ORLANDO, Fla. – When hurricanes strike, seconds can mean the difference between life and death. That’s why a Central Florida inventor is pushing to change the way homeowners protect their families - and fighting for his right to compete in the state’s multibillion-dollar mitigation program.
Nearly 20 years ago, John Smith, of Winter Park, created a product called Storm Stoppers. It’s a lightweight, reusable alternative to traditional metal hurricane shutters. Unlike conventional systems that require bolts and drills, Storm Stoppers panels attach with industrial fasteners made by 3M. The panels can be installed without tools and removed from the inside in seconds, which Smith says is crucial in an emergency.
“Bolted-on shutters will trap and kill you,” Smith said. “Because they violate Florida’s Life Safety Code.”
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Storm Stoppers has passed rigorous wind and impact tests, including one in Miami where the test building was torn from its foundation, but the Storm Stoppers panels remained intact. The system held up against winds of 126 miles per hour, which is the equivalent of a Category 3 hurricane or EF-2 tornado.
Despite those results, the product is not eligible under the state’s My Safe Florida Home program, which offers up to $10,000 in grants to homeowners who install approved wind mitigation upgrades.
The issue? Florida’s building code guidelines only recognize “permanent” systems, Those are products that use screws, bolts, or other penetrating anchors.
Storm Stoppers doesn’t qualify under the current version of the Uniform Mitigation Verification Form, which insurance companies use to determine discounts.
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“There’s a standard, and it was developed over a long period of time for very good reasons,” said Scott Koedel, CEO of Don Meyler Inspections. “We simply make sure that standard is being met.”
That means homeowners who choose Storm Stoppers get no insurance credit and no reimbursement from the state, even though the product may cost significantly less than metal shutters or impact-resistant windows.
Smith is now suing the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation and the Department of Financial Services, claiming his product is being wrongfully excluded.
“The statute that created My Safe Florida is broad,” Smith said. “It says anyone who installs a hurricane mitigation product of which Storm Stoppers is one, is entitled to participate.”
His attorney, Scott Siverson, says the case could reshape how mitigation options are evaluated across the state.
“This lawsuit is about widening the marketplace of ideas, to allow for wind mitigation products at different levels of cost,” Siverson said.
Storm Stoppers often costs less than $3,000 for an entire home, compared to $10,000 to $12,000 or more for traditional shutters. But under current rules, choosing the more affordable option means getting no help from the state.
“Do you want to spend $12,000 on something that could trap your family in a fire,” Smith asked, “Or under $3,000 on something safe? Right now, you don’t even get the choice.”
Smith says his mission isn’t just about business. It’s about safety, fairness, and transparency.
“Millions of Floridians are affected. Most have no idea they’re at risk,” he said. “We just want them to know and have the right to choose something safer.”