Foley, Ala. - (OBA) - Foley's building codes require the windows, doors, and tie-downs to be built to a certain level to provide a higher standard of protection. According to Foley Mayor Ralph Hellmich, most new houses are being built to the gold standard now. The fortified homes program was initiated by SmartHomes America several years ago, and the importance of building or reinforcing homes to stronger standards became evident after Hurricane Sally.

Foley's success in building fortified homes has contributed to Alabama's position as the state with the most fortified homes in the United States. Fairhope, Foley, and Daphne are among the top four cities in the state with the most fortified homes, according to Mayor Hellmich. Smarthomes report shows that Foley has 4,466 fortified homes, Mobile has 6,320, Fairhope has 4,877, and Daphne has 4,310.

Graham Green, the communications director for SmartHomes Alabama, said that about 17,000 fortified homes were located in Coastal Alabama when Hurricane Sally hit in 2020. Approximately 97% of the fortified houses in Mobile-Baldwin counties that were affected by Sally had little to no damage at all, not enough to trigger the deductible, Green said. He added that when tree falls and other kinds of damage that fortified homes cannot prevent are taken into account, the number is closer to 99%.

Green also pointed out that putting fortified standards in building codes, as Foley has done, helps protect property and the community. Homeowners can get tax breaks and reduced insurance rates when they fortify their houses. With Foley's fortified codes, many new homes being built in the area are already protected, according to Green. He believes that this investment in the strength and durability of the buildings in Foley will lead to the resilience of the community as a whole.

In conclusion, Foley, Alabama, has been recognized as a leading city in the United States for building fortified homes that can withstand hurricanes and other weather events. This achievement has been attributed to Foley's building codes, which require homes to be built to a higher standard of protection. The city has been recognized for its success in the SmartHomes report, with 4,466 homes being designated as fortified. Homeowners in Foley are eligible for tax breaks and reduced insurance rates when they fortify their houses. This investment in the strength and durability of buildings is expected to make the community more resilient in the face of future weather events.