SC Safe Home program issues more than 1,000 grants in coastal counties

Staff Report
Published Feb. 22, 2010

The S.C. Department of Insurance's SC Safe Home program has awarded 1,018 grants to S.C. homeowners, according to Scott Richardson, the department’s director.

"In the little more than two years since it began, the SC Safe Home program has helped more than 1,000 homeowners with mitigation projects aimed at strengthening their homes against the destructive winds of a hurricane," Richardson said.

SC Safe Home offers coastal homeowners grant funds to assist in the strengthening and fortification of their homes.

Grants of up to $5,000 are available for owner-occupied homes. They may be awarded on a matching or nonmatching basis. To date, SC Safe Home has awarded grants totaling about $4.57 million to homeowners in Beaufort, Berkeley, Colleton, Charleston, Dorchester, Florence, Georgetown, Horry, Jasper, Marion and Williamsburg counties.

According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, every $1 spent on mitigation saves $4 in possible losses and the resulting reconstruction costs.

“Structures retrofitted through SC Safe Home are more attractive risks to insurance companies,” Richardson said. “Homeowners that completed mitigation projects have reported premium reduction savings of up to 24% on their property insurance.”

Of all the grant recipients, 76% chose to retrofit their roof systems. Homeowners who replaced their windows with impact-resistant systems and hurricane shutters report an average savings of 29% in their energy costs.

For more information, call 803-737-6207.