Florida Experts Call for Enhanced Wind Mitigation Measures
At a recent summit organized by the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation, experts emphasized the need for more comprehensive wind mitigation strategies in Florida. Despite having the largest wind-mitigation grant program in the U.S., which has provided over $300 million to homeowners, the current efforts are deemed insufficient. The program is not adequately targeting properties that would yield the most benefit in terms of insurance and homeowner protection. Experts suggest that the upfront costs of building to 'code-plus' standards, which exceed current state building codes, are a significant barrier. These standards could add $20,000 to $30,000 to construction costs, which is not fully covered by existing grants. The summit highlighted the potential for public-private partnerships and innovative funding models to enhance home resilience against hurricanes. 
