Disaster-Proof Homes and Communities on the Rise, Withstanding Harsh Storms
Soaring insurance bills are becoming the norm for Floridians as homeowners get continuously slammed by extreme weather and storms. This is leading to insurers retreating and leaving the residents behind in a bind. To combat this however are disaster-proof homes, and for Florida, that means hurricane-resistant.
“People say they build to code, and my answer is ‘Great,’” said developer Marshall Gobuty. “Building over code and doing things that haven’t been done — that’s something to be proud of.”
Gobuty is the developer of Hunters Point, an 86-unit community in Cortez, Florida, just an hour south of Tampa.
According to The New York Post, Developed by Gobuty’s Pearl Homes, this net-zero community saw its first residents move in back in 2022. These homes have already withstood two hurricanes, all while generating more energy than they use.
Even when their insurance carrier initially backed out, Gobuty’s team secured coverage by showcasing their robust construction techniques. “They’re covering us because of the way we built our homes,” said Gobuty.
Features like ground-floor flood vents and full-home metal strappings proved to be game changers.
This innovation is critical as Florida’s insurance market faces a crisis.
