Governor Jeff Landry announces the state is investing $100 million into Louisiana’s Fortified Roof program, which helps homeowners pay for stronger, more storm-resistant roofs. The program provides grants of up to $10,000 to install a fortified roof. Landry says those roofs are designed to withstand hurricane-force winds—and can also help lower homeowners insurance premiums.
“We are continuously looking at ways where we can work with our citizens to strengthen the structures in the State of Louisiana, thereby reducing homeowner insurance rates again and again,” Landry said.
The first certified fortified roof was installed on a Louisiana home in November 2023. Since then, officials say 5,500 homeowners have received grants to install a certified roof.
Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple says Louisiana has the fastest Fortified Roof grant program in the country and hopes to hand out 5,000 more grants by the end of the year.
He says improving the resilience of homes is key to reducing insurance losses.
“Fortified Roof means your home, your roof is engineered for your tiles to stay on, your contents to stay dry; and if that happens, you don’t have the claim that many of us have experienced in Louisiana,” Temple explained.
Landry says the additional $100 million combines state and federal funding, including unspent hurricane recovery money from previous disasters.
He says the benefits of fortified roofs go beyond individual homeowners. If enough homes in a neighborhood or community have fortified roofs, Landry says even homeowners without one can benefit.
“If 20 or 30% of those homes have a Fortified Roof, that’s going to decrease the premiums on all of the other homes,” Landry noted.
According to the governor’s office, this investment combines redirected funds from federal disaster recovery resources, remaining Hurricane Katrina and Rita bonds, and legislative appropriations.
- $20 million dollars of HUD money toward the program for those homeowners, specifically on the coast.
- Commissioner Temple has found $50 million of leftover Katrina bond money that he is reallocating.
- The Legislature appropriated $30 million dollars this year.
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