While many homes and communities were left in ruins after Hurricane Helene, one development in Cortez, Florida, stood strong.
Hunters Point, a recently built housing community, remained unscathed, with homes still powered and dry, even as the surrounding area was overwhelmed by waist-deep floodwaters and power outages.
A Haven in the Midst of Devastation
Residents of Hunters Point moved into their homes in 2022 and have already weathered three major hurricanes—Ian, Idalia, and Helene.
Remarkably, they experienced no significant damage.
This resilience was no accident; it was the result of meticulous planning by developer Marshall Gobuty, who designed the homes with sustainability and hurricane resistance in mind.
Built for Sustainability and Resilience
Gobuty’s vision for Hunters Point focused on creating homes that could stand up to the toughest storms while being almost self-sufficient.
Shaun Williams, a spokesperson for the development, emphasized how these homes generate more energy than they consume, a feature especially valuable in a hurricane-prone state like Florida.
“Why sacrifice location for a quality product that can withstand storms?” Williams said.
This mindset was at the heart of the project, which took five years to complete, including 18 months of rigorous design testing to ensure the homes were both energy-efficient and disaster-proof.
Climate-Ready Homes: Strong Materials and Elevated Design
The homes at Hunters Point are built to withstand hurricanes, using a combination of steel, concrete, lumber, and foam insulation.
One of the key features is their elevated construction, with the first floors standing 16 feet above the flood zone.
This design not only gives homeowners peace of mind but also reassures insurance companies that these homes are less likely to suffer flood damage.
Steel straps secure the structures from top to bottom, and the roofs, made entirely of steel, are designed to stay intact even in severe storms.
Windows are hurricane-grade, and walls are constructed with larger-than-standard lumber and insulated with hard foam to provide extra protection.
Solar Power and Energy Independence
Hunters Point homes are equipped with solar panels designed to endure hurricanes.
These panels, connected to backup batteries, ensure that power is available even during outages.
In fact, when much of Cortez lost electricity during Hurricane Helene, the homes in Hunters Point stayed lit thanks to these batteries.
Even on days without sun, the system can power homes for up to 10 days.
On normal days, the excess energy generated by the solar panels helps keep electric bills low, making the homes not only disaster-resistant but also cost-effective.
Water Management: Keeping Homes Dry
Flooding is a common concern in Florida, but Hunters Point has implemented innovative solutions to address this.
The neighborhood’s roads are slightly slanted to direct runoff, and sunken grassy areas, called swales, help funnel water to a retention pond in the center of the community.
This system prevents water from accumulating around the homes and causing flood damage.
A Sigh of Relief for Residents
With only 31 out of the planned 86 homes completed, Hunters Point is still a work in progress, but its current residents have already seen the benefits.
Shaun Williams noted that, despite some water and debris making it close to the development during the storm, there was no harm done.
“There wasn’t any damage to homeowners—no water damage. Everybody seems very happy,” he shared.
Gobuty, too, expressed his satisfaction with how the homes held up during Hurricane Helene.
“I couldn’t dream it to be better because it was such a rough storm,” he said.
A Contrast to Neighboring Communities
While Hunters Point survived unscathed, the surrounding neighborhoods faced a much harsher reality.
Kelly and Rod Darrow, who have owned a home in Cortez for three years, saw four-foot storm surges devastate their property.
Gary McAllister, a local resident for 35 years, described how water flooded his home, rising higher than his windows and leaving behind contaminated bilge water.
The Aftermath of Hurricane Helene
Hurricane Helene made landfall as a Category 4 storm, leaving millions without power across the southeast.
The storm has claimed over 130 lives, with some areas, like Asheville, North Carolina, hit particularly hard.
As recovery efforts continue, many are relying on government assistance to rebuild their lives.
FEMA has deployed over 800 staff members to assist affected states, but the sheer scale of the destruction has left many communities desperate for aid.
Looking Forward: Building for a Changing Climate
As climate change continues to intensify storms like Helene, developments like Hunters Point offer a glimpse into the future of housing.
Gobuty’s vision of “generation sustainability” is about more than just surviving the next storm; it’s about building homes that can withstand a changing world.
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