Disaster-Resistant Homes Promoted In N.C.

NU Online News Service, Nov. 4, 2:22 p.m.EST?As part of an effort to promote wind- andflood-resistant homebuilding, Nationwide Insurance said it hadsponsored a charity program's building of disaster-resistant homein North Carolina.

Nationwide Insurance, based in Columbus, Ohio, said it hadbacked the construction of a Fortified program house in Wilmington,N.C. built by Habitat for Humanity.

"Fortified?for safer living" is a national, all-risk initiativeof the Tampa, Fla.-based Institute for Business & Home Safety.The program features construction options that generally go beyondwhat is required by local building codes.

IBHS said the "Fortified" designation must be granted by aqualified inspection service. The organization said the NorthCarolina "Fortified" guidelines are designed to better protecthomes primarily against high winds and flooding. Constructionfeatures in the Wilmington Habitat home include:

? Non-combustible roof materials that also better withstand highwinds.

? Stronger connections tying the roof and walls to thefoundation.

? Shutter-protected windows.

? Reinforced entry doors.

? Building site and landscaping techniques to reduce wildfireand flooding vulnerability.

Habitat houses are offered to partner families at no profit,financed with affordable, no-interest loans. In addition to thedown payment and the monthly mortgage, homeowners invest hundredsof hours of their own labor--so-called "sweat equity"--intobuilding their Habitat house and the houses of others.

"This will be the third Habitat house that Nationwide has builtin North Carolina," noted Dave Gettles, vice president in charge ofNationwide's North Carolina operations. "Following ?builds' inCharlotte and Raleigh, we are pleased to pioneer the Fortifiedhouse project in Wilmington. Given the state's exposure tohurricanes, we wanted to showcase the additional safety featuresthat can help protect our citizens' homes."

Nationwide said it has committed $3.2 million to build 61 homesin 58 cities in partnership with Habitat for HumanityInternational.

The Wilmington house also had funding and supplies from Lowe'sHome Improvement Warehouse and Simpson Strong-Tie Company.