Administered by the
Florida Department of
Financial Services
IN THIS ISSUE:
CONTACT:
1-800-363-5852
contractorinfo@fldfs.com
MY SAFE FLORIDA HOME PROGRAM STATEWIDE STATISTICS
During the 2007 Regular Legislative Session, the My Safe Florida Home program was charged with completing 400,000 inspections and providing grants to 35,000 homeowners. To date we have completed more than 120,000 inspections statewide. We are working with more than 14,000 homeowners who have been approved for grants. To date, more than $7.2 million dollars has been paid to 2,200 homeowners for completing home hardening improvements. Kudos to those contractors who have helped to strengthen these homes!
NEW MITIGATION TECHNIQUES PRESCRIBED BY FBC
On October 25, 2007, the Florida Building Commission filed a mitigation rule with the Department of State that prescribes techniques to be used by licensed contractors when bracing gable ends, strengthening roofs and using secondary water barrier to help mitigate damage to a home from hurricanes.
The Web link for the mitigation manual adopted by the rule is: http://www.dca.state.fl.us/fbc/Hurricane_Mitigation/Hurricane_Mitigation_Workshop.htm
All contractors participating in the My Safe Florida Home program will need to follow the techniques outlined in this rule.
DID YOU KNOW? - NEW MSFH REQUIREMENTS
In order to expedite reimbursement requests, we are asking participating contractors to provide MSFH with a diagram or cut sheet when work is completed on opening protections. The diagram or cut sheets must show which openings were protected. Click here to see sample diagram sheets or to obtain a blank one which may be submitted along with the Participating Contractor Verification Form.
Five percent of mitigation projects completed using grant funds are subject to an inspection by state law. These will be chosen on a random basis.
Homeowners continue to contact the My Safe Florida Home program regarding unwanted solicitations from participating contractors. Contact information on participants in the My Safe Florida Home program is public information under Florida law. However, we would like to remind contractors that unwanted solicitations, especially emails and phone calls are not well received by homeowners.
We have recently added a new section to the My Safe Florida Home Web site, ‘What Happens Next – A Step-by-Step Guide to MSFH.’ Please refer to this guide to learn more about the various stages of the MSFH program.
http://www.mysafefloridahome.com/WhatHappensNext.asp
If you would like to be removed as a participating contractor from our list, please email Barbara Williams at Barbara.williams@fldfs.com
|
GLOSSARY OF TERMS: • Application number - is the My Safe Florida Home application number • SF - Square feet • Material Cost - is the cost you charge the homeowner for the materials used • Participating Contractor # - is the number assigned to you by DFS. You can find this number on your entry on our List of Participating Contractors. • Permanently Deployed – A type of replacement unit that is hurricane impact rated such as hurricane impact windows, impact garage doors and exterior impact rated doors that are always in place on the structure. |