Superior Performance of IBHS FORTIFIEDTM Home Construction in Hurricane Sally
A new study from The University of Alabama Center for Risk and Insurance Research found that homes built or retrofitted to the IBHS FORTIFIED™ standard performed significantly better during Hurricane Sally than comparable homes without the designation.
The research provides some of the first large-scale, real-world evidence that stronger construction and roof standards can help reduce hurricane damage, lower insurance losses, and improve community resilience.
Researchers found that:
- homes built to the FORTIFIED Gold standard experienced substantially fewer losses during Hurricane Sally,
- homes with FORTIFIED Roof upgrades also performed better,
- and FORTIFIED homes often outperformed similar homes built to the same code but without the FORTIFIED designation.
The findings suggest that the FORTIFIED program’s additional inspection and verification process may provide important benefits beyond standard building code compliance alone.
The study also highlights the broader economic value of mitigation and resilience investments. Stronger homes can help reduce:
- insurance claim costs,
- homeowner out-of-pocket expenses,
- recovery time after disasters,
- and long-term pressure on insurance markets.
As severe weather losses continue to rise across the United States, the research offers important evidence that resilience-focused construction standards can play a meaningful role in improving both disaster recovery and insurance affordability.
See coverage of this important study in the Insurance Journal
Hear Dr. Powell discuss the study findings on the A.M. Best Audio podcast
Download the full study to explore the methodology, findings, and implications for homeowners, insurers, builders, and policymakers.