Hurricane season is upon us!
With the recent tropical storm Elsa that just went through the Sarasota area it is time to look at how much of a problem hurricanes and tropical storms are for Sarasota mobile homeowners.
Many times we hear that mobile homes are not as sturdy as single-family homes and when a hurricane comes the owner of the mobile home will kiss it goodbye as it will fly away in the wind.
But is that really true or is that a myth that has been told over and over?
Mobile homes are actually much more storm-resistant than most people give them credit for and we at The Mobile Home Dealer see just how well they hold up throughout storms each and every year.
Mobile homes have more stringent standards than regional and national building codes for traditional on-site built homes. This is due to the fact that additional factors are being considered while moving the structure. The Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI) is working hard to clear up the myths and negative stereotypes about mobile homes and inform the public that modern manufactured homes built after 1976 are subject to rigorous federal standards”.
“The standards for manufactured housing are subject to robust compliance and quality assurance regulations, sometimes more stringent than those for traditional site-built homes,” says Richard Jennison, President, and CEO of MHI. “The building materials in today’s manufactured home are the same as those used in site-built homes. The homes are engineered for wind safety based on the geographic region in which they are sold.”
In other parts of the country where hurricanes are not a problem, mobile homes are built to withstand winds up to 136 miles per hour.
Most mobile homes throughout the Sarasota area have what are called hurricane tie-downs attached to the home itself. When properly installed and maintained mobile home hurricane tie-downs will keep your home safe and level throughout an upcoming storm.
Mobile home tie-downs are large metal rids that will help prevent the high winds from a hurricane from lifting or moving your mobile home off of its concrete pad. The anchors (also knowns as straps) are driven deep into the ground and anchor your mobile home so that it stays safe and sound throughout the storm season. Pending on what type of soil condition your home sits on will determine what type of tie-down is used but, generally speaking, an auger anchor is the most common material that is used. These tie-downs are put on all four corners of your mobile home itself and many times they are added to the front, sides, and rear of your carport as well.
Tie-downs come in two forms and are easy to tell when looking at a mobile home which type of tie-down your home has.
The most common tie-down that you will see in Sarasota is the over-the-top tie-down system. This system is one of the originals that helps keep mobile homes safe from the high winds of hurricanes and can be seen when looking at a mobile home by seeing that the end of the tie-down strap hangs down under the home.
Frame anchors are also used as a hurricane tie-down and are usually used on newer models of mobile homes. This is not nearly as common in the Sarasota area as the average age of a mobile home in and around Sarasota County is 1979.
Mobile Home in Florida
Update: “Florida law requires all mobile homes to be anchored with hurricane straps.
Aside from tie-downs, there are also safety measures that can help mobile homeowners stay safe during the hurricane. This includes keeping the surrounding areas of your mobile home free from other things like a portable carport and other things that may be attached to your house. These things can damage your house or your neighbors’ houses when hit by a strong wind. Make sure the exterior wall of your mobile home is clear of all debris that could cause damage to your or your neighbors’ homes.
If you are not convinced by the above safety measures, buying mobile home insurance can give you peace of mind. Mobile home insurance can cover not only storm damage but also fire and other physical destructions, legal liabilities, and other unforeseen damages based on different circumstances.
Mobile Homes Facts
- Mobile homes provide affordable and quality homes for more than 22 million low-to-moderate-income Americans.
- $26,000 is the median annual household income of mobile homeowners
- Mobile homes represent 7.3 percent of all the US occupied housing units
- Based on US Census data, mobile homes have an average square foot cost of $44, far cheaper than $94 per square foot of traditional homes.
When purchasing a mobile home feel confident that the common belief that mobile homes will just “blow away” during a hurricane is simply not true. Mobile homes with tie-downs are safe and sound and will hold up well to most hurricanes that pass through the Sarasota area!
The Mobile Home Dealer are licensed mobile home broker in Sarasota Florida and the surrounding areas. We provide professional buy and/or sell assistance to our clients. If you have any questions, please get in touch with us by clicking this link. You may also visit our Facebook Page and send us a message.
This is Mark Kaiser from The Mobile Home Dealer and we help mobile home Buyers and Sellers get to a better place in life.
See Also:
- Three Tips For Sarasota Mobile Home Owners During Hurricane Season!
- Want More Money? Sell Your Sarasota Mobile Home Fully Furnished!
- Frustrated At Real Estate Prices In Sarasota? Look At Buying A Mobile Home!
- How Much Can Lot Rent Increase In A Sarasota Florida Mobile Home Park?
- Just Get Denied For Residency At A Sarasota Mobile Home Park?