March 10, 2008
MY
SAFE FLORIDA HOME
INSPECTION PROGRAM USES
HUMOR TO SPOTLIGHT
MONEY-SAVING BENEFITS
TALLAHASSEE— The
Florida Department of
Financial Services (DFS)
today launched a
statewide public
awareness campaign
highlighting
MySafeFloridaHome.com—a
Web site where
Floridians can apply
online for a free wind
inspection and learn how
to strengthen their
homes against hurricanes
and windstorm damage.
The commercials asking,
“How fast can you save
money?” compare the ease
of applying for a free
wind inspection, which
can lead to discounts on
homeowners’ wind
insurance, to other
satirical things people
might do to save money.
Floridians in every part
of the state will be
exposed to the humorous
promotional campaign on
either TV or radio
through May, including
commercials in Spanish
and Haitian-Creole.
(Click graphic to play
via YouTube.com)
My Safe Florida Home -
Two-ply
My Safe Florida Home -
Haircut
The My Safe Florida Home
(MSFH) program,
re-launched by Chief
Financial Officer Alex
Sink in April 2007, has
provided more than
172,000 free wind
inspections to
Floridians. Homeowners
receive a wind
inspection report, which
suggests ways homeowners
can harden their homes
against storm damage and
informs homeowners if
they are currently
eligible to save money
on their wind insurance
premiums.
More than 70% of
homeowners receiving
free wind inspections
have learned they are
already eligible for an
average savings of
$224—without making a
single improvement.
Floridians whose homes
have received free wind
inspections from the
MSFH program may also be
eligible to apply for
matching tax-free grants
of up to $5,000 to make
improvements to their
homes. To date, the MSFH
program has given 4,402
homeowners grants
totaling more than $14.3
million, with an
additional 15,000
homeowners are currently
working with the program
to make improvements.
Floridians in
single-family,
site-built homes are
eligible for a free wind
inspection performed by
a qualified hurricane
mitigation inspector.
Properties not eligible
for free wind
inspections include
mobile and manufactured
homes, apartments,
condominiums,
multi-family dwellings
and businesses. The MSFH
program has also
partnered with local
governments and the
Volunteer Florida
Foundation to offer
low-income homeowners an
opportunity to
strengthen their homes
against natural
disasters.
The TV spots will begin
airing today in the
Tampa/St. Petersburg,
Miami/Fort Lauderdale,
West Palm/Ft. Pierce,
and
Tallahassee/Thomasville
markets while radio
spots air in
Orlando/Daytona
Beach/Melbourne,
Jacksonville, Fort
Myers/Naples,
Pensacola/Ft. Walton,
Gainesville/Ocala, and
Panama City. Hispanic
radio will air in
Orlando, Tampa, and
Miami. Creole radio will
air in Miami/Fort
Lauderdale.
For more information,
please visit
www.MySafeFloridaHome.com
or contact the program
toll-free at 1(866)
513-MSFH (6734). |
