By: Summer Bowman
Live HealthSmart Alabama (LHSA), an initiative of the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) has partnered with the State Department of Insurance’s Strengthen Alabama Homes (SAH), whose program provided 40 FORTIFIED™ roofs to homeowners in East Selma, Alabama.
Working alongside SAH Knockout Inspectors, Harzo Incorporated, and local community and civic leaders such as Reverend Craig Scott from Mt. Ararat Missionary Baptist Church, Ward 8 City Councilman Michael Johnson, and the City of Selma Mayor James Perkins Jr., LHSA has verified grant eligibility, assisted with applications, and provided free roof inspections to 40 residents of Ward 8.
SAH is a division of the Alabama Department of Insurance and grant program designed to help Alabama residents mitigate wind damage on their homes. The program provides grants of up to $10,000, which involves construction methods that strengthen homes against severe storms, high winds, and heavy rain. These upgrades are especially beneficial to the residents of East Selma, as the area is particularly vulnerable to strong storms.
“New roofs are important to the residents of Selma as many of the community members live in homes that are leaking or hazardous to their wellbeing,” said Reverend Scott. “These improvements have given the people of Selma hope that they can have better and do better. It is invigorating to see the joy on the faces of those who have had their roofs replaced, a joy that I hope remains in the city for a long time.”
LHSA Selma Community Engagement Coordinator, Thamar Taylor, alongside Rev. Scott and Councilman Johnson, began by going door to door. They personally engaged with homeowners, explaining the benefits of the SAH grant and the importance of roof fortification while Knockout Inspectors conducted inspections of the roofs.
Once the roof evaluations were completed, they were sent to Harzo Inc. for an estimate of the work needed to meet the FORTIFIED™ standard. Once residents had received and confirmed their estimate, the grant applications were submitted to SAH for processing.
“It was truly an honor to be a part of the UAB Live HealthSmart Alabama project in Selma,” said Travis Taylor, Director of the Office of Risk and Resilience. “The Strengthen Alabama Homes program has been able to help people mitigate their homes through roof fortification for over 10 years. This program has allowed people to get a FORTIFIED™ roof on their homes that allow them to provide a safe place for their families to stay during a strong weather event. The people of Selma are resilient and perfect examples of how the Strengthen Alabama Homes Program benefit the people of our state.”
With construction at a pace of 3 roofs a day, Harzo Inc.’s team is working to ensure residents of Ward 8 are better protected against heavy storms. This project with SAH is part of a larger initiative by LHSA to improve the built environment of East Selma, including sidewalks, crosswalks, lighting, and renovations to the pond and gazebo. LHSA’s built environment efforts aim to create sustainable plans that enhance safety and accessibility in communities across Alabama, promoting physical activity and connecting families to important landmarks in their communities. These efforts support Live HealthSmart Alabama’s mission to make healthy choices simple and accessible.
