Tampa, FL – June 23, 2010 – (RealEstateRama) — The Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) today announced the availability of new guidelines to protect property from the effects of hurricanes. These guidelines have been updated based on information obtained from IBHS field research in the aftermath of Hurricanes Gustav and Ike in 2008.
Hurricane forecasters all agree that 2010 is expected to be an above-average year for tropical storms and severe hurricanes. More than 55 million people live along the coast from Texas to Maine where there is also $9 trillion worth of insured property that is exposed to the threat of hurricanes.
IBHS’ “Reducing Hurricane Risk: Residential” provides homeowners with strategies on how to reduce their hurricane risk. The information is available electronically and in hard copy printed brochures in English and Spanish.
A commercial version of the information (“Reducing Hurricane Risk: Commercial”) will be available soon also in English and Spanish. This commercial version describes risks faced by small and mid-sized businesses in areas vulnerable to hurricanes.
“IBHS wants to help property owners take control and minimize their risk by making their homes and businesses more hurricane-resistant,” said Julie Rochman, president & CEO, IBHS. “The guidelines provided in the brochures are based on building science research which has identified the areas of a building most at risk from hurricane-force winds and rains.”
The guidelines are publicly available at Disastersafety.org. For more information, contact IBHS at (813) 286-3400 or info (at) ibhs (dot) org.
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IBHS is an independent, nonprofit, scientific and educational organization supported by the property insurance industry. The organization works to reduce the social and economic effects of natural disasters and other risks to residential and commercial property by conducting research and advocating improved construction, maintenance and preparation practices.
Contact:
Joseph King (813) 675-1045
jking (at) ibhs (dot) org
Twitter: disastersafety
