The Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) is voicing its strong support for U.S. Rep. Randy Neugebauer's (R-TX) plea for Congress to pass the National Windstorm Impact Reduction Reauthorization Act. This legislation would fund additional research aimed at significantly reducing the vulnerability of homes and businesses to wind-related hazards.

"IBHS greatly appreciates Rep. Neugebauer's efforts to advance this important piece of legislation, which will help home and business owners reduce wind damage across the country," says Debra Ballen, IBHS general counsel and senior vice president of public policy. "Tragic high wind-related disasters during the last two years alone—tornadoes in Oklahoma last May and in Illinois last November, for example—are clear signs that we need to focus on significantly reducing the vulnerability of our communities to these types of devastating events."

Protecting People…and Property

IBHS, a leading authority on wind research in the U.S., constructed a large applied research center in 2010 to advance building science while demonstrating the property insurance industry's deep commitment to loss mitigation. Situated on 90 acres in Richburg, South Carolina, the facility provides the space and means for researchers to evaluate various residential and commercial construction materials and systems. It houses 105 fans and other specialized equipment designed to recreate a variety of highly realistic wind, rain, fire and hail events.

The Institute created this facility in part because wind hazard research—as it applies to building performance—has been underfunded for decades. In stressing the importance of the facility (and the kind of research it fosters), the agency emphasizes that "relatively little has been done" by the federal government to further the understanding of how the characteristics of different types of windstorms affect the real-world performance of building components, connections, and systems.

In light of this, H.R. 1786 would represent an important milestone, as the reauthorization of the National Windstorm Impact Reduction Program (NWIRP), sponsored by Rep. Neugebauer, would steer federal dollars into wind-related research and implement a strategic plan to establish goals to improve mitigation against the loss of life and property from future windstorms. It also would give the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) primary responsibility for the program's planning and coordination.

During last summer's joint hearing of the House Science, Space, and Technology Subcommittees on Research and Technology regarding the reauthorization, Ballen testified about IBHS' support for NIST's designation as the lead agency for the program and support for the funding and research roles for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the National Science Foundation (NSF).

"A coordinated effort among these agencies with private organizations undoubtedly will yield effective mitigation against wind-related disasters," Ballen said. "One of the most important steps toward that end is ensuring NWIRP receives the appropriate level of funding it needs to help improve our nation's safety, sustainability and resilience."

Special Reports /

IBHS Urges Congress to Fund the National Windstorm Impact Reduction Program

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