cited examples of carriers offering 40%–50% reductions. He said the program helped encourage some carriers to return to coastal markets.

Committee members asked about eligibility, administration and fraud controls. Chairlady Darlene Taylor confirmed the grants require ownership and occupancy and are not means-tested for the regular online grants; Taylor explained income-targeting can apply to nonprofit-focused block grants. He confirmed that invoices are paid to contractors after work is completed and that the office maintains contractor certification records.

Taylor said the program is ongoing, that contact information is available for follow-up, and that Alabama continues to expand the fortified approach north of coastal counties to address wind, tornado and hail risks inland.

No formal action or vote occurred; members said they would follow up with questions as needed.