‘My Safe Florida Home Program’ Launched by Jimmy Patronis, Gives Homeowners Free Inspections and Retrofit Grants

TALLAHASSEE (FLV) – The Florida Department of Financial Services under Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis announced the launch of the ‘My Safe Florida Home Program’ to ensure homeowners have access to resources to mitigate impacts and danger from storms.

In October, Patronis directed the program to be expedited to ensure Floridians can fortify their home and obtain premium reductions.

During the soft-opening in October, over 400 applications were already received for inspections.

Patronis’ office said the program, which was signed into law this year by the Florida legislature, gives eligible Floridians access to free home inspections to identify storm mitigation measures. It will also give grants to retrofit homes to protect from storm damage and help decrease the cost of property insurance.

The Department noted the two main parts of the program:

• Wind Mitigation Home Inspections. All owners of site-built, single family, residential homes are eligible to make application for a wind mitigation home inspection. This inspection will identify those elements of your home’s construction which could be improved to mitigate your home against future wind damage. All inspections will be provided to eligible homeowners free of charge by the State. Applications will be reviewed and approved in the order in which they are received, until current funding is exhausted. (DFS anticipates completing between 140,000 and 145,000 initial home inspections.)

• Wind Mitigation Grant awards for home construction. Homeowners who have received a wind mitigation inspection, may be eligible to apply for matching grant funds to make improvements to their home. (DFS anticipates awarding between 11,000 and 12,000 grants based on current funding.)

For more information, click here.

Homeowners can begin the application process here.