Your life can change in the blink of an eye.
For decades, there has been an emphasis on the importance (and value) that garage doors
have on a home’s curb appeal. Now, based on new research, it’s time to recognize garage
doors’ “storm appeal.”
On Jan. 21, 2025, President and CEO of the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH)
Leslie Chapman-Henderson provided DASMA Annual Meeting attendees with an eye-opening
presentation, saying, “A storm-ready garage door is your best and strongest defense.”
Her keynote address, “Garage doors on the rise: How the policy, marketplace, and technical
landscape are redefining their critical role in resilience,” highlighted the increasing awareness
of how garage door perfo
With the 2025 destructive spring tornado season underway, and Hurricane Season approaching the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH)® is offering the Strong Homes Scale (Scale), a groundbreaking new tool designed to help homeowners assess their home’s ability to withstand six natural disasters.
On March 25, 2025 the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH)® launched Strong Homes Scale (Scale), a groundbreaking new tool designed to help homeowners assess their home’s ability to withstand six natural disasters, including earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfires, and winter storms. The Scale and new tools are part of the enhanced InspectToProtect.org platform that empowers users with information to answer the questions, “How will my home hold up in a disaster?” and “How can I make it stronger?”
Anyone who’s ever scrambled to safety in the face of an approaching tornado or watched as straight-line winds propelled deadly debris into a home undoubtedly has an undying respect for what winds can do — or undo.
And while truly tornado-proofing a residence isn’t feasible, meteorological, emergency management, construction and insurance industry experts say homeowners can take some simple steps to make sure Mother Nature doesn’t huff and puff and blow your house down — steps that don’t have to break the bank.
FLASH announced the expansion of the Strong Homes Fund to help low-income families rebuild safer, stronger, and more resilient homes in the wake of Hurricanes Helene and Milton. The fund provides essential resources to support disaster recovery by rebuilding homes to meet the FORTIFIED Gold standard for hurricane and high-wind events and elevation requirements in flood-prone areas.
Garage doors are vulnerable during storms because they are your home’s largest and weakest openings. A single-car garage door can usually resist wind forces better than two-car garage doors. The same goes for doors without glass or glazing unless the glass is impact-resistant. However, reinforcing your door or having a wind-rated garage door can protect your home from pressurization damage.
As residents prepare for the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, which begins on June 1, a new study suggests that homeowners should particularly play close attention to protecting their garages.
As the spring tornado season approaches, the latest survey conducted by the nonprofit Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH) sheds light on persistent challenges in tornado safety awareness among Americans residing in high-risk locations. The annual research effort, Is America #TornadoStrong?, engaged 500 residents across 12 tornado-prone states to gauge their understanding of protective measures, home strengthening, and increasingly affordable safe rooms and storm shelters.
The Federal Alliance for Safe Homes, Inc. (FLASH) named Mike Buresh, Chief Meteorologist, Action News JAX – WJAX, WFOX as the 2024 National Weatherperson of the Year (NWP). This annual accolade acknowledges weather professionals who exhibit exemplary leadership in advocating for disaster safety and resilience.
The nonprofit Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH) invites experts to submit presentations for consideration by the National Disaster Resilience Conference (NDRC24) committee. Set to take place from November 20 to 22, 2024, in Clearwater Beach, Florida, the conference seeks to explore innovative approaches and programs that drive advancements in resilience policy, practice, science, and engineering.
Preparing for potential disasters is crucial no matter where you call home. Families can enhance their safety and home resilience by using these free and low-cost ways to strengthen their homes against a variety of perils. From earthquakes and extreme heat to floods, hail, hurricanes, tornados, and wildfires, these top mitigation strategies are accessible on the nonprofit Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH) website FLASH.org.
The nonprofit Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH) revealed the names of the five finalists for the 2024 National Weatherperson of the Year award. This annual accolade acknowledges exceptional weather professionals who exhibit exemplary leadership in advocating for disaster safety and resilience.
Two houses are side by side. One is a crumpled mess of splintered wood and ripped insulation. The other stands perfectly intact.
This image is one that increasingly pops up on news sites and social media after hurricanes, floods, and climate-fueled disasters. An accompanying caption often emphasizes that the intact home was built with a hurricane-resistant roof and flood-resistant materials.
When a major storm is bearing down, you often have little time to prepare. If you’re ahead of the game, you’ll have a go bag ready, and plans in place to shelter your pets and keep in touch with scattered family members.
Now in its 25th year, the event will bring together private and public sector leaders, nationally- recognized engineers, meteorologists, practitioners, risk communicators, scientists, and trade professionals to share best practices and create innovative solutions.