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Story of a Modular Home Surviving a Hurricane

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Residents in areas prone to hurricanes, like North Carolina, can benefit from a modern modular home. Modular homes built today are created on an improved architectural design that’s stronger and more efficient than models built decades ago. Innovations in engineering have made modular homes more storm-resistant than site-built homes. Special cements and engineered materials used in modular home construction make them impressively resilient through strong winds and storms.

When severe storms and flooding hit an area and completely devastate a community, rebuilding a traditional frame house takes longer than a specially designed modular home. Even multi-story modular homes with porches, decks and more than one garage are built faster. Modular home designs have evolved over the years to withstand hurricane force winds while still being quick to construct off-site and securely built on-site when the property is ready.

Hurricane survivors across the country who rode out storms in their modular homes have been interviewed and say they didn’t even feel their house shake when windows were blown out from strong winds and their neighbors’ homes were leveled. Homeowners that survived hurricanes while staying in their modular homes found that while windows broke and debris littered their home, all walls, ceilings and furniture remained intact. Homes by Vanderbilt customizes modular homes for buyers, fits the designs to their tastes, uses eco-friendly materials, and ensures that construction meets the latest hurricane codes. FEMA released a statement after a Category 4 hurricane hit Florida and said that the structural integrity of modular homes “performed much better than conventional residential housing.”

If you’re looking for a new modular home, then it might be time to visit Homes by Vanderbuilt‘s green site XtremeGreenHomes.com.

First Day of Hurricane Season 2012

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June 1st marks the first day of the hurricane season. The season runs through November 30th, 2012.

All Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coastal areas are subject to hurricanes. They can cause catastrophic damage to coastlines and several hundred miles inland, so it is important to be prepared and have a plan in place for you and your family.

Homes by Vanderbuilt wants to remind everyone of these basic hurricane preparedness measures:

  • Create an emergency kit with first aid supplies.
  • Make a family communications plan.
  • Know your surroundings.
  • Learn the elevation level of your property and whether the land is flood-prone.
  • Identify levees and dams in your area and determine whether they pose a hazard to you.
  • Learn community hurricane evacuation routes and how to find higher ground. Determine where you would go and how you would get there if you needed to evacuate.
  • Cover all of your home’s windows.
  • Be sure trees and shrubs around your home are well trimmed to help prevent debris.
  • Reinforce your garage doors. If wind enters a garage it can cause structural damage.
  • Bring all outdoor furniture, decorations, garbage cans, and kids toys indoors.
  • Install a generator for emergencies.

Tornado Remnants from Tropical Storm Beryl Threaten NC Homes

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According to the Associated Press, remnants of Tropical Storm Beryl have spun off a tornado that destroyed three homes and damaged dozens of others near the North Carolina coast today. Though no injuries have been reported, the storm is a reminder that hurricane season is upon us.
Tropical Storm Beryl

While no home can completely guarantee your safety from tornadoes or hurricanes, Homes by Vanderbuilt wants to remind folks to always seek shelter during a storm. If your area is under a tornado warning, seek shelter immediately! Most injuries associated with high winds are from flying debris.

Modular Homes Withstand Hurricanes

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Modular homes used to have a reputation for not being safe during hurricanes. However, modern modular homes must conform to new building regulations required by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Homes by Vanderbuilt builds modular homes with stronger designs and materials that withstand hurricanes and high winds. HUD building codes now make it necessary for modular homes to sustain hurricane-force winds.

Hurricane IreneModular homes shown in the media after devastating hurricanes are usually in pieces, but what the media fails to report is that the fatalities associated with modular homes are only from ones that were built decades ago before the new building codes were created. Residents who survived severe hurricanes in newer prefabricated homes reported minor damage, like shingle loss. Over the past few decades, construction materials are also stronger and special products are designed specifically to withstand high winds. Homes by Vanderbuilt uses modular home designs and materials that fit the codes while being customizable to fit buyers’ personal tastes.

Traditionally constructed site-built homes have the same strength as today’s modular models from Homes by Vanderbuilt. Some reports show that pre-fabricated homes may be even stronger since they are built with almost thirty percent more materials and require more resilient ground attachments in their foundation. Special modular home designs redirect winds around the home, limiting the damage to the property and better protecting residents inside. Also, each section is created individually and able to withstand the stresses of distribution and delivery, something that standard residential frame-built homes don’t offer.

Home buyers looking for affordable housing trends are usually savvy enough to know about HUD’s national building requirement codes. With so many educated buyers, the modular home industry’s outdated reputation for being weak during storms is starting to dissolve. These savvy home buyers get to take advantage of design versatility available through Homes by Vanderbuilt, which engineers each modular home to code and makes them able to sustain hurricane-force winds. Not only that, but modular building systems available from Homes by Vanderbuilt also provide eco-friendly construction material choices, which limit energy loss and save homeowners money over time.

Pre-fabricated home layouts from Homes by Vanderbuilt are strong enough to offer protection during hurricanes; however everyone should know that it is not safe to remain inside any home if it’s in the direct path of a high category hurricane. Always trust local evacuation warnings and find safe shelter away from a severe storm’s direct path.