GULF SHORES — The state of Alabama has seen 50,000 homes receive Fortified certification, a voluntary construction standard developed by the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS), with most of the homes being located on the Gulf Coast.

Alex Cary, market development manager for Fortified, explained that Fortified standards use IBHS research to determine what makes a house more resilient against hurricanes, tornados and other storms.

Cary said hurricanes were "a big instigator" for Alabama to certify so many homes.

"The state of Alabama lost so many homes in Mobile and Baldwin County after Ivan and Katrina," Cary said. "Fortified was started with the hope that in future storms we'd be able to reduce the damage."

Cary said the program grew into "its current form" in 2009 and has only grown since. A commemorative event was held on Sept. 16, the anniversary of Hurricane Ivan and Hurricane Sally, to celebrate the designation of the 50,000 homes.

"We have taken the pain of Hurricane Ivan and turned it into tangible progress, building a safer state where our citizens can thrive," Gov. Kay Ivey said in a press release for the event.

Cary said that after Hurricane Sally, 95% of the 17,000 Fortified homes at the time saw little to no damage.

"It was very validating. We saw results in the research center and the lab," Cary said. "To have real world results is very exciting."

Anyone can participate in receiving resilient standards but there are requirements that must be met for the three levels of Fortified status. These levels include Fortified roof, silver and gold, each with increasing qualifications.

Cary said existing homes require a third-party organization for evaluation to ensure that everything meets the standard. This requires a process of documenting information and testing parts of the house and "not just checking off boxes."

If a house qualifies for one of these standards (Fortified roof, silver or gold), it will receive certification. Cary said a main incentive, besides home safety, for residents to get Fortified certified is a "pretty significant discount" on insurance.

One of the organizations participating in the Fortified homes program is Strengthen Alabama Homes, which provides grants to certain single-family homes in need of Fortified status. Applications for grants and the grant award schedule is available on their website at www.strengthenalabamahomes.com.

According to the Fortified website, they are the national standard for protecting homes from storm damage. Fortified is officially recognized as the standard for resilient homes by the U.S. Small Business Administration, Federal Emergency Management Agency and six different states.

The state with the next highest number of Fortified homes is North Carolina with 10,000, but Cary said that the use of this standard of construction is increasing across the country.

"The Fortified program has meant fewer blue tarps on homes after storms. It has meant communities can go back to living quicker instead of spending time rebuilding their neighborhoods and businesses," Alabama insurance Commissioner Mark Fowler said in the press release for the Fortified event.

More information on what makes a home Fortified as well as why this standard is important for coastal homes can be found on fortifiedhome.org or ibhs.org.