Worst Hurricane Seasons Provide Best Opportunities for Strengthening Homes, FLASH Tells National Hurricane Conference

New Orleans (April 2, 2007) - While back-to-back destructive hurricane seasons in 2004-05 brought the worst of times to many people living in Gulf Coast states, they also created the best opportunities the region has ever had for strengthening their homes and communities against windstorms. That is the message the nonprofit Federal Alliance for Safe Homes, Inc. - FLASH® brings this week to the 2007 National Hurricane Conference in New Orleans.

"We have never seen a better time for homeowners in hurricane-prone states to break the cycle of build, destroy, and rebuild," said FLASH President/CEO Leslie Chapman-Henderson. "The recent seasons, along with the promise of more to come, have given us unprecedented technological, programmatic and social policy breakthroughs to help in building stronger homes."

To illustrate its message, FLASH will premier at the conference A New Tale of Two Houses, a 10-minute video featuring a "Code-plus," storm-resistant home that was built to replace a Punta Gorda, Fla., home destroyed by Hurricane Charley in 2004. Code-plus refers to building techniques that far surpass most state and local building codes. The construction project is the focus of a season of the popular show Bob Vila.

Chapman-Henderson stresses that homeowners themselves are key to efforts to strengthen homes.

"We’ve repeatedly seen what havoc hurricanes can wreak on people’s lives. But it doesn’t stop there. The home damage left in the wake of hurricanes threatens the social and economic viability of communities, cities, and even entire states," said Chapman-Henderson. "It’s vital that homeowners understand that they CAN take steps to build or retrofit their homes against hurricanes."
Chapman-Henderson will speak at the conference's Closing General Session about "The Seven Things Homeowners Should Know About Living in Hurricane-Prone States," to include:

1) Home Hurricane Rating Scales. Florida, often referred to as the "first pin in hurricane alley," has developed a 0-100 rating scale for homes to help determine their windstorm readiness. This first-of-its-kind scale provides homeowners with insight into the strength or weakness of their home and includes a set of improvement plans to help make it sturdier. The scale will soon be adapted for use in other states.

2) Windstorm Inspections. Developed first in Florida, other states are now considering government and private sector partnerships to undertake large-scale windstorm inspection programs that identify a home's strengths and weaknesses. Inspection data will be used in post-storm engineering studies to determine what works and what doesn't. These insights will present research findings on a scale that can speed future innovation in building technology.

3) Help for Homeowners. Following Florida's lead, several states are also providing matching grants to help homeowners pay for retrofitting their homes against windstorms.

4) "Code-Plus" Building. While model building codes are crucial, it is important to remember that building codes are the minimum standard. "Code-plus" building techniques far surpass most state and local building codes, and can provide the ultimate protection from windstorms. Programs providing Code-plus building products and techniques are gaining popularity throughout the United States.

5) Rebuilding Provides Opportunity. For those building or rebuilding, now is the time to incorporate home-strengthening building techniques that are most likely not required by their local or state building codes. Homeowners can access free resources and expert advice from FLASH by calling 877-221-SAFE or visiting www.flash.org.

6) Affordable Does Not Mean Disposable. Because windstorm-resistant building techniques increase building costs, there is concern that a home cannot be both wind-resistant and affordable. It is critical to understand that there is nothing affordable about a home that is destroyed after a storm. Slightly higher building costs up front will prevent "affordable housing" becoming synonymous with "disposable housing."

7) When Houses Fail, We Fail. We know windstorm-resistant building techniques are doable and that they work. To not use these proven techniques in places susceptible to hurricanes leaves homeowners vulnerable, ensures widespread structure failure, and threatens community viability. This is clearly demonstrated in FLASH's video A New Tale of Two Houses.

Chapman-Henderson will also discuss Code-plus building techniques during an April 5 panel titled "Residential Mitigation Incentives Program." FLASH promotes Code-plus building techniques through its Blueprint for Safety® program. Florida recently made the Blueprint for Safety program the basis of the state's hurricane mitigation programs including the unprecedented My Safe Florida Home (MSFH) program. That program is projected to provide matching grants for windstorm retrofitting of about 70,000 homes and free inspections for approximately 400,000 homes. FLASH directed the MSFH program's pilot phase, which ended in February. FLASH's work received accolades and was recently hailed as "pioneering" and "heroic" by Florida leaders.

The Federal Alliance for Safe Homes – FLASH®, Inc., is an award-winning 501(c)3 nonprofit organization of government agencies, professional associations, and private industry committed to strengthening homes and safeguarding families from disaster.  Based in Tallahassee, Fla., FLASH is the nation's fastest-growing disaster preparedness organization with more than 90 partners from academic, government, leadership, nonprofit, private and public sector organizations.  To learn more about FLASH and access free homeowner and homebuilder resources, visit www.flash.org or call toll free (877) 221-SAFE (7233).

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FLASH's At-A-Glance Schedule for the National Hurricane Conference

April 4, 10:30 am - 12 pm: Media Rap Session, Leslie Chapman-Henderson, Moderator

April 4 & 5: FLASH Booth at Exhibit Hall

April 5, 8:30 am - 10 pm: Residential Mitigation Incentives Program - Leslie Chapman-Henderson is a panelist on this session, which will discuss Florida's My Safe Florida Home program in detail.

April 6, 9:30 am: Closing General Session - Catastrophe Loss Response and Recovery: Enhancing the Effectiveness of the Public-Private Partnership. Leslie Chapman-Henderson will discuss The Seven Things Homeowners Should Know About Living in Hurricane-Prone States.

A New Tale of Two Houses

FLASH's A New Tale of Two Houses video will be featured at FLASH's booth in the Exhibit Hall on April 4-5, and is also available for viewing internationally on YouTube.com (Use search term: A New Tale of Two Houses or visit www.youtube.com/watch?v=DazXssBbKhM ). Media representatives can download the video from an FTP site upon request. Contact Sue Ellen Smith, 850-385-7233, xt. 111.

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