Florida will soon stop accepting applications for a state program that provides residents with free home inspections to learn about possible wind-resistance upgrades.
Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink announced Thursday the My Safe Florida Home program will meet the Legislature's goal of approving 400,000 homeowners for free wind inspections a year ahead of schedule.
"When the Florida Legislature created the My Safe Florida Home program, their intent was to create a culture of mitigation in our state," Sink said in a prepared statement. "Almost half a million homes later, homeowners served by this program are better informed, and most are better prepared for the next big storm."
Created in 2006, the My Safe Florida Home program offers free windstorm-protection inspections for homeowners to mitigate the impact of hurricanes before they strike.
Inspectors detail in a report what repairs are needed, and the state then sends another report to the homeowner with a cost estimate for repairs and a list of licensed contractors. Homeowners can show the report to their insurance companies, which may decide to lower their rates based on the improvements. According to Sink's office, 58 percent of homeowners who have received a free wind inspection were eligible for discounts on their wind insurance premiums with an average savings of $219.31.
The state also offers reimbursements to help qualified homeowners pay for the repairs. The program has approved approximately 39,000 homeowners for mitigation grants and has paid 18,787 grants totaling more than $63.8 million.
Florida set to stop accepting requests for My Safe Florida Home
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