PRESS RELEASE

April 28, 2008                                                                                   

MY SAFE FLORIDA HOME PROGRAM ANNOUNCES HIGH CUSTOMER SATISFACTION BEFORE HURRICANE SEASON 2008
Survey Highlights Customer Service, Savings, & Ease of Mitigation Program

TALLAHASSEE— Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink today released survey results from Floridians participating in the My Safe Florida Home (MSFH) program showing 97 percent of homeowners rate the application process as easy or somewhat easy, 80 percent rate their overall experience as excellent or good, and 82 percent of respondents say they are willing to recommend the program to neighbors as hurricane season draws closer.

“One year ago, we reorganized the My Safe Florida Home program to help Floridians harden their homes against hurricane damage,” said CFO Sink. “I’m pleased that hundreds of thousands of Floridians are working with the program to build a culture of mitigation in our state.”

The My Safe Florida Home program, re-launched by Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink in April 2007, has provided more than 214,100 free wind inspections to Floridians. Participating 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 60 percent of homeowners receiving free wind inspections have learned they are already eligible for an average savings of $226 and 34 percent of respondents report taking advantage of these savings—without making a single improvement.  Floridians whose homes have received free wind inspections from the MSFH program may also be eligible to apply, on a first come, first served basis, for matching tax-free grants of up to $5,000 to make improvements to their homes.  To date, the MSFH program has given 5,769 homeowners grants totaling more than $19.2 million, with an additional 26,973 homeowners currently working with the program to make improvements. MSFH may meet the 35,000 statutory grant goal as early as May 2008 and reports 81 percent good or excellent ratings from participants.

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 inspection survey was sent to 19,795 participants with a response rate of 23 percent (4,636). For more information, please visit www.MySafeFloridaHome.com or contact the program toll-free at 1(866) 513-MSFH (6734). Complete survey results available upon request.