Simpson Strong-Tie announced its participation in the National Hurricane Resilience Initiative and Hurricane Awareness Tour initiated by the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH). Simpson Strong-Tie joins BASF, Lowe’s Home Improvement, USAA, and ISO as a national sponsor of the 2019 tour.

The nonprofit FLASH is the country’s leading consumer advocate for strengthening homes and safeguarding families from natural and man-made disasters. Presented in partnership with FEMA and the National Weather Service, the National Hurricane Resilience Initiative — #HurricaneStrong is designed to save lives and protect homes through collaboration with leading organizations in the disaster safety and resilience movement.

“As a supporter at the forefront of resiliency in construction, we’re pleased to join FLASH and our fellow sponsors to promote disaster preparedness and safer, stronger construction,” said Simpson Strong-Tie CEO Karen Colonias. “The Hurricane Awareness Tour and the broader Hurricane Resilience Initiative will empower communities with the knowledge and resources to strengthen homes and protect families from high-wind events. Our new High-Wind section on our website is also a good source of information, providing building solutions for contractors, inspectors, engineers and homeowners.”

During the week of May 6, The Hurricane Awareness Tour will make stops in Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, Virginia, North Carolina, and Georgia for educational events focused on hurricane preparedness and strong, resilient home construction. Key themes of the campaign include:

• Personal Safety: Know your evacuation zone. Can you safely shelter in your home, or do you need to evacuate ahead of a storm? Build a family disaster plan, know the plan, and practice the plan.
• Family Preparedness: Being prepared = food, water, and other supplies to last at least 72 hours. Disaster supply kits should be portable so they can serve in either of two situations: remaining in your home after a disaster, or evacuating to a safer location. And don’t forget about preparing transportation and supplies for your pets.
• Financial Security: The right amount of insurance helps ensure that you will have the money you need to recover after disaster strikes. Download the Homeowners Guide to Natural Disasters to learn more about mitigation, insurance, and potential savings.
• Damage Prevention: Are you confident that your home is strong enough to keep your family safe? Visit InspectToProtect.org to find out whether hurricane-resistant building codes are enforced in your area, and learn affordable ways to strengthen your home at flash.org and strongtie.com/highwind.
• Community Service: Neighbors may be your first responders after a storm, so make it a priority to get to know them, have their phone numbers, and check on them post disaster. Get trained today to help affected communities clean up and rebuild.

For more information on the National Hurricane Resilience Initiative, visit flash.org/hurricanestrong and follow social media hashtag #HurricaneStrong for hurricane safety information and details about upcoming special events, home improvement store partnerships, school lesson plans, and social media campaigns.