“It just doesn’t make sense to rebuild the same way every time, knowing that the next time a storm comes by, we end up in the same place”
The damage of Hurricane Ian has been one of the most consequential in recent U.S. history. The category 4 hurricane has taken 89 lives (and counting), knocked out a quarter of the state’s power, canceled over 6,000 flights, damaged $60 billion worth of insured losses, and caused 2.5 million evacuation orders.
Many Floridians had to gamble their life by either following such evacuation orders and leaving their home behind, or staying put. Residents of Babcock Ranch, however, did not have as much difficulty in making this decision. Aside from a few fallen palm trees and street signs, Babcock Ranch residents saw almost no change in their community. These people and their homes resisted practically all potential damage from the storm.
This is not by chance. You could say it was all by design.
Babcock Ranch
This community was the vision of Syd Kitson, a retired pro football player notable for his career with the Green Bay Packers. He proudly calls Babcock Ranch America’s first sustainable, solar-powered town.
Babcock Ranch is strategically located 30 miles off shore and is built 30 feet above sea level. Power lines run entirely underground, where they are shielded from strong winds.
However, as many communities are built above ground, height is not the only factor to this community’s success. When asked about the height of a community, Syd Kitson quoted “That’s important, but not when it comes to the wind and flooding and rain. And so if that infrastructure’s not built properly, you will have homes that get flooded…You will have that wind damage. Particularly, you’ve got 150–160 mile-an-hour winds…There needs to be a lot of thought that goes into how to build, if we’re going to be along the coast, in a way that is resilient” (Interview from 60 Minutes and WPTV).
So, how is this community built “resiliently”? Babcock Ranch, where homes start at $250,000, was made to accommodate Florida’s natural ecosystem. Native plants line the streets and yards, using natural waterways and giant retaining ponds to absorb rainwater and prevent flooding. Every building aspect of this community was essential to its resistance against Hurricane Ian.
However, not only was Babcock Ranch physically durable against this category 4 hurricane, it also sustained power. Nearly 700,000 solar panels power this community. This is enough electricity to power 30,000 homes. Babcock Ranch only has about 5,000 residents. Excess power circles back to the grid and is used to feed surrounding communities.
Helping Others
Because the Babcock Ranch community had power to spare and avoided the full wrath of Hurricane Ian, they were able to give back to those in need. A community center in Babcock Ranch was designed and built to double as a storm shelter. People from hard-hit communities took shelter in Babcock Ranch, where residents have been responding to supply-requests on social media and shuttling in essentials. One Floridian staying in the Babcock Ranch shelter, Judith Schrag, whose Port Charlotte apartment was flooded, says the community has been “absolutely phenomenal in terms of donations”, and that “they are what have helped to keep this place going” (from NPR). Sustainability is also what keeps this place going.
Hopes to Expand and Inspire
“It just doesn’t make sense to rebuild the same way every time, knowing that the next time a storm comes by, we end up in the same place,” Syd Kitson says. His vision has stood its first test against Mother Nature. Its success story welcomes imitators and hopes to inspire budding communities across the United States, or existing communities that must adapt to our changing climate. While 5,000 people live in the Babcock Ranch right now, the community is expected to be home to nearly 50,000 residents in 20,000 homes.
Welldone Babcock !!!
Prediction about Nature’s action can’t be correct 100%, so I think all scientists, geologists n architects need to focus on proper placement of housing societies and types of construction of homes to face these types of disasters.