Factors That Affect Your Roof's Susceptibility to Wind Damage

Your roofing system protects your home’s interior from the elements. But there comes a time when harsh weather conditions, especially strong windstorms, can cause extensive damage to a roof. As a responsible homeowner, you should be aware of the factors that determine the susceptibility of your roof to wind damage.

If your roof has suffered wind damage, Patriot Roofing LLC discusses four crucial factors you should keep in mind.

The Age of the Roof

The age of your roof plays a significant role in the health of your roof. If your roof is fairly old, it may be weak. The nails may have loosened, and the shingles may have lost flexibility. Either way, an old roof is at greater risk of being damaged by a windstorm. For this reason, you should consider a roof replacement to ensure your home is well-protected.

The Quality of Roof Installation

Another important factor in your roof’s susceptibility to wind damage is the way it was installed. Improper nailing, for instance, can lead to a fragile roof. Make sure that your roofers use the correct nails and position them correctly on the shingles. Furthermore, you should also consider the pitch or angle of your roof. This determines how much air passes over and under it. The most wind-resistant roofs have pitches between 4/12 and 6/12.

Proper Roof Maintenance

Your roof is likely more vulnerable to wind damage if it isn’t inspected and maintained regularly. During an annual inspection, a roofer will examine your roof thoroughly and tackle the necessary roof repair work. This way, you protect your roof even before the damage occurs. Otherwise, damaged sections of the roof allow wind to get under the shingles and wreak havoc.

Quality of the Roofing Materials

The quality of the materials that make up your roof also determines how durable your roof is and how it can withstand wind forces. One good example is the sheathing type. The thickness of the sheathing determines the nailing depth, which affects the strength of your shingle. As such, it’s best to invest in thick sheathing as it provides more wind resistance than a thin sheathing.

Are you looking for professional roofers? Get in touch with Patriot Roofing LLC. We provide top-quality home exterior services, from roof replacement to gutter installation. Call us today at (405) 217-0473 or fill out our online contact form to set an appointment. We proudly serve homeowners in Moore, OK.

Jenica Weinberg

22:07 29 Feb 24

Patriot roofing replaced a roof for me and it was done in under a week from start to finish! Ron was super easy to work with and his communication was great! Kaylee was also wonderful! She helped me out with paperwork that was needed prior to closing and I can not thank her enough for getting it to me within minutes of me calling. Thank you again Patriot Roofing for your hard work and quick execution!

mc farley

17:02 24 Feb 24

Wonderful experience! Quality work, my project manager Rebekah N. Was great, she answered questions I texted on the weeknights and even weekends! Roofers covered my bushes and cleaned up every day. Office staff very professional also. They did two homes for me. I would highly recommend!

Grace McLain

03:17 23 Feb 24

Roof shingles were flying all over our neighborhood, and I couldn’t figure out if they were from my house. Kelly was excellent and helped me book a free inspection promptly. Ron and Blake were such a great duo. I felt informed and got a few laughs. They quickly fixed the roof, and now it looks great and secure.

Michael Strange

23:34 18 Feb 24

100% recommend . Blake was our go to guy and he worked hard to make sure the whole process was smooth and easy . He kept in great communication throughout the time. The crew arrived on time to start and did a great job . They were careful and very professional on the whole project. Even after the install of the new roof . Blake kept in contact to make sure everything was satisfactory. Well done ! You definitely will get my business in the future if needed.

Jason McLain

22:20 15 Feb 24

Patriot Roofing is awesome! Kelly helped us get set up with Ron and Blake, and they got the job done super quick! Great group of folks at Patriot Roofing!

Bridget Rorick

21:47 13 Feb 24

Patriot Roofing has amazing staff. They did amazing job on my roof.

Kelly McLain

20:21 13 Feb 24

Quick response and friendly service! Thank you Blake Mullen and Ron Latham!!

Kenneth McIntyre

21:13 07 Feb 24

Highly professional team that does quality work! I am very satisfied with Patriot Roofing and my new roof. The entire experience is made easy and stress free by great folks like Justin Cates, my consultant and Kaylee Miller, my account manager. They took complete care of everything! If you want great service and a great product for your money, call Patriot Roofing and skip the hassle, you'll be glad you did!

Karen McReynolds

03:53 02 Feb 24

Professional, punctual and just plain AWESOME. Don't bother looking for someone for your roofs and gutters. Just call the BEST! Patriot all the way!.

Elaine Farley

23:15 24 Jan 24

I am pleased with my new roof. My roof is getting a real test with all the bad weather we are having. My house is warmer. Thank you Patriot for a job well done.Rebekah has been wonder with me. She takes the time to explain to me what is going on with my roof.She is bilingual. That is fantastic in my book!Elaine

Matthew Fixico

22:35 23 Jan 24

Ashleigh Liles made the process SUPER easy. As for Rebekah Nicholson, loved working with her. Very communicative & informative. Made sure everything went smooth and had the job done in no time. She was our first and only option! Would definitely recommend her again!! PS. Be sure to ask for Rebekah for ANY of your roofing needs. Super nice lady and determined!!

ERIK WALLOCK

04:03 11 Jan 24

Prior to replacing a Damaged Roof, I had Patriot Roofing on a seperate project replace damaged Fascia and Soffit. Recognition to the following Employees. Ernie Eidson (Patriot), Prompt, Professional, accurate in his estimations and a Good Dude to have a conservation about 70 era Muscle Cars. Blake Brown (Patriot), Professional, great Personality on site every day with the Primary Contractor from start to finish. Brandon Cox (BWC),the Primary Contractor, Meticulous, his attention to detail and approach to every part that he replaced or repaired on my dwelling was supurb, he worked on my dwelling as if he was working on his own Home and that was greatly appreciated. Thanks to Blake and Brandon for allowing me to be there, watch, and ask way to many questions. Kaylee Miller Accounts Manager (Patriot), what a joy to work with, Professional, Patient, Thank You for your time and patience with all of my questions.Erik Wallock.Lawton Oklahoma.

John Flowers

16:54 28 Dec 23

The roofing and siding job done by patriot roofing was outstanding, they cleaned up each day and I was always notified if there was a delay. I wish more businesses did this and I would highly recommend them.

Joshua Lacy

21:17 18 Dec 23

Frank Sheehy

18:20 29 Nov 23

Highly recommend. Very responsive and professional group. Lady who answers the phones was very helpful and Josiah showed up right on time. He was very detailed in his explanations and was very helpful to what we can expect with this specific roof in the future

Travis Claborn

20:09 21 Nov 23

While completing a home patio cover project, I ran short of TPO materials. Needed 3 more foot of material. Kelly at Patriot Roofing was able to help me with scrap piece to finish my project. Thanks Kelly.

Stacey Page

17:16 15 Nov 23

They are a one stop shop which isn’t easy to find! Especially in Oklahoma with the hail storms, it was a relief to find a licensed and insured company who does not only roofing but also siding and window repairs! They work hard to contact your insurance too.

Deanna Moore

22:23 10 Nov 23

Your driver was speeding and weaving in and out of traffic just about hit some cars in shawnee

Christina Aleman

19:19 01 Nov 23

I had three projects completed for my house...the roof, the siding, and the gutters...after the April 19, 2023 hail storm. My house looks amazing! I am so satisfied with the work done and would recommend this company to anyone looking for a quality job!

Darlene O'Hara

17:48 12 Oct 23

Weston Moody was my point of contact and he was professional, courteous and quick to respond to any and all questions. The reroofing was done quickly and the quality was great! Have recommended this company to others that have had storm damage!!

Lance Gregory

18:54 11 Oct 23

Justin came up in loafers and at first I didn’t really trust him, but he actually got up in my attic and came down covered in insulation with tons of photos and showed me some very concerning issues. He was very knowledgeable and has actually been in this industry for several years. He gave me a fair price from what I had received from a few other roofing companies, and the turn around time was great on getting the new roof installed. I really appreciated Justin’s service skills and knowledge!

Twana Jackson

15:30 11 Oct 23

We are very pleased with the whole process from the beginning to the end. Justin and Kaylee were exceptional to work with. We highly recommend Patriot Roofing.

Ashly Carter

11:01 05 Oct 23

Very happy with my roof! The most reasonable of all the roofers I spoke with. Very honest about what needed to be done as well. The team was quick and left my property in great shape with clean up! Would definitely recommend!

Matthew R

22:46 04 Oct 23

Had them come out to look at my roof for an estimate and had a hard time getting the estimate finished and sent back to me. However, once they realized the mistake they did a good job of making up for it. Mistakes happen, not everyone is perfect, but a company's willingness to admit a mistake and work to make it right is a rarity these days. Good guys overall.

Logan Shea

15:58 04 Oct 23

Would recommend Patriot for any job, customer service, price, and timely with everything completed. We had our siding replaced and gutters done and are looking forward to having them back out to fix a few more things we decided to wait on. All around great experience with no complaints at all.

Ryan Johnson

15:44 04 Oct 23

I contacted Patriot Roofing after the severe weather this spring to take care of my roof. The process was very painless, they took care of everything including dealing with my insurance. Hopefully I won’t need another roof for a long time, but when I do I will utilize them again.

Alexa Major

19:40 28 Sep 23

So happy I went with Patriot Roofing! Whoever originally put the siding on my house years ago, must have loved squirrels and mice because they were able to eat through the wood siding very easily and make themselves right at home. I however, do not like having wild animals as roommates (who were living rent free by the way) so I had Patriot Roofing come out and replace the siding on my house. They did a fantastic job! I told them my number one goal was to have siding that kept all the critters out. I didn’t care as much how pretty it looked at the end. However, the folks at Patriot not only fixed it up to make sure the siding was critter proof, but it looks beautiful and amazing too! I was pleasantly surprised when Blake with Patriot called me to let me know they would also be painting the siding once they were finished to match the rest of my house. I was thinking I would have to hire someone else to paint my new siding, but they had that covered! Blake and Ernie and everyone at Patriot were great to work with! Quick to respond and made the whole process easy! I would definitely recommend Patriot Roofing!

William Fisher

19:35 28 Sep 23

Great experience with theses guys. Ron Latham and his folks worked hard, did a great job and really helped us out with the process. Definitely recommend Patriot Roofing

Whitney Schulz

19:41 25 Sep 23

WOMBAT

13:31 01 Sep 23

I highly recommend Patriot Roofing The service was excellent from the start. Weston was very prompt to come out to the home for an evaluation and also met with the insurance adjuster and was very professional and courteous. We are very pleased with how quickly the job was completed. The quality of the material and workmanship was fantastic and the whole Patriot team was awesome from start to finish plus the total price was spot on.Thanks to the Patriot roofing team.

Megan Flores

19:23 31 Aug 23

Patriot hepled navigate thru getting our roof replaced. Everyone we dealt with was very professional and informative. Recommend Patriot Roofing to any with roofing needs.

Ike Smith

18:55 23 Aug 23

From start to finish, our interaction with Patriot has been outstanding. Our new roof is beautiful! Even a neighbor texted me to say it looks amazing.

Kyle Moore

20:04 19 Aug 23

Lindsey Brummett

21:16 14 Aug 23

Patriot Roofing was a pleasure to work with and made the process easy. They helped us navigate insurance, gave detailed quotes and their crew was top notch!Professional, quality service and work! Highly recommend!

G Moore

21:28 31 Jul 23

From my first contact with Patriot it was obvious that they were going to be great to work with from the employees at their offices, Kelly, Ashleigh, Kerry, Ron and Blake to the people in the field Dillon, Earnie and the crews that did the work. Everyone was very helpful and extremely friendly. I couldn’t have asked for a better company and group to work with!! I want to give a special thanks to Dillon C. who did the roofing inspection, he went above and beyond when he returned to put temporary tarps in a couple of places that needed to be covered before some storms rolled in. The subcontractors that Patriot used were top quality, very friendly, fast and did a great job of cleanup. I would and will highly recommend Patriot to everyone in need of these types of services!! Thanks to the whole crew for doing such a fine and reasonably priced job!!

Chari’ Coleman

01:02 20 Jul 23

I spoke to Ron through a referral from Patriot Gutters. With all the rain we've had, we unfortunately noticed a small leak around our living room skylight. He showed up at our home, accessed the roof and did a thorough inspection. He stated that some of the sealant had cracked and was allowing a small amount of water to get through around the skylight. We were pleasantly surprised when he proceeded to reseal it on the spot! He then informed us that the rest of our roof was in good condition. We were appreciative of his assistance and professionalism and will definitely call him if and when we should require a roofing company in the future. Thanks, Ron!

J B

19:30 12 Jul 23

Used Patriot for a complete roof from Spring storms. Great communication and extremely prompt response from them. Weston took the time to explain everything and he was a great advocate for us against what the insurance company wanted. They handled it all, installation was extremely fast and clean as they left the area in better shape than it was prior. Would highly recommend them. Weston has a followed up a few times after the roof just to make sure everything was doing good. We greatly appreciated that especially since everything was great.

Harley

18:54 12 Jul 23

I needed a roofer as I found a shingle in my yard after the high winds we've had recently. I was given Ron's number by a friend who has used Patriot Roofing in the past. He popped up there, did a thorough inspection and installed a patch where the shingles were coming loose. He then advised me I should contact my insurance company as he found wind and hail damage throughout. I'm so thankful for Ron and Patriot Roofing and their willingness to help. I'll definitely call Ron and Patriot for replacement if needed.

C C

21:44 08 Jul 23

We have had several people in our neighborhood who received roof damage from recent storms so I called Patriot Roofing to have someone come look at the roof of our home. Ron L. arrived at the appointed time and was extremely knowledgeable about the entire process. After his inspection, it was determined that our roof did not meet the requirements for replacement at this time. I appreciated his honesty and professionalism. Should we ever need a roof replacement for our home in the future, Ron, @ Patriot Roofing, is who I will call!

Kenneth Van Gorder

14:04 07 Jul 23

Erin Eidson came to my house to give me an estimate on a siding project I am looking to get done this fall. He was very professional and explained in detail what I needed and how the process would work. He answered all my questions and concerns. He is a very personable gentleman to work with. I will look forward to working with him again. I am not yet at this time ready to get this project done until after I receive the estimate.

Thomas W

18:13 28 Jun 23

They do not keep appointments! I cancelled plans to meet Patriot roofing at my house for a roofing assessment at 5:30. At 4:30 I get a call, they are at my house, couldn't be bothered to call when they headed my way, and tell me they can either do the inspection without me or have to reschedule. Guess they have too much business because with behavior like that they aren't getting mine!I'm sorry but you are a liar. I was not called until your salesperson was at my house, I have video footage of him calling me on his phone as well as phone logs. Also, I did not say I could not be bothered and hang up. Please do not bear false witness against me in order to make yourselves look good. You messed up, be a man and own it.

Landon Reiter

15:17 17 May 23

After helping us schedule and going over our needs our service was scheduled in a timely manner. Due to changing circumstances we needed to call and cancel our service. Ron was very understanding and helpful in the cancellation process. Will definitely work with Patriot for any future roofing needs.

kelly2dubs

20:24 03 May 23

Third time’s the charm!!! Went through 2 other contractors trying to get storm damage repaired. Dealing with them was stressful and frustrating! Was finally referred to Patriot by a trusted friend. They came in force! Everything was completed shockingly quickly. Insurance was handled professionally and efficiently. I worked with Weston and Blake and Kaylee. Their communication is to notch. They do not leave you hanging. I have already referred other people to them. All the workers were diligent and seemed genuinely committed to providing the best product. Special shout out to Patriot painters.

Doug Crews

16:36 14 Apr 23

Patriot roofing replaced two roofs on my rental properties. They were fast and professional throughout the entire process. Ernie, their supplement salesman, understood my needs as a landlord and provided satisfactory solutions. Dillon, their roofing salesman, was quick to respond to my questions and concerns. The communication throughout the sales and scheduling process was satisfactory with only a small issue that was quickly resolved. Patriot roofing asked for my thoughts and listened to my concerns about onsite communication in a landlord situation. I have another property scheduled for roof replacement with them now. The integrity of this company impressed me and I encourage others to use them for all their roofing needs too.

Don Ward

00:46 01 Apr 23

Quality people that use Quality products and use Experienced, Quality Roofers.Very thorough. Installed my new roof in high winds. I still don’t know how those guys were able to stay on the roof, but they worked through and completed old shingles removal, new vinyl undercoat layer installation, new Class 4 High Impact Shingles installation, and cleanup in a little over 10 hours. They also did the same roofing work for 2 sheds that I have after they finished my house. The roofers also willingly helped me with a couple of extra tasks. Dillon Crews was very helpful and accommodating - THANKS DILLON ! I HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY PLEASED WITH PATRIOT ROOFING FROM OUR FIRST CONVERSATION THROGH NEW FINISHED ROOF. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND PATRIOT ROOFING.

Jimmy Stufflebean

18:33 31 Mar 23

This company is very reliable and reputable. Weston Moody is who we worked with he is very responsive and respectful and very trustworthy. We’ve used this company several times and they have been great to work with.Thank you to Weston and Patriot roofingJimmy Stufflebean and family

Jerott Wall

15:12 30 Jan 23

We needed our roof replaced and contacted Patriot for a quote, Devin came out within a couple of days, went over the roof with me and was up front about the process and time-line! Their quote was great and so were the reviews so we decided they were the company we wanted to do the work. We met at the showroom and they gave us accurate numbers before we signed the contract. Within a couple days they had us scheduled and the morning of install, the guys were there at 7am sharp! Blake was our on site supervisor and was great at explaining the details and checking each step of the install process! Kaylee the office lady was also a great help with the insurance portion and did a wonderful job at making in a pain free process! Super happy with the new roof and definitely recommend this company for your roofing needs!

Jessica Wall

14:30 30 Jan 23

Just had our roof replaced by Patriot. Devon was our salemen and he was very helpful and upfront about the situation with our roof. Blake was ouron site supervisor and did a great job at explaining the process and checking each stage of work to completion. They worked with us and our insurance, and helped us get what was owed to us from our insurance company! Highly recommended for any roofing and gutter needs! Definitely not a company that will nickle and dime you! Will definitely use again if the need ever arises!

J.R. Ray

20:41 29 Dec 22

My neighborhood was struck by an EF-4 tornado (4 November) and we were besieged by roofing companies, offering free inspections and quotes. Patriot's representative noticed my "No Soliciting" sign on my door and respected that, leaving his card by the door. I chanced to meet him later as he was walking down the road and engaged in conversation. I was impressed by his demeanor and allowed him and his team to make an inspection and was told his review would be sent to my email. Now while every other roofing service merely gave me a price quote, Patriot gave me a detailed, item by item quote and was lower in most cases. It was that detailed quote that caused me to select Patriot. Weather was still bad in the days following but a break was predicted and the day prior to the weather break, the shipment of materials came to my residence. The next morning, very early in the morning, I heard vehicles in my front yard and was surprised to encounter a the roofing crew, who had driven since 3:00 am to get here at 6:00 am. The weather was still not favorable and I offered some recommendations as to where they could possible go and have breakfast. They declined and stated they would remain at the yard until the site manager (crew boss) gave them the go ahead. The "boss" arrived just about as the weather broke and the team attacked the house like a well-oiled machine, removing my old roof and starting in on repairs to the roof. Not once did I see any of the workers stop for a smoke break, or drink. Just steady work until such time as the boss called lunch. They brought their lunch with them, at on site, and then went immediately back to work. A ground crew was in constant motion, picking up debris and moving yard items away from the work area, I dare say the whole rood, complete with the number of repairs needed would have been completed that same day, had it not been for the delay in the morning due to weather. The crew as back the next morning and all was complete, to include yard pick-up and site clean up before mid morning. Being a retired Sergeant Major (US Army), the observed work ethic of all involved was truly commendable.

Berta Young

18:45 18 Nov 22

I was having difficulty finding anyone to replace rotted fascia board on back porch and a portion along side and NW corner of mobile home. Also vinyl siding replacement in these areas. I contacted Patriot Roofing, was greeted promptly then connected to Ernie who came out, assessed the damage and in a few days sent an itemized list of cost of project. Repair was done in a timely and satisfactory manner. At my request they also installed guttering to my front porch. All employees were friendly and competent. This was a small job but they made time to help in time of need.

Tracey Phillips

19:03 24 Oct 22

Patriot Roofing responded quickly to our request for a quote on work around windows and doors. Ernie and Ron were very attentive and easy to work worth. Work was beautifully done and completed as quoted. Office staff followed up promptly to see if all was okay. Would definitely work with Patriot again.

N. B.

14:54 09 Sep 22

Patriot Roofing came out and replaced my roof, window wraps, gutters, and siding twice after last year’s hail storms. Matt and Brandon were always available and could not have been more professional, friendly, and knowledgeable. Matt even came to the insurance inspection to make sure they didn’t miss anything! The work was done quickly and my house was back to its former glory within weeks. On the backside, Kaylee put so much time into getting my insurance to pay what was needed and I was really happy to be able to hand that off to someone else. Really great experience overall!

Dion Hampton

22:11 22 Aug 22

Patriot roofing is a good dependable and professional roofing company. Matt who works for Patriot roofing explained the process to me on the costs of the roof and help me with my home insurance during that situation. The roof shingles on the house looks so good and they also replace my sunroom roof too. I almost forgot they also do flat roofs I have a addition to my house that has a flat roof. They did a wonderful job. I would recommend them to any one who needs a roof replacement . Plus they also did vinyl siding to my addition to the house. Thank you Matt . If I need my roof replaced again I will give them a call again. They are really excellent at what they do.

Shane Flewellen

20:17 11 Aug 22

Bobby was fantastic, came earlier than scheduled for the inspection, helped us file the claim, and got all the work done in a timely manner!

Devin Giles

16:46 11 Aug 22

These folks were great from beginning to end. Inspected my roof and told me what they found and how they would repair it and bring it up to today's code. The workers were on time and polite. No problems, zero hassle, would recommend to anyone.

jeffery enose

20:49 29 Jul 22

Very prompt and courteous. Matt explained each step of the process before they started and made sure that the site was clean after the repairs. Kaylee did an excellent job of explaining the supplemental requests. I had to use their services on twice last year and they have been amazing to work with on both occasions.

Emi Morris

12:44 11 Jun 22

I would recommend Patriot Roofing to friends and family. They did great work in the time frame that was agreed upon. Most importantly there was no problems with communication between Patriot Roofing, our insurance company and us. A wonderful job.

Laura Linn

14:41 02 May 22

I worked with Ron L. to replace our roof after the April 2021 hail storm. He has an easy demeanor, quickly responds and professional. Our roof was installed without issue, and we will continue to use Patriot for all of our exterior needs. From the office staff to the guys who are out on the ground, you will not be dissapointed with your service.

Adam Seeley

22:05 29 Apr 22

Bobby was very professional and helpful in getting this work completed in a timely manner. They kept me up to date throughout the entire process. I will use them again.

bill Boyd

21:24 28 Apr 22

Wes was good to work with. Repairs due to wind/hail. Replaced roof, added new decking, replaced siding and one window. Due to the size of the storm and damage, it took awhile to get everything done. The roof was done first, then siding, window was last. Everything was done in a workman like manner. Had a leak around skylight, and it was repaired in a timely manner.

Cameron Homeyer

15:37 23 Mar 22

We had our roof, gutters, garage door, and other miscellaneous repairs done by Patriot following a 3" hail storm in Norman in 2021. The staff were professional, the repairs were high quality, and communications were clear through the beginning. They made the process of completing the insurance claim and finalizing things painless and easy.

Ernest L

17:26 10 Mar 22

Extremely pleased with the results. Workers were very friendly, listening to and answering all of my questions. Attention to detail was great. Would recommend them to others.

sarah fipps

17:02 10 Mar 22

Bobby was responsive, kind, and willing to work with us. Actually spent time inspecting our damage to ensure he was best able to advise. It was by far the best costumer service we had received out of all roofing companies we spoke with. Once we decided and were able to move forward with the repairs, Bobby was able to get us on the schedule and quickly repair the damage. Will be using them again in the future should we ever need additional repair or roof replacement.

Jo Huntington

22:27 02 Mar 22

Erica is absolutely one of the best employees of this company. She is articulate, respectful, kind, and honest. She answers the phone and is attentive to the customers concerns and responds in a timely manner with information. She is an incredible liaison between customers and ‘managers’. Without her, this installation would have had a very different outcome.Avery was on site and assisted with communication. Any concerns expressed were addressed with roofing installation experts immediately. His articulate manner was reassuring to me through the entire project.Kaylee stepped up as a good manager. When asked, she reviewed her notes orally that she had been documenting through the our entire conversation.The actual installation gentlemen were respectful of my home and property. Truly gentlemen that speak highly of their immediate supervisor that directs day to day operations. I was very fortunate with the last two men on my property. They ‘crossed the t’s and dotted the i’s’ so I was very pleased with the last few items necessary to complete the production. (I’m sorry, I don’t know their names.)Every job has a few bumps but communication solved each concern.