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Homeowners Seeking Free Inspections Should Act Soon

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By JOHN W. ALLMAN | The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 2, 2008

TAMPA - If you want to schedule a free hurricane inspection, the time to call is now.

The My Safe Florida Home program has about 17,000 inspection applications remaining as of this morning, program spokesman Kevin Cate said.

The Legislature in 2006 created the hurricane inspection program to help residents statewide determine whether their homes could withstand a major storm. The inspections are free. Eligible residents also could apply for up to $5,000 in grant reimbursements for making safety improvements to their houses.

Lawmakers provided $250 million to the program and set goals of 400,000 inspections to be completed and 35,000 grants to be allocated by June 2009.

The program in May stopped accepting new grant applications.

Officials plan to announce Thursday in Pinellas Park that they are closing in quickly on the inspection total, Cate said, and once that goal is met, no more inspections will be scheduled.

To apply for a free inspection, call My Safe Florida Home at 1-866-513-6734.

Reporter John W. Allman can be reached at (813) 259-7915 or jallman@tampatrib.com.

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