Galveston Historical Foundation Helps County Residents Prepare for Hurricane Season

GHF Offers Windstorm Exemption Program for Historic Buildings (built before 1959). This is the first full hurricane season since GHF expanded Windstorm Exemption coverage to the entire county.  Full County coverage is made possible through our Partners in the Field grant from the National Trust for Historic Preservation.  The Windstorm Exemption Program allows owners of historic buildings to retain architectural features like windows, doors, and roofs that define their character. Buildings with the exemption were approved for permits much more quickly in Galveston after Hurricane Ike than those lying outside historic districts and not having the exemption.  More information about the program (in English and Spanish) can be found at the bottom of GHF's homepage: http://www.galvestonhistory.org/ and there is no charge for the service.

GHF Encourages everyone to check their flood insurance policy and see at what elevation the company has their house insured.  This is applicable to everyone with flood insurance, whether the building is historic or not.  There are significant discounts for being 12 inches, 24 inches and 36 inches+ above the floodplain.  This is determined by calling a surveyor and requesting an elevation certificate (approx. $300). The certificate will list the elevation of the living quarters and the level of the surrounding floodplain. The owner then provides a copy of this to their insurance agent to get a reduced rate on their premium. 

One GHF member spoke with Brian Davis, GHF's Director of Preservation Services earlier this year, who suggested to the member that she pay for an elevation certificate.  On her policy, her insurer had the elevation of her house at 0'-0" (sea level), and not at the approximately 11 feet above sea level of her yard or the additional 36 inches her house sits above the ground.  By getting the elevation certificate, she was able to drop her annual premium for flood insurance from nearly $1300 to $300.  After doing this, she called Davis back to let him know and how happy she was to have gotten this valuable advice. 

For more information on what you can do to prepare for hurricane season, call GHF's Department of Preservation Services at 409-750-9108.