Father Kit Cool Gun Garth Posted September 3, 2019 Share Posted September 3, 2019 So during the anticipation of Hurricane Dorian's approach, my wife and I have been discussing the features we would like to have on our final retirement home, if we had one custom built. Obviously living in Florida and having the ability to sustain hurricane force winds we began making our list. We'd have a concrete room built in the middle of the home to hunker down in during a tornado or direct hit from a hurricane. Comfort and room for supplies would be considered. Installation of a whole house generator system would be included as well to offset any power outages. Foam insulation in walls and attic for energy efficiency throughout the year. Hurricane shutter system installed. This is where doing some quick research on line, I originally thought that having Hurricane resistant windows installed in lieu of normal windows and possibly eliminating the need for a hurricane shutter system was the smart thing to do. Hurricane resistant windows have two sheets of glass that have a polymer sheet between the glass panels. This design ensures that should the window get hit, although the glass will break, your house would not be suseptible to the high winds that could eventually raise the roof off your house. This didn't seem to be cost effective since you would have to replace any window that was broken. More importantly, after seeing the following video, I don't believe it's a great idea if firemen cannot gain access to your home to fight a fire. What are your thoughts? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marshal Mo Hare, SASS #45984 Posted September 3, 2019 Share Posted September 3, 2019 Abandoned missile silo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sixgun Sheridan Posted September 3, 2019 Share Posted September 3, 2019 Either build it into the ground (on a hill) or get the hell outta the way! Move to Kansas or Nebraska where they don't have any hurricanes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Father Kit Cool Gun Garth Posted September 3, 2019 Author Share Posted September 3, 2019 20 minutes ago, Marshal Mo Hare, SASS #45984 said: Abandoned missile silo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Utah Bob #35998 Posted September 3, 2019 Share Posted September 3, 2019 The primary danger from hurricanes is flooding. Coastal low elevation areas are most vulnerable. The ideal home would be a concrete dome or cave with the highest elevation in the area and far from any storm surge. But that’s not practical. Steel shutters over normal windows are what I had living about 1/2 mile from the beach. Plenty of time to put shutters up before the storm hits. If your home is up to good hurricane codes that should be sufficient. Millile silos are strangely uncommon inn Florida. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Father Kit Cool Gun Garth Posted September 3, 2019 Author Share Posted September 3, 2019 5 minutes ago, Sixgun Sheridan said: Either build it into the ground (on a hill) or get the hell outta the way! Move to Kansas or Nebraska where they don't have any hurricanes. Can we bring Toto? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Father Kit Cool Gun Garth Posted September 3, 2019 Author Share Posted September 3, 2019 @Utah Bob #35998, Agreed. Land elevation is a primary prerequisite. We would remain inland near where we currently live. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texas Lizard Posted September 3, 2019 Share Posted September 3, 2019 28 minutes ago, Marshal Mo Hare, SASS #45984 said: Abandoned missile silo. Like Bob said hard to find...Besides you would need a few water pumps....But you would have water for the planting season.... Texas Lizard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marshal Hangtree Posted September 3, 2019 Share Posted September 3, 2019 You still can't dig down very far into native soil in Florida due to the very high water table. Your best bet is a concrete dome on concrete or steel stilts. Or get a nice class A diesel pusher and go for a vacation when hurricanes approach. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smuteye John SASS#24774 Posted September 3, 2019 Share Posted September 3, 2019 42 minutes ago, Marshal Mo Hare, SASS #45984 said: Abandoned missile silo. In Kansas. Maybe one of the Earth Ship houses out in New Mexico or Arizona. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Bill Burt Posted September 3, 2019 Share Posted September 3, 2019 Elevated well above sea level. Poured concrete with ICF (almost like building a home from hollow lego blocks then pouring concrete into the blocks) then a brick exterior. Exterior hinged shutters on all windows. A metal roof without much overhang, with hurricane straps, Good back up electric generator with shielded wind and solar power sources. A well for fresh water. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tequila Shooter Posted September 3, 2019 Share Posted September 3, 2019 Beer, lots and lots of beer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trailrider #896 Posted September 3, 2019 Share Posted September 3, 2019 I'd say the best place to ride out a hurricane is...one high ground, say along the Front Range of the Colorado Rockies. We do get tornadoes, however, and hail! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alpo Posted September 3, 2019 Share Posted September 3, 2019 2 hours ago, Sixgun Sheridan said: Move to Kansas or Nebraska where they don't have any hurricanes Yeah, no hurricanes. Tornadoes and hail, but no hurricanes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Father Kit Cool Gun Garth Posted September 3, 2019 Author Share Posted September 3, 2019 If we were not going to stay in Florida, we'd probably consider Area 51! I hear the government won't let anyone or anything in, even hurricanes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buffalo Creek Law Dog Posted September 3, 2019 Share Posted September 3, 2019 It seems that the safest place to reside in the U.S. from floods, tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes and forest fires, would be Boise, Idaho. Never heard of any catastrophes in that area. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frio Kid Posted September 3, 2019 Share Posted September 3, 2019 Not sure how far inland you live but I live in west Houston about 60 miles from the coast. A newer home with good solid construction is about all you need. Forget the whole home generator they are wayyyyyy to expensive and I hear not always reliable. Buy in an area where electric lines are below ground, I have been through 2 Hurricanes in this house (Harvey was the last one and it was bad) and did not lose power once. I have a small gas generator just in case. If it starts looking like a category 4 or 5 - just leave, you can pay a lot of hotel bills for what one of those whole home generators cost. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frio Kid Posted September 3, 2019 Share Posted September 3, 2019 9 minutes ago, Buffalo Creek Law Dog said: It seems that the safest place to reside in the U.S. from floods, tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes and forest fires, would be Boise, Idaho. Never heard of any catastrophes in that area. Well, there is that super volcano just south of there called Yellowstone. But if that blows we are all toast. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat Riot Posted September 3, 2019 Share Posted September 3, 2019 20 minutes ago, Buffalo Creek Law Dog said: It seems that the safest place to reside in the U.S. from floods, tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes and forest fires, would be Boise, Idaho. Never heard of any catastrophes in that area. Great! Ya just jinxed Boise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat Riot Posted September 3, 2019 Share Posted September 3, 2019 Hey KIt, Get yerself one of these. High winds? No problem. Just fly. Flooding? No problem. Already on stilts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buffalo Creek Law Dog Posted September 3, 2019 Share Posted September 3, 2019 35 minutes ago, Frio Kid said: Well, there is that super volcano just south of there called Yellowstone. But if that blows we are all toast. Yellowstone is approx 300 miles ENE of Boise. If Yellowstone decides to blow, I'm not sure if 300 miles distance will be enough or not. Prevailing winds are from the W and WNW so that might help. We were stationed at Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan (yes, it really is a place) when Mount St. Helens blew and we had ash falling a week or so later, ENE and a distance of 865 miles as the crow flies. Fingers crossed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cold Lake Kid, SASS # 51474 Posted September 3, 2019 Share Posted September 3, 2019 Father Kit, why just one room of poured concrete? I looked at a two story house here in Ottawa that was entirely made of reinforced poured concrete. Given the total costs, it wasn't all that more expensive than similar traditionally built homes and a lot of that was the heating system installed in the floor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Badlands Bob #61228 Posted September 4, 2019 Share Posted September 4, 2019 You could ask the guys who own this house in Hollywood Florida. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marshal Hangtree Posted September 4, 2019 Share Posted September 4, 2019 46 minutes ago, Badlands Bob #61228 said: You could ask the guys who own this house in Hollywood Florida. Not Hollywood, FL. That one would be in Mexico Beach up in the Panhandle in Bay County, right after Hurricane Michael last October. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Badlands Bob #61228 Posted September 4, 2019 Share Posted September 4, 2019 1 hour ago, Marshal Hangtree said: Not Hollywood, FL. That one would be in Mexico Beach up in the Panhandle in Bay County, right after Hurricane Michael last October. You're right. I got my hurricane disasters mixed up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forty Rod SASS 3935 Posted September 4, 2019 Share Posted September 4, 2019 10 hours ago, Marshal Mo Hare, SASS #45984 said: Abandoned missile silo. Above the highest expected water line. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marshal Mo Hare, SASS #45984 Posted September 4, 2019 Share Posted September 4, 2019 17 hours ago, Forty Rod SASS 3935 said: Above the highest expected water line. Missile silos were built with that in mind Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colorado Coffinmaker Posted September 5, 2019 Share Posted September 5, 2019 Concrete Monolithic Dome. Retractable metal covers for windows. All living space above storm surge hight if near a beach (I'm NOT a beach fan). Equipped with solar power AND a nice generator. Oh, and just for fun, I'd like to have a surplus Submarine Periscope to watch the storm with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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