Crunk Juice is also the name of a 2004 album by Lil Jon and the Eastside Boyz.
Re: tying the porch roof into the main house... I'll add I'd also go with 5/8 CDX ply for the roof sheathing. That added 1/8 goes a long way to resist uplift , and as you know wind in your area is a BIG issue.
Concrete footings provide the base for the whole porch structure. Footings should be at least twice the width of the posts that rest on them (usually at least 12 in diameter). During the process of getting a permit, you should find out the required depth for footings. Wherever the ground freezes, footings need to be dug below the frost line to prevent frost upheaval.