TAMPA -- The Institute for Business & Home Safety today announced a new web site designed to take the guesswork out of how to protect property from natural disasters and more common risks.

DisasterSafety.org offers a ZIP code tool that identifies the hazards most likely to occur in that area and gives home and business owners specific retrofit projects to help protect against them.

Routine maintenance information is also available to help tackle more common risks that can be a drain on both personal time and finances. Something as simple as a $10 washing machine hose can fail, resulting in $5,300 in property damage on average and many hours spent cleaning up and making repairs, according to IBHS research.

“We can reduce some of the unnecessary expense and disruption in people’s lives,” said IBHS President and CEO Julie Rochman. “This new website applies our research to property improvement projects large and small that are designed to do just that.

“We don’t know which specific type of loss will strike each American, but we can virtually guarantee something will happen during the time a person owns their home.”

DisasterSafety.org also features IBHS resources and tools dedicated to stronger new construction through the Fortified…for safer living® program and business continuity planning with Open for Business®.

Visitors to the site also have an opportunity to learn from and become part of the DisasterSafety.org community. The "I Did It" Gallery features real-world stories about what people have done to enhance the disaster resistance of their home or business.

Visit the IBHS web site www.DisasterSafety.org. The “About” section of the site includes a video demonstrating the new site’s navigation.

IBHS is an independent, nonprofit, scientific and educational organization wholly supported by the property insurance industry. The organization works to reduce the social and economic effects of natural disasters and other risks to residential and commercial property by conducting research and advocating improved construction, maintenance and preparation practices.