Improving Business Resilience in the Face of Disaster

For an Alabama business owner, threats to business property may include fire, lightning, tornadoes, windstorms and wildfire. While it’s vital for Alabama business owners to have Alabama insurance for their business in case of loss or damage from such disasters and perils, most owners would no doubt prefer to avoid filing claims as much as possible.

Fortunately the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS) has developed its FORTIFIED suite of programs. These programs are designed to provide tools to home and smaller business owners to help increase the structural resilience of their buildings. The FORTIFIED for safer business program includes “code-plus” structural improvements as part of its package. Such structural improvements include increasing the strength of both the building’s outer envelope and internal structures and systems. The FORTIFIED business program may be suitable for many types of business, including retail stores, offices, banks, and even community centers, schools and churches.

This program may be beneficial not only for a business itself but also the wider community, in that it could enable businesses to remain open during a catastrophic event or to re-open more quickly after one. Businesses that are afforded FORTIFIED designation may even in some cases be eligible for a reduced premium on their business insurance policies. To learn more about the FORTIFIED programs see the IBHS website, and for more information on Alabama insurance policies, contact our agency team.

*