This Hurricane-Proof Florida Development Easily Endured Helene, Ian, and Idalia–Proving Climate Designs Work

[Michie]

First Ian, then Idalia, now Helene—a special housing development in Florida has withstood them all.

Without any doubt, the neighborhood at Hunter Point in Cortez along the Gulf Coast has lived up to its billing of hurricane-proof, as the storm that has ravaged the southeastern United States was endured without issue.

Helene made landfall last Thursday, and Cortez was battered with waste-deep storm surges that turned the roads to rivers. Not only did Hunter Point stay dry, but kept the lights on as well thanks to a bevy of storm-resistant architectural and landscape designs.

Continued below.

This Hurricane-Proof Florida Development Easily Endured Helene, Ian, and Idalia–Proving Climate Designs Work

The walls are made from 2x6 boards, while the roof is made of steel, and the three floors are interconnected with steel seams.

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[Cosmic Charlie]

Ok, nice

But, who cares?

Florida will NEVER regulate building codes to that level.

And honestly, given sea rise estimates, the whole area will be underwater in 40 years.

This is like cutting off the legs on the deck chairs of the Titanic so they remain level after the ship starts listing.

Good idea,

for about 20 minutes.

 

[Richard T]

Those are the high dollar options which work great but there are lots of good mitigation measures that many in Florida have adopted that are far less costly. Hip roofs attached to concrete block homes survive quite well especially when attached to the block in some of the new ways to prevent the roof from detaching. Most homes too have requirements about how much landfill is required to build up the home above the rest of the ground. In these cases you can still flood if the surge or rains are enough but that is a far better outcome. Sadly, I bet these million plus$ homes have some hefty insurance premiums, given their cost because they are pooled with the rest of Florida.

Going forward the average person in Florida is far more likely to self insure. Self insurance is not for everyone because your home has to be paid off, but it is a good option for certain block homes that are built a bit inland. Florida homeowners abandon insurance amid skyrocketing rates