Editorial: Expanding fortified roofs is the one insurance strategy we can all agree on

Sadly, there's no silver bullet that can quickly end the property insurance crisis that is plaguing south Louisiana, vastly limiting the availability of homeowners insurance and driving costs so high that many residents are struggling to afford to live here.

But there is one approach that has widespread support, even across the oft-warring political factions that endlessly debate how and whether to regulate insurers, in the hope they'll eventually return to offering options and consumer-friendly coverage: encouraging as many homeowners as possible to put on fortified roofs.

With the state Department of Insurance collecting applications through the end of the week for a new round of grants to help homeowners make this costly but important upgrade, we once again urge policymakers at the state and local levels to do all they can to help as many Louisianans as possible get new fortified roofs.

The idea is straightforward. Roofs built to the "fortified" standard have stronger shingles that are attached with a type of nail that is harder for strong winds to rip out. Roof decks are sealed, and edges are strengthened.

Homes with these roofs are less costly to insure because the roofs are less likely to need replacement after a hurricane — and, just as important — are better able to protect a home's structure and contents from the sort of water intrusion that can create far more extensive damage.

The hope is that, if enough homeowners in a given area make this upgrade, better community ratings will drive down rates more broadly.

Lawmakers have declined in recent years to require that insurers offer specific discounts for policyholders with fortified roofs — a decision we hope they'll revisit — but the Department of Insurance publishes a list of discounts each insurer offers. They range from around 5% to as much as 50%, in a few cases.

But they have passed other policies to help ease the upfront investment, and so have some forward-thinking localities.

One example is a new nonrefundable tax credit of up to $10,000 toward the expense of putting on a fortified roof, which took effect earlier this summer.

And applications are open through Friday, Sept. 12, for the latest round of 500 $10,000 grants, to be awarded by lottery. Applicants must meet a set of criteria, including having a homestead exemption at the property in question. Eligible homes must be located in Louisiana's Coastal Zone or in Lake Charles, Sulphur or Westlake.

Detailed information on rules and eligibility is available on the Louisiana Department of Insurance's website at ldi.la.gov.

We hope to see more of these grants become available in the future, as well as other policy changes that help homeowners upgrade to this new, resilient standard.

As Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple put it, "This program is vital for protecting our state against severe weather and making Louisiana a more attractive place for insurers to do business."

That's something we can all get behind.