The wind mitigation standard adopted by the Strengthen Oklahoma Homes Program is known as the FORTIFIED Home – Roof™ – High Wind designation with the Hail supplement. Based on decades of research by the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) FORTIFIED™ is a voluntary construction and re-roofing program designed to strengthen homes against specific types of severe weather such as high winds, hail, hurricanes, and even tornados. More information about the FORTIFIED™ Roof standard is available at www.FORTIFIEDhome.org. Learn more about premium discounts by clicking here.

Wind and hail mitigation consists of construction methods that strengthen a home against severe storms, high winds and wind driven rain and hail. Mitigation reduces the risk of damage to homes during storms, and in Oklahoma, provides homeowners discounts on their wind insurance premium and deductible.

Grant lottery registration periods will open periodically. Those interested in the program may sign up for announcements about upcoming grant application dates at oid.ok.gov/okready.

• Residents that claim their primary residence in Oklahoma may apply. (You cannot live in an apartment, duplex, condominium, or mobile home). There is an exception for Wind-Zone-3-HUD-Code manufactured homes installed on a permanent foundation and retrofitted as defined in the FORTIFIED™ Home High Wind and Hail Standards, as may from time to time be adopted by the Institute for Business and Home Safety, and they may be eligible for the premium discount or rate reduction.
• Your home must be in good repair.
• You must provide proof that you have an in-force homeowners insurance policy before the grant will be paid.
• You must be able to provide proof that you have an in-force wind insurance policy on your home before the grant will be paid.
• You must have flood insurance if your home is in a special flood hazard area. This policy can be from the National Flood Insurance Plan or a policy written by a private insurance carrier.
• You must get a home evaluation from a Certified FORTIFIED™ Evaluator who is approved by the Strengthen Oklahoma Homes program. You will have the opportunity to select your Evaluator after you fill out the grant application.
• Payment will be issued by the Strengthen Oklahoma Homes program on your behalf directly to the contractor. Payment will be issued to your contractor only after you satisfy all the requirements for the grant.

• When grant applications open, you will be able to register and apply using our grant portal. The link will be made available on our website at oid.ok.gov/okready.

There are two ways to get a FORTIFIED™ Roof without going through the Strengthen Oklahoma Homes program. First, you can self-fund the project. Contact a certified Evaluator to get started. Second, you can ask your agent to add the FORTIFIED™ endorsement to your insurance policy. With the FORTIFIED™ endorsement, your insurance company can replace your roof to the FORTIFIED™ standard when it is damaged in a covered event.

Most primary residences such as single-family homes and new construction homes are eligible for the program. Apartments, duplexes, condominiums, and mobile homes are not eligible.

Homeowners are only eligible for their primary residence and must verify they have a homestead exemption if selected for a grant. Homeowners must also have an active residential insurance policy with wind coverage. If they live in a Special Flood Hazard Area as designated by FEMA, they must also provide proof of a flood insurance policy. Contact your agent if you are unsure whether you have these coverages. The home must also be in good repair and eligible for a FORTIFIED™ Home designation as determined by a FORTIFIED™ Evaluation and IBHS. Properties must meet eligibility criteria described in the 2025 FORTIFIED™ Standard and associated technical documents as published by the IBHS.

FORTIFIED™ Evaluators are independent, third-party professionals who have been trained and certified in FORTIFIED™ standard requirements. They document and verify the entire construction process to ensure program requirements are met. They work with all parties involved to help the process goes smoothly. The FORTIFIED™ Pre-Evaluation is performed by a FORTIFIED™ Evaluator and is a required step in the grant process that determines whether the home is eligible to be upgraded to the FORTIFIED™ Roof standard and what work is needed to upgrade the home. The evaluation process continues through completion of the work to confirm the home is properly upgraded to the FORTIFIED™ Roof standard. The Evaluator will provide a report to IBHS and obtain the FORTIFIED™ Roof certificate. Homeowners are responsible for paying evaluation fees for the entire evaluation process according to prices set by the Evaluator. A list of approved Evaluators is available at oid.ok.gov/okready.

The grant will cover up to $10,000 in costs for the roof upgrade and will be paid directly to the contractor upon completion of the project and submission of required paperwork, including the FORTIFIED™ certificate from IBHS. The Evaluator fee is not included in grant funding.

Homeowners should confirm there is at least one FORTIFIED™ Contractor that is able to perform work before paying for an Evaluator to inspect the home. During the grant process, you will be asked to submit at least three bids from Contractors to the Strengthen Oklahoma Homes Program for review. If you hire a Contractor and begin work before acceptance into the grant program, you will not be eligible for the grant. A list of approved Contractors is available at oid.ok.gov/okready.

No, homeowners must apply for and be awarded a grant before selecting a Contractor and beginning construction.

Yes. The grant can be used to pay the difference between your insurance claim payment and the cost of an upgraded FORTIFIED™ roof.

Outside of the Strengthen Oklahoma Homes Grant, the FORTIFIED™ Evaluators charge a small fee for their service. These fees vary by evaluator, so please seek several bids prior to selecting the professional you will work with.  In addition to the evaluator fees, any costs over the grant awarded will be the homeowners responsibility.

A FORTIFIED™ designation is a written certification that a home or business has been built, renovated, or re-roofed according to FORTIFIED™ standards. The designation certificate is issued by IBHS after reviewing the documentation provided by a FORTIFIED™ Evaluator. A FORTIFIED™ designation is required to receive Strengthen Oklahoma Homes grant funding.

FORTIFIED™ designations last five years. Because the condition of a home changes over time, it is important to periodically confirm it still meets the rigorous requirements of a FORTIFIED™ designation. A simple re-designation inspection through a FORTIFIED™ Evaluator verifying there have been no substantial changes to the structure and that the roof covering is within its life expectancy is typically all that is required to renew the designation for another five-year period. A reminder letter is sent to the address of the home that was upgraded to the FORTIFIED™ standard. Designation certificates are transferable upon a home sale.

After the work is complete and your home is upgraded to the FORTIFIED™ Roof standard, you will be issued a certificate that can be shared with your insurer for a discount on your premium. When you sell the house, the certificate can be passed along to the new owner. FORTIFIED™ Roof certificates are good for five years, and homeowners will need to retain an Evaluator to reinspect the home to renew the certification.

No, you are not required to live in your home for any length of time after receiving the Strengthen Oklahoma Homes grant.

The grant program is designed to mitigate a home against high wind and hail damage. If a new roof is required, then it will be included in the scope of work for the grant to meet the Fortified standard. Grants are for the cost associated to mitigate a home to the IBHS standard up to a cost of $10,000. Any cost above the grant awarded is the responsibility of the homeowner.

You may opt out of the grant program any time BEFORE you contract with a contractor. The money you paid for the home review will not be reimbursed. In order to opt out of the grant program, you must notify the Strengthen Oklahoma Homes program in writing via email at OKReady@oid.ok.gov  within 30 days of receiving your grant award letter.

No. You must use a contractor authorized to work on the Strengthen Oklahoma Homes Program. Our contractors have been certified by IBHS to perform fortified work. Contractor selection is done as part of the application process and the contractor you select is responsible for all aspects of the mitigation work on your home.