15,000 fortified roofs: NC invests in hurricane-ready homes

North Carolina reached a major milestone in coastal resilience Friday, celebrating the installation of its 15,000th fortified roof—an upgrade designed to protect homes from hurricane-force winds and heavy rain.

The North Carolina Insurance Underwriting Association (NCIUA) hosted a luncheon Friday to mark the achievement. NCIUA has invested more than $100 million into programs that help coastal homeowners upgrade to the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety’s (IBHS) FORTIFIED Roof standard.

“The best defense against storms is our roof,” said Roy Wright, CEO of IBHS, speaking at the ceremony in Wilmington. “These kinds of incremental investments become the pathway to return after evacuation—you need to have a home to come back to.”

The FORTIFIED construction standard includes sealed roof decks, enhanced attachment systems, and locked-down edges that help roofs stay intact during high winds. Research from NC State University found that homes with fortified roofs were 34% less likely to file a claim during hurricanes—and when they did, the damage was 22% less severe compared to homes with standard construction.

Grants help cover costs—but tax status remains a hurdle

Through programs like Strengthen Your Roof and Strengthen Your Coastal Roof, eligible policyholders can receive grants of up to $10,000 to offset the cost of a fortified roof. Additional coverage is provided through endorsements that ensure if a roof is damaged in a storm, it is replaced with a fortified roof at no extra cost to the homeowner.

Homeowner Penny Jones said participating in the program has already led to savings.

“I just paid for my premium for the wind and hail, and they’ve already sent me a refund check because it reduced the rates,” Jones said. “Having a fortified roof is just another layer of protection—to protect the belongings in my home, including family heirlooms that can’t be replaced.”

Despite the program’s success, some grant funding has gone unused—partly because the grants are currently considered taxable income under federal law. Advocates are urging Congress to pass a bipartisan bill that would exempt disaster mitigation grants from federal taxes, removing a key barrier for homeowners.

Climate risks and rising costs put pressure on homeowners

As North Carolina faces increasing threats from hurricanes and inland flooding, Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey says programs like this are critical.

“This program has been worth its weight in gold,” Causey said. “We’ve made great progress, but we still have a long way to go—and we need to keep our building codes strong. How do you put a value on protecting a home when a major storm comes through?”

The celebration comes amid rising homeowner insurance premiums across the state. Under a recent settlement, North Carolinians will see an average 15% increase over two years. Coastal areas, including Brunswick, New Hanover, and Onslow counties, will see hikes of nearly 32% over the same period.

State leaders and insurance industry officials argue that investing in resilience now could help slow future rate increases by reducing claims and storm damage.

With more than 15,000 fortified roofs now in place, North Carolina leads the nation in adopting the standard. But leaders say that’s just the beginning.

“We know the risk is growing,” Wright said. “This is about empowering communities to recover faster and protecting the homes and memories that matter most.”