News Summary
North Carolina has introduced the ‘2025 Strengthen Your Coastal Roof program’ to enhance the resilience of homes along its coast against severe weather. The initiative features a $20 million grant program to assist eligible homeowners in fortifying their roofs, with grants ranging from $6,000 to $10,000. This measure aims to improve safety and reduce insurance claims by promoting the installation of fortified roofs that meet rigorous standards. The program targets several coastal counties where severe weather risk is heightened.
RALEIGH, NC – North Carolina has launched an initiative to bolster the resilience of coastal homes against severe weather events. The program, announced by NC Commissioner of Insurance Mike Causey, features a $20 million grant program aimed specifically at providing financial assistance for homeowners to fortify their roofs. Dubbed the 2025 Strengthen Your Coastal Roof program, this initiative is designed to assist eligible policyholders in making their homes more secure during storms.
The program offers grants of up to $6,000 for homeowners in standard coastal areas, and up to $10,000 for those located in the Outer Banks and barrier islands. The funding is made available to residents who hold policies with the N.C. Insurance Underwriting Association (NCIUA), also known as the Beach Plan. It’s important to note that the funds will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis, emphasizing the need for swift application processing to ensure access to these grants.
These grants can be utilized for installing roofs that meet rigorous standards set forth by the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS). The installation of fortified roofs is verified independently by third-party evaluators, ensuring compliance with established safety standards. Notably, roofs that meet IBHS guidelines are designed to improve a home’s resistance to severe weather and can also provide insurance credits, which may lower homeowners’ premiums.
Research conducted by the Institute for Advanced Analytics at N.C. State University showcases the tangible benefits of fortified roofs. Homes with these enhanced structures experienced a 35% reduction in insurance claims following major hurricanes such as Matthew, Florence, Dorian, and Isaias when compared to those with standard roofing. Furthermore, the damage claims from homes with fortified roofs were reported to be approximately 23% less severe than claims from homes lacking such reinforcements. In addition, for non-named storms, the inclusion of fortified roofs led to a remarkable 63% reduction in claims.
The initiative is targeting residents in several counties where the risk of severe weather is particularly heightened. Eligible counties for this funding include: Brunswick, Carteret, New Hanover, Onslow, Beaufort, Camden, Chowan, Craven, Jones, Pender, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Tyrell, Washington, Currituck, Dare, Hyde, and Pamlico. Homeowners in these beach and coastal territories may also be eligible for additional wind mitigation credits through fortified roofs, further enhancing the financial incentives for participating in the program.
The overall goal of the 2025 Strengthen Your Coastal Roof program is to enhance the resiliency of homes across North Carolina’s coastal areas in anticipation of severe weather events. Investing in fortified roofing not only contributes to individual safety but may also prove financially advantageous in light of potential future storms, as reduced damage claims can lessen the economic burden on homeowners after catastrophic events.
For residents seeking more information about the program or insurance-related inquiries, they are encouraged to contact the Department of Insurance at 855-408-1212 or visit www.ncdoi.gov. This initiative reflects a proactive move toward improving coastal home safety and securing peace of mind for families living in high-risk areas.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
North Carolina Celebrates 15,000 FORTIFIED Homes for Coastal Resilience
Additional Resources
- Avery Journal
- Wikipedia: Insurance
- Property Casualty 360
- Google Search: North Carolina insurance policies
- WHKY
- Google Scholar: homeowner insurance claims
- Carolina Journal
- Encyclopedia Britannica: insurance fraud
Author: STAFF HERE OUTER BANKS WRITER
The OBX STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREOBX.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in the Outer Banks, Dare County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the Outer Banks Seafood Festival, NC VIP Fishing Tournament, and NCBBA Red Drum Tournament. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Outer Banks Chamber of Commerce and Outer Banks Community Foundation, plus leading businesses in tourism, retail, and hospitality that power the local economy such as Kitty Hawk Kites, Outer Banks Mall, and Avon Fishing Pier. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREAsheville.com, HERECharlotte.com, HEREGreensboro.com, and HERERaleigh.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into North Carolina's dynamic landscape.
