Recent catastrophic events have left many insurance carriers questioning whether traditional building practices can withstand increasingly severe weather patterns, while homeowners struggle with rising premiums and reduced coverage options.

New research from the University of Alabama provides compelling evidence that resilient construction standards not only protect homes during major storms but also deliver measurable financial benefits to property owners.

Dr. Lars Powell, director of the Center for Risk and Insurance Research at the University of Alabama, joins Pete Miller, CEO of The Institutes, to discuss how the findings offer a data-driven roadmap for addressing one of the insurance industry's most persistent challenges.

Dr. Powell shares insights into how FORTIFIED homes performed during Hurricane Sally, revealing surprising findings about damage claims and the frequency of trees falling on houses. The conversation also covers the positive reception of the research, the challenges in promoting resilience, and the keys to Alabama's success in implementing resilience measures. Powell emphasizes the need for further research into risk mitigation and the economic implications of disaster recovery.

Resources:

Center for Risk & Insurance Research website: https://crir.culverhouse.ua.edu/

Alabama’s 2025 FORTIFIED research:  https://crir.culverhouse.ua.edu/2025/05/19/performance-of-ibhs-fortified-hometm-construction-in-hurricane-sally/

Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety: https://ibhs.org/

The Institutes: https://global.theinstitutes.org/

Predict & Prevent website: https://www.predictandprevent.org/

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