New Law to Fortify Oklahoma Homes Against Severe Weather with Financial Grants

The Governor of Oklahoma has signed the Strengthen Oklahoma Homes Act into law. Authored by Representative Mark Tedford of Tulsa, House Bill 3089 aims to help homeowners improve the resilience of their properties against severe weather by providing financial grants. This law is managed by the Department of Insurance and targets homeowners with insurable, owner-occupied, single-family residences in approved counties. The goal is to lessen the financial impact of high insurance costs linked to frequent severe weather.

The new act introduces a grant program that supports homeowners in upgrading their roofs with fortified materials approved by the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS). These upgrades include impact-resistant shingles and other enhancements to better withstand extreme weather.

Homeowners interested in these grants must apply through a first-come, first-served process. Priority is given to lower-income homeowners and those in areas most at risk from severe weather. The application requires a property evaluation from an approved evaluator, bids from at least three approved contractors, and compliance with retrofitting standards.

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