It's here. Well almost. OK it has definitely started but it certainly isn't widely known.

The following was documented in the 2007 Legislation Frequently Asked Questions for Agents:

Q: Is Citizens requiring certain homes to have proper shutter protection as a requirement for eligibility?

A: Not at this time. However, effective January 1, 2009, homes located in the "wind borne debris region" valued at or above $750,000 will be ineligible for coverage with Citizens unless they are outfitted with Florida Building Code compliant shutters or opening protection.

As reported BY ROBIN BENEDICK in the Sun-Sentinel on June 18, 2008, Citizens Insurance has new rules:

"Getting any form of storm protection has become critical for owners of single-family houses insured for $750,000 or more. Come July 1, they must have storm protection for their doors and windows to take out a building permit for remodeling estimated to cost $50,000 or more. No protection, no permit.

That's not all. Come Jan. 1, owners of those expensive houses who are insured by Citizens Property Insurance Corp., the state's largest home insurer, must have hurricane protection or Citizens will drop them.

That requirement affects about 16,000 of Citizens' 1.2 million customers, and the insurer will give six months' notice before canceling them for not having shutters.

"We want to be very proactive and very consumer friendly," Citizens spokesman John Kuczwanski said.

The tougher provisions, adopted last year by the Florida Legislature, are intended to harden the state's stock of single-family homes. They don't apply to condos, which must abide by Florida building codes and association rules."

That's big.

The new wind borne debris regions defined by the American Society of Civil Engineers Wind Zone Map and adopted by the State of Florida in 2007 by amendment located at http://www.dca.state.fl.us/FBC/maps/Wind_borne_MAP021407v2.pdf indicates that approximately 95% of Palm Beach County is in the 120 mph range, and all of Martin, St. Lucie and Broward are as well.

What does that chart mean?

Tad Newman of Newman Windows and Doors is not an alarmist. "If you really think about this, at some point some legislation is going to stick that requires hurricane protection in the form of impact resistant glass or shutters for areas at high risk," stated Newman. "We don't know who and when but we do know what and why. Citizens is first."

As professionals in the business of protecting homes, it is tough on vendors, from distributors like Newman Windows and Doors and HomeShield Hurricane Protection Corporation to manufacturers like WinDoor Incorporated to plan for what is sure to be an onslaught of demand when that time comes.

Florida Allstate® agent Nick DeRosa states, "One hundred and twenty mile winds are damaging to property, we've seen it locally. But will property insurance companies, in the future require Florida Building Code compliant impact resistant glass or shutters to acquire residential insurance? That remains to be seen."

"We are an extremely reliable and professional manufacturer of high-end, high quality impact resistant windows and doors protecting and beautifying many residences and high rises on our nation's coastline," said Marketing Manager George Hanus of WinDoor Incorporated from their 300,000 square foot manufacturing facility in Orlando, FL. "But like any business, we want to avoid the supply and demand rush that a widespread legislative decree will generate for WinDoor custom manufacturing facilities and our distributors like Newman Windows and Doors."

Most people think that all vendors like the massive rush of business that a hurricane or a major piece of legislation generates. And let's not kid ourselves, the hours are tough, while the work is plentiful. But, like our recent hurricanes, high demand could be the megaphone for the transient disreputable businesses to come back en mass to Florida.

"People need to make good decisions and choose superior products installed by qualified dealers," stated Hanus.

"I'm a 16 year fireman and the owner of HomeShield Hurricane Protection Corporation", said James Cuomo. "I slept about 10 minutes in the second half of 2004", he joked. "I provide a safe haven for people when they need it as part of my two career lifestyle. After 16 years in the hurricane protection business it is difficult to see a nice person be ripped off by an unlicensed slick sales guy and then get the call to fix it. That's not fun."

"Is widespread required protection in place? No", stated Newman, "But when you look at the State of Florida Wind-Borne Debris Region map it sure seems highly likely to inevitable."

ABOUT

Newman Windows & Doors, Inc. 561.640.1092, is an American owned and operated company that specializes in impact resistant windows and doors. With two generations as General Contractors in Florida, Newman Windows & Doors' factory-trained technicians are equipped to install many types of energy conserving windows and glass doors.

HomeShield Hurricane Protection Corporation 561.743.5644 p rovides custom hurricane protection for homes, businesses and communities. Fabricating all products on the premises, HomeShield Hurricane Protection maintains the highest quality standards and installs products on time. They offer a variety of easy to use and aesthetically pleasing products like accordions roll downs, bahama, and colonial shutters, as well as clear, aluminum and steel panels.

WinDoor Incorporated, 407.481.8400, specializes in aluminum sliding glass doors and windows. Our custom-made products withstand the highest design pressures and Impact Codes as defined by AAMA and Miami-Dade Protocols. www.WinDoorInc.com

The Allstate Corporationis the nation's largest publicly held personal lines insurer. A Fortune 100 company, with $156.4 billion in assets, Allstate sells 13 major lines of insurance, including auto, property, life and commercial. Nick DeRosa, Allstate agent is located in Palm Beach Gardens at 561.626.9970. http://agent.allstate.com/NickDeRosa/Welcome/

Referred Home Servicesbelieves you should know who is on your property. www.ReferredHomeServices.com SCREENS CONTRACTORS, like Newman Windows and Doors and HomeShield Hurricane Protection Corporation by checking TEN references, licenses, insurance, BBB, corporate registration, the attorney general's office and much more. Free and online, RHS represents only reputable, experienced, home improvement and repair businesses so homeowners, community managers and real estate professionals get the job done right the first time. Visit our website or call 561.401.4004.