Storm-Resistant Roofing in Hurricane-Prone Locations Gains Interior Foothold

A homeowner in Batesville, Arkansas, is the proud owner of a storm-resistant roof thanks to a $14,750 grant from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas (FHLB Dallas), awarded through its member Simmons Bank.

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A homeowner in Batesville, Arkansas, seen here with her daughter, is the proud owner of a storm-resistant roof funded by the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas through Simmons Bank that is fortified to withstand damage from wind, hail and thunderstorms. (Photo: Business Wire)

The roof is installed to the FORTIFIED roof standard to withstand damage from high wind, hail and thunderstorms.

Through its FHLB Dallas FORTIFIED Fund, FHLB Dallas has made available $4 million this year through members. The funds will assist homeowners and qualified nonprofits with individual grants of up to $15,000 to replace an existing roof and up to $7,500 for new construction roofs.

“Having a child at home, you want to be sure they are safe,” said Batesville, Arkansas, homeowner Dulce Walker. “Knowing I have a great roof gives me peace of mind. I am impressed, amazed and very grateful.”

Greg Hettrick, senior vice president and director of Community Investment at FHLB Dallas, said the fund is growing in popularity as a proactive way to protect homes against severe weather.

“We encourage our members and homeowners to learn how our fund might help them,” he said. “These roofs have the potential to help communities bounce back faster when severe weather hits.”

Latriana Robertson, community development specialist at Simmons Bank, said Simmons Bank was drawn to the fund’s resilient approach.

“This fund is a great way to be proactive, and we are thrilled to be able to assist Ms. Walker in that effort,” she said.

FORTIFIED is a voluntary construction and re-roofing program developed by the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS). The method is proven to strengthen homes against severe weather. On the Gulf Coast, these roofs are being used in hurricane-prone areas, but they remain less common in tornado-prone interior states.

IBHS President and CEO Roy Wright said Ms. Walker’s roof was just the second roof installed to FORTIFIED standards in the state, but more than 65,000 have already been installed in 28 states, primarily coastal states including Alabama, North Carolina and Louisiana, to protect against hurricanes.

“Severe weather is a growing concern for families in inland states, which are seeing an increased risk from high wind events like tornadoes,” said Mr. Wright. “The FHLB Dallas FORTIFIED Fund is an important tool to help Arkansas homeowners minimize storm damage with a FORTIFIED roof, a proven solution to the high wind risk communities face.”

Visit the FHLB Dallas FORTIFIED Fund to learn more, including eligibility requirements and application information.

About Simmons Bank

Simmons Bank was founded in 1903 in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, with first-day deposits of approximately $3,300. Today, Simmons has over $27 billion in assets and employs more than 3,200 associates across six states. We are a community bank with scale, taking as much pride in customer relationships as we do in our extensive products and services. For 120 years, we’ve worked hard to make our customers’ financial goals become reality, whether those goals look like buying a home, starting a business, sending a child to college – or simply having greater confidence when it comes to managing your money.

About the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas

The Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas is one of 11 district banks in the FHLBank System created by Congress in 1932. FHLB Dallas, with total assets of $125.1 billion as of March 31, 2024, is a member-owned cooperative that supports housing and community development by providing competitively priced loans and other credit products to approximately 800 members and associated institutions in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico and Texas. For more information, visit fhlb.com.

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