As catastrophes are on the rise, and with it, catastrophic losses, insurance departments, insurance companies, and insurance consumers are looking for ways to mitigate and prevent losses. One such method is the FORTIFIED Program developed by the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS). 

IBHS is an independent nonprofit scientific research and communications organization whose building safety research leads to real-world solutions for home and business owners. FORTIFIED is a voluntary construction and re-roofing program designed to strengthen homes and commercial buildings against severe weather such as high winds, hail, hurricanes, and tornadoes. Research has shown that the roof is the most vulnerable part of a house during high winds. FORTIFIED standards go beyond typical building codes and as a result, deliver better protection during severe weather. They offer the following programs: FORTIFIED Home™, FORTIFIED Commercial™, and FORTIFIED Multifamily™. 

FORTIFIED Home is a program for homeowners looking to strengthen and protect their homes against severe weather. Eligible homes include single-family detached homes, two-family dwelling units (duplex), manufactured homes built after 1994, and townhouses where each unit extends from foundation to roof ("stacked" dwellings excluded).