What Steps Are Homeowners Taking to Make Their Houses More Resilient?

How and Why Americans Are Protecting Their Homes

We surveyed homeowners on what natural disasters they were most prepared for and what preparations they were making.

We asked people what natural disasters they considered to be the biggest threats to their homes. Tornadoes were the most popular answer, followed closely by floods and hurricanes. However, the answers varied based on respondents' geographic location. 

We then asked respondents what preparations they were making in the face of these threats. The most common answer here was clearing vegetation around their homes, which is undoubtedly one of the cheapest and easiest ways to mitigate damage from wildfires.

Many people had also done more extensive renovations, including reinforcing their roofs or installing storm shutters. A surprising 30% of respondents had even elevated their homes. 

We also asked survey respondents about their motivations for making changes. Unsurprisingly, the most common answer was to protect their home. Discounts and incentives were all much lower on the consideration list.

That said, 44% of respondents reported receiving discounts or incentives for their mitigation measures. 

Why Home Mitigation Matters

Natural disasters cause billions in damage every year. Natural disaster damages have risen dramatically, with U.S. billion-dollar disasters averaging over $140 billion annually in the last decade, up from a long-term average of $67.6 billion since 1980.^[3]

When a home is better prepared — whether through reinforced roofing, impact-resistant windows, or improved drainage — the potential damage and disruption from events like hurricanes or wildfires can be significantly reduced.

Studies have shown that resilient construction methods can dramatically reduce insurance claims and losses after major storms. Statistical models show that every $1 spent on storm and disaster preparedness saves approximately $7 in economic costs after a disaster.^[4]

Simple efforts like sealing gaps, maintaining gutters and trimming trees also reduce damage risk and may qualify for insurance discounts.

Government Programs That Help Pay for Upgrades

The federal government supports long-term disaster risk reduction through several mitigation grant programs. However, in our survey, only 37% of respondents reported being "very aware" of discounts and incentives for implementing disaster mitigation measures. Nearly 20% of respondents said they had no idea these programs existed. 

Here are a few of the government organizations offering support that you may want to look into. Often you will need to search on the local level to find information relevant to your home. 

Federal Programs:

• FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA): Includes funds for projects that reduce future disaster losses. States and local governments apply for HMA grants, which can then support community and home-level resilience projects.
• Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP): After a presidential disaster declaration, states can access funding to rebuild stronger and reduce risk. Homeowners must work with community agencies to participate.
• Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA): Provides competitive funding to reduce repetitive flood damage, often including elevation or floodproofing efforts.
• SBA Mitigation Loan Assistance: Homeowners recovering from a disaster can increase a low-interest SBA disaster loan by up to 20% to include mitigation upgrades like hurricane straps, wind-rated windows and safe rooms.

State & Local Programs

Many states offer grants or matching funds for specific mitigation projects. For example, Florida’s My Safe Florida Home program offers up to $10,000 per household for qualifying hurricane mitigation improvements such as impact-resistant windows and roof reinforcements. These upgrades can also lead to reduced insurance premiums.^[5]

In other states, such as Alabama, retrofit programs have provided grants up to $10,000 and helped homeowners upgrade to stronger construction standards, resulting in fewer and less costly insurance claims.^[6]

HUD and Other Assistance

While not always mitigation-specific, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) offers home repair and improvement programs that can help with general repairs and may intersect with resilience goals. Eligibility varies by program and location.

Insurance Savings and Incentives

Your home insurance company has a vested interest in keeping your home safe. They don't want to have to pay for more damage than they have to. For this reason, many insurance companies will offer incentives if you better fortify your home against disasters in your area. 

Discounts for Resilient Homes

Many insurance companies now offer premium discounts for homes that have undergone mitigation upgrades:

• FORTIFIED Standards: Homes built or upgraded to meet FORTIFIED guidelines (by the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety) may qualify for insurance discounts — sometimes up to 55% — depending on the state and insurer. Tax credits of up to $5,000 are also offered in some areas for storm-resilient upgrades.^[7]
• Flood Insurance Discounts: The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) provides mitigation discounts if your home meets criteria that reduce flood risk.^[8]
• Wildfire Mitigation Discounts: In some states — notably California — insurers are required or encouraged to offer discounts for wildfire mitigation efforts, such as clearing brush and upgrading home components.

Methodology

The survey referenced was completed through SurveyMonkey on February 23, 2026. 555 U.S. homeowners participated.