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Aug. 18, 2008
Vickie Pleus, APR
Community Information Specialist

VOLUSIA COUNTY RESIDENTS CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF PROGRAM TO HARDEN HOMES AGAINST HURRICANES

As all eyes watch Tropical Storm Fay, Volusia County residents are reminded of the My Safe Florida Home program that helps county residents fortify their homes against hurricanes. The program was created by the Florida Legislature in 2006 to provide free wind inspections and grants to homeowners living in single-family, detached, site-built homes.

“We still have almost $1 million in program funds available for residents to strengthen their homes against the effects of wind storms and hurricanes,” said Pat White, a Volusia County Emergency Management coordinator. “The state My Safe Florida Home program has exceeded the Legislature’s goals of awarding grants and providing free wind inspections to eligible homeowners. Although they are no longer accepting applications, Volusia County’s program is ongoing.”

Qualifying homes must have a homestead exemption and an insured value of $300,000 or less. Mobile and manufactured homes, apartments, condominiums, multi-family dwellings and businesses are not eligible for the program.

Free wind inspection reports will recommend improvements, provide cost estimates to make those improvements, provide potential insurance premium discount information, and provide a hurricane resistance rating specific to the home in its current condition and a projected score if recommended improvements are made.

Matching grants up to $5,000 are available to homeowners who have undergone a wind inspection sponsored by My Safe Florida Home and have been permitted for initial home construction before March 1, 2002. Non-matching grants are available for qualified low-income homeowners.

The grants may be used to shutter openings including windows, skylights and gable end vents; make improvements to exterior and garage doors; and brace gable ends.

For more information and applications, call Emergency Management at (386) 258-4088 in Daytona Beach, (386) 736-5980 in west Volusia, or (386) 423-3395 in southeast Volusia or go to www.volusia.org/MSFH

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