Improvement 1.0 - Opening Protection

Protecting openings (exterior doors, garage doors, windows, and skylights) with impact-rated products can help prevent debris from breaking through and creating pressure inside the home.  Please contact your insurance company to determine if a rating of A1, A2, or A3 is required to receive discounts and refer to your Initial Inspection Report to determine which specific openings require Improvement. 

Based on this improvement type, an Applicant may be recommended to do the following:

1. Install impact-rated windows or shutters. If compliant hurricane shutters are present demonstrating wind mitigation protection, replacement with impact windows are not eligible for funding. *    
2. Install impact-rated exterior doors or garage doors. Entry or garage doors that include glass are referred to as “glazed” openings, whereas solid entry or garage doors with no glass are referred to as “non-glazed” openings. 

Applicants are not required to replace all openings to qualify for Disbursement. Specific openings may be chosen to upgrade if the openings are recommended in the Initial Inspection report.  

Townhouses are only eligible to receive funding for Improvement 1.0 – Opening Protection. Single-family homes that are attached to other units will be treated as townhouses for the purposes of the My Safe FL Home Program.

Please Note: For Improvement 1.0 - Opening Protection, only the specific openings recommended for upgrades in the Initial Inspection Report are eligible for grant funding. If a homeowner currently has compliant hurricane shutters, but requests disbursement for impact windows instead, the request will be denied. A home with compliant shutters already has mitigation against hurricane damage. The Grant cannot be used to exchange one type of opening protection for another.