Mississippi passes bill supporting hurricane mitigation program

PINE BELT, Miss. (WDAM) – With insurance rates rising across the nation, people in Mississippi are looking for ways to protect their homes without breaking the bank.

A program by the Mississippi Insurance Department is expected to help folks fortify their homes ahead of natural disasters like hurricanes and tornadoes.

The Comprehensive Hurricane Damage Mitigation Program was created in 2007, but didn’t receive funding until this year’s legislative session.

Mississippi House Bill 1705 will transfer $5 million from the state’s Surplus Lines Association to pay for the program.

The bill also requires that MID issue a Request for Proposal for administration of the program, or operate the program internally, according to Mississippi Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney.

Qualified applicants can receive up to $10,000 to help them “mitigate” their homes.

Mitigation includes “higher elevation, adding hurricane shutters, fastening your roof to the walls with hurricane straps and buying flood insurance, among other efforts.”

The program will be limited to the state’s lower six counties, which are Pearl River, Stone, George, Jackson, Harrison and Hancock counties.

Leaders said they’re hoping the program will match the success of similar programs in neighboring states like Alabama.

“Their program has been very successful, and they’ve stabilized their insurance rates and have some lower rates than we do here in Mississippi, especially on the coastal areas,” said MIS Deputy Commissioner David Browning. “So, we’re trying to do what they’re doing.”

Mississippi law requires insurance companies to give discounts for homes mitigated to standards set by the Insurance Institute For Business And Home Safety.

There is no required amount for discounts, but folks usually receive up to 30-percent off.

Browning said the program will take a few months to set up, but a website will eventually be up for folks to apply and learn more about eligibility.

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