Could These Florida Homes Be a Blueprint for Hurricane-Resistant Housing?
Hurricanes have only become more frequent over the last several years, leaving homes in coastal markets increasingly at risk of damage. However, a community in Florida could provide a blueprint for hurricane-resistant housing, according to Fast Company. Located in Cortez, Fla., the community is called Hunters Point. Although only 31 of the 86 planned homes have been completed so far, these homes have already withstood three major hurricanes since residents moved in 2022. The homes are designed to be more durable, with concrete, steel straps, and thicker framing. The homes are also equipped with solar panels connected to backup batteries that keep the homes powered if the grid fails.
Between the homes, swales are designed to carry water to a retention system. When the storm surge hit during Helene, water quickly rose. “We saw that Cortez Road, which is in front of us, was starting to go underwater,” says Dave Randall, one of the homeowners. “It was more like a river out there. Then you start thinking, well, I wonder if we’re going to start getting water in here.”
The retention system worked as intended, filling up a pond with seven feet of water that quickly subsided in the morning. While the flooding came within a few feet of the Randalls’ back patio, and around six feet from the garage door, the water ultimately stayed away from the homes. If a future storm went further, with the garage on the first level, the main part of the house would still stay dry.