North Carolina Celebrates 15,000 Fortified Roofs from Grant Programs
The North Carolina Insurance Underwriting Association this week marked the 15,000th fortified roof in the state, a huge increase since the grant program began in 2017.
“I applaud the NCIUA for investing over $100 million in this incredibly successful and growing program,” state Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey said in a statement. “Since being sworn in January 2017, when we had fewer than 100 fortified roofs in North Carolina. Today, we’re here to celebrate 15,000 fortified roofs in our state. That’s progress!”
North Carolina now ranks second in the nation in fortified roofs, he said.
A study by North Carolina State University found that homeowners with fortified roofs were 34% less likely to file an insurance claim after four hurricanes hit the state in recent years. For those that filed a claim, the damage was 22% less severe compared to homes with standard roofs, Causey noted.
The Institute for Business and Home Safety’s Fortified standard allows shingle roofs but requires stronger edges, requires the underlying decking to be sealed and fastened with better-holding ring-shank nails. In recent years, the NCIUA and state lawmakers have provided roof grants for parts of the state, which qualify homes for premium discounts.
In late 2024, the association expanded its program for the Outer Banks, offering grants up to $10,000 for homes to preemptively install new roofs to meet the IBHS standard. That program is funded largely through the association’s own surplus accounts.
Earlier this year, U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis, R-NC, and four others introduced the Disaster Mitigation and Tax Parity Act of 2025, which would allow residents to exclude the mitigation grants from income when paying federal taxes. That bill is awaiting action in the Senate.
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