Learn About Incentives Meant to Keep Your Home Safe From Storms

CHARLESTON, SC (FOX 24 NEWS NOW) – The scene of devastation is all-too-familiar. Homes up and down hurricane alley decimated by violent wind, inundated by water and washed away by storm surge. The damaging result forces families to emerge from the rubble that has been left behind to start anew.

Last year’s hurricane season was the most expensive in U.S. history. A series of major storms, including Harvey, Maria, and Irma caused unprecedented damage to the tune of more than $200 billion dollars.

We’re nearly a week into hurricane season and while protecting life, property and having an evacuation plan are key to surviving the season, there are other measures homeowners need to consider well before the storm hits.

Particularly in South Carolina where more and more developments are going up and people are building their own homes.

Experts say the best way to mitigate damage from these powerful storms lies in up-to-date building codes. Strong building codes have been proven to mitigate long-term risks to property.

South Carolina is one of the leading states in building codes.

The Institute for Business and Home Safety rated South Carolina number three when it comes to building codes. Which means our legislature, on a regular basis, is looking at state building codes and keeping them up to date.

But there are incentives that can help homeowners access powerful and simple tools to improve safety measures through better construction before the storm hits.

To learn more about these government incentives, we spoke with Jimi Grande, senior vice president of Government Affairs for the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies.