This is how a Florida community weathered Hurricane Milton without losing power
The Hunters Point community in Bradenton Beach is making headlines after being left almost untouched by Hurricane Milton in Florida.
On October 9, Milton made landfall as a Category 3 hurricane in Florida. The storm left at least 23 people dead and thousands of residents homeless. However, there is a small community between Sarasota Bay and Tampa Bay that was virtually untouched by Milton.
This is the Hunters Point community in Bradenton Beach, the first “net-zero” project in the United States, as the properties are designed to generate more energy than they consume using solar panels. Once there is excess energy, it is stored or sold to the grid, which explains why the community was not affected by the more than 3.3 million power outages across the state.
In addition to being energy efficient, these homes are also designed to withstand the impact of hurricanes and other extreme weather conditions, as the complex's streets are built to prevent flooding, electrical lines are buried to prevent damage, and the homes feature reinforced concrete walls and foam insulation for added protection.
You may also be interested in: How you can help those affected by hurricanes Milton and Helene
Hunters Point homes are also built on stilts, with garages on the ground floor, while living spaces begin at 16 feet above sea level, ensuring storm and hurricane resistance.
“I’m just quite convinced that the strength and everything in this house. They built a great house, a strong house,” William Fulford, one of the residents who refused to evacuate and rode out the hurricane on his Hunters Point property, told CNN. “I just feel comfortable. I feel like we’re high enough up, even if we get a storm surge I feel comfortable. I feel like we are high enough up, even if we get a storm surge.”
According to a report by CNN, homes in Hunters Point did not suffer significant damage and maintained power thanks to their solar energy and electrical storage system.
They are not affordable properties
Living in these types of homes is not affordable for the average homebuyer. Properties in Hunters Point are valued between $1.4 and $1.9 million. Typically, a residence in the area costs around $600,000, which shows a wide disparity in prices. However, residents consider the investment to be worth it.