Every hurricane season, Floridians brace for impact-not just from wind and water, but from skyrocketing insurance premiums and costly recovery bills. With more than $3 trillion in coastal exposure and the highest property insurance rates in the nation, the state faces a mounting crisis. Yet the solution may already be in our hands. In Fortifying the Future: Code Plus Standards for Hurricane Resilience and Economic Stability, Don D. Brown reveals how enhanced building standards-impact-resistant windows, reinforced roofs, continuous load paths, and water-intrusion protections-can cut storm damage by 50%, slash insurance premiums by 25-40%, and stabilize entire communities. Drawing on engineering research, historical hurricane case studies, and real-world policy lessons, Brown makes the case for proactive investment in resilience. You'll discover: - The economic case for spending 5-10% more upfront to save tens of thousands over a home's lifetime. - How Code Plus can prevent insurer collapse, reduce taxpayer-funded bailouts, and boost property values.

- Why Florida's insurance market depends on stronger codes, not temporary fixes. A must-read for policymakers, homeowners, insurers, and community leaders, this book provides a blueprint for sustainable prosperity in the storm belt. Storms are inevitable. Bankruptcy doesn't have to be. Short Amazon Description (~150 words) Florida's insurance market is in crisis. Hurricanes devastate homes, insurers collapse, and premiums soar. Fortifying the Future shows how to break the cycle. Don D.

Brown explains the power of Code Plus-enhanced building standards that go beyond minimum codes to deliver hurricane resilience. Stronger roofs, impact-resistant windows, and improved load paths cut storm damage in half, lower insurance premiums by up to 40%, and strengthen entire communities. This book combines history, science, economics, and policy to prove that a modest upfront investment yields decades of savings and stability. With case studies from Florida, North Carolina, and beyond, Brown provides a clear roadmap for making Code Plus the rule, not the exception. Stronger homes mean lower costs, safer families, and a resilient Florida.