FOLEY — Building safe homes and keeping them reasonably insured was the focus of South Baldwin Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Lunch on Tuesday.

This installment of the quarterly series featured guest speakers Alex Cary of Smart Home America and Carl Schneider of Schneider Insurance Agency Inc.

Cary, who has an extensive background in home building, pointed out a mistake area home owners make in the aftermath of storm damage.

“We tend to build back the same way once homes have been destroyed,” she said. “That’s my definition of insanity.”

Cary explained that Smart Home America is a nonprofit organization committed to promoting preparedness and developing stronger, more resilient communities, through education, collaboration and hardening of structures to reduce property damage and personal injury. With that, she offered ideas to do so.

One such idea focused on improved building codes, which have already been adopted in several Baldwin County municipalities.

“Building codes is really key, because we want to make sure our new homes are stronger,” Cary said. “Baldwin County is far and above the rest of the Gulf Cost because of the adoption of these codes.”

She added that sealing a roof with designated tape makes it three times safer than without.

“Five hundred dollars is what it would take to tape that deck,” Cary said.

Schneider added that if homeowners take steps to fortify their home and have it so designated, it would prove beneficial.

“It’s peace of mind,” he said, explaining that fortified homes are less likely to be damaged in severe weather.

Schneider also pointed to financial benefits.

“It is financially responsible,” he said, explaining that fortified homes mean better insurance rates.

Schneider pointed out that fortification comes in three levels: bronze for a fortified roof, silver for such areas as porches and carports, and gold for wall-to-wall foundation.

“It’s tying the home together,” he said.

For more information about disaster safety for homes, visit DisasterSafety.org or SmartHomeAmerica.org.