Name: How This Florida Town Survived Hurricanes Irma, Ian, Helene, and Milton
Uploaded: 2025-06-27T04:01:00Z
Duration: 7 min 16 s
Description: At Babcock Ranch, the roads are designed to flood during a hurricane. The town’s engineer explains how this and other hidden tactics keep the town safe even during a hundred-year storm.

https://www.barrons.com/client

Topics

Memberships

Tools

Customer Service

Network

Newsstand

For Business

For Education

For Advertisers

Account

About Barron's

bolded

unBolded

Under CEO Cristiano Amon, semiconductor company Qualcomm is bringing its technology to multiple industries. This conversation was recorded on May 28, 2025.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20250717/f95245f1-1b2d-453e-a058-30d6a835822a/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

Qualcomm CEO Shares the Company's Disruption Strategy

That's according to Okta CEO Todd McKinnon, who also spoke about how the company's name is tied to pilots and why flexibility is a core aspect of Okta's business.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20250710/d3fadd54-0fc6-4961-a2c0-0d858131e3c7/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

Why Okta Wants 'Authentication to Disappear'

Dr. Robert Grossman, CEO of NYU Langone Health, which has consistently ranked as one of the best hospitals in the nation. talked about the Trump administration's plans to significantly cut the budget of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

https://m.wsj.net/video/20250715/02e28b09-0b7e-4a48-8227-6dbbb42d9598/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

NYU Langone CEO on NIH Cuts: 'That Takes a Scalpel, Not a Sledgehammer'

Though quality of care is excellent in the U.S., access to care needs to be improved, said Dr. Robert Grossman, CEO of NYU Langone Health, which has consistently ranked as one of the best hospitals in the nation.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20250715/fc3563ea-508b-4d6d-b32a-a77f939c6e5b/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

NYU Langone CEO Says This Can Help the U.S. Government Fix Healthcare

Dr. Robert Grossman, CEO of NYU Langone Health, spoke to At Barron's about how the health system has transformed and changes he made along the way.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20250703/c25a5233-a5a6-48c9-bf10-ea3948ab7d7b/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

How This Massive NYC Health System Changed Its Business Model

"The economic implications for the U.S. are profound," said Greg Case, CEO of Aon.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20250709/57231b7d-6d25-4c2e-ae5c-f0b6a6299196/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

Why Aon's CEO Is Betting on GLP-1 and Other Weight-Loss Meds

"It creates opportunity, which is terrific, but it also creates volatility," said Greg Case, CEO of Aon, talking about the connectivity and complexity underpinning today's business environment.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20250709/c5c85274-4515-484f-8cf4-2a6b3056b927/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

Why Aon's CEO Thinks Volatility Isn't Going Anywhere

Greg Case, CEO of Aon, explains 4 causes of global volatility the risk manager helps clients navigate.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20250626/65d52c3a-2940-4439-acfa-78e7f53dde15/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

4 Megatrends That Cause Volatility in the World: Aon CEO

Scott Bok, the former board chair of the University of Pennsylvania, breaks down the financial risks and implications that come with removing tax-exempt status from colleges and universities.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20250709/c8469d5c-8f50-48fd-acb8-97f3b510ea21/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

Taking Away Tax-Exempt Status: A “Nuclear Weapon Against Universities”

At Barron's

Saira Malik, chief investment officer of Nuveen, makes the case for more gains in 2023.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20230925/4d8aa5ee-77aa-4400-884b-1fafeff893ec/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

S&P 4700?

David Bailin, chief investment officer of Citi Global Wealth, offers his take on the latest IPO activity and what it says about the strength of capital markets.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20230925/5f4d4a28-d83a-40e3-ad94-28bc25b1c3bc/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

IPOs: Making a Comeback

Chris Harvey, head of equity strategy at Wells Fargo Securities, explains what would make him more bullish on stocks and when he sees a Fed rate cut coming.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20230918/1f534ddf-5da9-4d1d-9926-fda63e90468e/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

Cuts on the Horizon?

Tom Kennedy, chief investment strategist for J.P. Morgan Global Wealth Management, explains why he thinks concerns around a slowdown in China are overblown.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20230918/09304272-5f0c-49df-892a-3a3d4622c9c3/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

Evaluating China Risk

Liz Young, head of investment strategy at SoFi, discusses how market moving the August inflation data could be.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20230911/50b8c6b4-8fd3-4d6f-adff-dd0a024a57d7/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

Inflation in the Spotlight

Lindsey Piegza, chief economist at Stifel, offers her take on the biggest risks to the economy right now.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20230911/cac885e4-b322-40f8-876c-ebd443fe9d29/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

Assessing Economic Headwinds 

Dan Ives, managing director and senior equity analyst at Wedbush Securities, explains why he thinks Apple will continue to be a market leader.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20230905/1a48f030-5a5a-401c-a571-ec9115a0155e/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

Prove-me Moment

Ross Mayfield, investment strategy analyst at Baird, highlights bullish catalysts that could drive the market higher between now and year-end.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20230905/729974df-4594-4fc6-a385-5457b1d87e32/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

Gearing up for a Rally

Matthew Luzzetti, chief U.S. economist at Deutsche Bank, discusses what’s next for the Federal Reserve and the economy.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20230501/7264fcc9-eea9-4d99-b839-4cd4c20500c9/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

Recession Ahead 

MarketBrief | Clips

MarketBrief Clips

David Bailin of Citi Global Wealth and Saira Malik of Nuveen debate the probability of a recession and discuss where they’re finding opportunities in equities and fixed income.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20230925/a61dd831-40b8-4727-934f-077d2b880711/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

Investing in a Slowing Economy 

Take stock of your investments in less than 10 minutes with new show from Barron’s and MarketWatch.

Chris Harvey of Wells Fargo Securities explains why he believes the Federal Reserve is done hiking interest rates while J.P. Morgan Global Wealth Management’s Tom Kennedy makes the case for multi-asset investing.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20230918/84e9a4a4-4e50-4b7b-934c-9a532f9803fc/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

Rate Hikes in the Rearview?

Lindsey Piegza of Stifel discusses the upside risks for inflation while SoFi’s Liz Young explains why she’s cautious on the market through year-end.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20230911/395ecb74-e349-45b0-a6b8-f91b8874aaf8/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

Pricing Pressure & Frothy Valuations

Baird’s Ross Mayfield makes the case for a better than expected September for stocks while Dan Ives of Wedbush Securities explains why big tech can rally another 15%.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20230905/156bf778-e13d-41ef-b750-55e2ef1c0162/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

September to Remember? 

Kristen Bitterly of Citi Global Wealth Management explains why the strong start to the year is nothing more than a bear market rally while Eric Winograd of AllianceBernstein offers his outlook for the Fed, inflation, and the labor market.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20230220/ae07e591-f017-4e82-babb-c80144e7d42f/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

Time to be Skeptical?

Anastasia Amoroso of iCapital explains why she thinks the stock market rally is nearing a ceiling while U.S. Bank Wealth Management’s Lisa Erickson discusses where she’s finding investment opportunities in an uncertain environment.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20230213/61be15a3-f5ac-4a25-b944-edd15e605e30/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

Hitting a Wall

Jack Manley of J.P. Morgan Asset Management explains why now is the time to leg back into risk assets while BlackRock’s Rick Rieder offers his top fixed income opportunities.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20230206/0be0daa9-d29a-4350-b277-a9ee6ed9a2ea/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

Two Ways to Play

Amid impressive January gains, Cameron Dawson of New Edge Wealth discusses how she’s positioning her portfolio and Mark Zandi of Moody's Analytics explains why he thinks the economy can still avoid a recession.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20230130/a8c37d62-592b-4830-9466-65c3824205fe/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

Gauging Upside Potential

Mike Schumacher of Wells Fargo Securities explains why he’s nervous about stagflation while Sylvia Jablonski of Defiance Investments offers her top portfolio picks.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20230123/1e752a76-b7d4-4802-821a-837d6176f979/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

Wall Street’s Biggest Risk

MarketBrief | Full Episodes

MarketBrief Full Episodes

After 10 straight hikes, the central bank switched gears and opted to keep rates steady. But that doesn't mean the Fed's inflation fight is over.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20230616/9dce6e5c-4c62-4aa6-b432-d3407ac41aea/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

The Fed's Rate Pause, Explained

A publicly traded company can increase it's number of shares available by splitting its stock. Here's why companies may do it and how it affects investors.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20221115/f37dedad-4403-4f6d-bd22-067d0fb148df/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

Stock Splits Are Big This Year. Here's What They Mean for Investors.

Here's why a publicly traded company may decide to go private and what it means for its shareholders.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20221025/9fb3fa20-e2ac-485b-aa4d-8fcf3ebd3151/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

What Happens When a Stock Goes Private?

What Happens When a Public Company Goes Private?

When saving for retirement, there are many different accounts and tax strategies to consider. Here's how to tell if a Roth IRA conversion could be right for you.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20221021/624f992c-db58-4144-93cc-b888c6948059/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

What to Know About Roth IRA Conversions

As recession fears loom, here are three ways investors can prepare and protect their portfolios.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20221020/5d94fa79-7b6d-4c51-8ac7-8c523c99d487/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

Preparing Your Portfolio for a Recession

Retiring abroad could lower your cost of living, so you can make your savings go further in your golden years. But a permanent move to a new country could be more complicated than you think. Here's what you should know.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20220823/7a028383-44a0-4957-a070-0018f046ec97/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

Thinking Of Retiring Abroad? Here's What to Consider.

Billionaire-backed space companies have made space tourism a reality. How to participate in a potential private-sector space boom.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20220818/99bac587-9be5-48e6-9376-48f3bb8d55cf/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

How To Invest In Space Tourism

When you hear the words 'electric vehicle', you might immediately think 'Tesla'. But as more automakers enter the EV competition, Tesla might have trouble holding its lead. Here's what investors need to know.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20220722/111776c7-d9d2-4cd2-8194-4c58b0cb7e57/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

Is Tesla Miles Ahead of Others in the Electric Vehicle Race?

Chinese tech company DiDi Global, which runs a ride-sharing app, has announced it plans to delist from the New York Stock Exchange. Investors are watching and waiting to see what other Chinese giants with U.S. listings, like Alibaba and JD.com, will do. Here's what delisting entails.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20220722/eacf026e-7303-4eb7-80ab-3e2344e2b120/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

What Happens When a Stock Delists?

Barron's Explains

CEO Cristiano Amon has a plan to shrink Qualcomm’s reliance on phones and grow its role in AI, cars, and beyond. Investors are skeptical—should they be?

https://m.wsj.net/video/20241127/99579ccd-a5c1-4acc-ac31-32469f7d8b1c/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

What's Next for Qualcomm?

On the Barron's Streetwise Podcast, Barron’s senior writer Al Root sits down with Jack Hough to discuss Toyota’s recent success with hybrids, the coolest cars at the New York Auto Show, and what’s ahead for Tesla stock.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20240329/f163bbd7-0cb6-4c6f-b7f9-a85ae5cd2553/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

Is Electric Vehicle Demand Cooling Off? 

On the Barron’s Streetwise podcast, Rystad Energy’s Alexandre Ramos Peon discusses how U.S. oil producers have boosted profitability and production despite fewer wells.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20240326/0a4b30c7-379c-460f-abc3-838a7f1eb1a9/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

The Outlook for Oil

On the Barron’s Streetwise Podcast, Jack Hough pushes back against one of Bitcoin’s most popular valuation models.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20240318/b38cc34a-5064-4a6a-a47c-4c855de11973/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

Bitcoin as 'Digital Gold' 

On the Barron’s Streetwise podcast, Raphael Zagury of Swan Bitcoin shares his bitcoin price model with Associate Editor Jack Hough.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20240312/c0acb0bf-e4e3-46ca-8fd5-13af6fa401e5/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

The $600,000 Case for Bitcoin

Kathy Jones, Chief Fixed Income Strategist at Schwab, says it might not matter. Plus, the outlook for yields and the national debt.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20240305/0505813c-e38b-47cb-ade2-e7c3aff68dbd/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

Bond Funds or Individual Bonds?

Brian Niccol on developing new customer favorites, taking menu tips from TikTok, and the outlook for growing the business.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20230725/dec91556-4dbe-49e6-85d9-ed0e8233ac02/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

Chipotle's CEO on How He Plans to Double the Business. Again.

Jim Farley on competing with Tesla, and why Ford is favoring Level 3 autonomy over full self-driving capability.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20230519/9aa4288a-39a1-4fb8-8b9d-3be0c58adc18/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

Ford CEO On the Outlook for EVs and Robo Cars

J.P. Morgan Asset Management's David Kelly says inflation is like a rollercoaster: It will come down again.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20230505/5d8d3d70-598d-4ee4-a76e-21381c911e40/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

Inflation, Attractive Bonds, and Value Abroad

Barron's Streetwise

Stocks are expensive, risks abound, and AI is about to change the world. Other than that, building a calamity-proof retirement portfolio should be a cinch. Tune in as two veteran money managers size up the markets and share their investment ideas.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20250211/17a5e7d6-7c36-44b0-a35e-bf5ac3a24194/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

Saving for a Sunny Day

Research shows that people greatly underestimate the healthcare costs they’ll face in retirement. Learn from experts how to estimate those costs, prepare for potential long-term care needs, and manage healthcare expenses in retirement.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20250211/e7c022d9-badf-4e95-8e7c-0b6fce9f7823/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

Are You Fiscally Fit?

Surging power demand, new energy sources, and growing competition have spurred the utility industry to become more innovative than ever before. Our panelists will unpack the changes afoot and explore what lies ahead for companies, customers, and investors.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20240917/001ea098-1fcc-4da5-9f0e-a3b149bbb2fb/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

Not Your Father's Utility

Modernizing America's grid will take creativity and money -- lots of money. Learn how players across the power sector can achieve their electrification goals and serve new customers without breaking the bank for consumers.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20240917/bd6bd43a-bb07-4b7f-9d1c-6ae04220bea9/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

Ready for a Revamp?

The launch this year of Bitcoin ETFs has made it easier for investors to buy and trade the cryptocurrency. But is that a wise move, and if so, how much crypto should you own?

https://m.wsj.net/video/20240529/cbb77f15-ef70-445d-85ae-5f02c24ea1ef/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

Investing in Cryptocurrencies

Bitcoin and other digital currencies reside on software networks that aim to revolutionize everything from finance to art. Barron's talks to industry experts about the outlook for blockchain technology and its potential uses.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20240529/8f60a5ea-6de4-4c3c-b7c2-12b11aaa99f3/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

Is Crypto Really a Game-Changer?

Persistent inflation means retirement savings don't go as far as they once did. We discuss the best inflation hedges, and how retirees can benefit from higher-for-longer interest rates.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20240429/69577ad6-cbaf-4d34-96f1-c42136e26aa2/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

Protecting Your Nest Egg from Rising Prices

The impact of inflation is felt unevenly across the economy and markets. Learn which industries, and companies do best in a “sticky” inflation era, and how fixed income, alternative assets, and gold can help investors hedge against further price growth.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20240429/bfee3cb8-715f-4323-929f-43a73fd58877/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

Don’t Trim Your Inflation Hedges

Science, tech, and better healthcare delivery are helping people live longer and improving quality of life. Two healthcare investment experts tell us about some of the most promising developments in medicine, and the companies behind them.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20240305/33bed2b1-bdef-401f-bb72-18f7a43f2548/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

Longevity: An Investor's Playbook

Barron's Roundtable

Barron's Advisor The Way Forward

Investing in Tech

Barron's Investing in Tech Clips

A Better Economy & Wealth Gap Events

Wealth Gap

Level Up

Barron's Events

Back to Business

Great Investors

MarketWatch

Video Center - Barron's home

At Babcock Ranch, the roads are designed to flood during a hurricane. The town’s engineer explains how this and other hidden tactics keep the town safe even during a hundred-year storm. Photo Illustration: MacKenzie Coffman

https://m.wsj.net/video/20250707/1e02f3c8-573b-456f-8e26-60b35539b549/2/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

At Babcock Ranch, the roads are designed to flood during a hurricane. The town’s engineer explains how this and other hidden tactics keep the town safe even during a hundred-year storm.

How This Florida Town Survived Hurricanes Irma, Ian, Helene, and Milton

Narrator: Of the 15 most damaging hurricanes in US history, only two were category five.

Hurricane categories are based on wind speeds and only wind speeds.

Narrator: But what often creates the most damage is water.

Amy: Given all of the new codes, most homes can really survive category five winds, however, they can also float away fully intact.

Narrator: Yet, this one town, Babcock Ranch, has been hit by four hurricanes and basically came out unscathed.

There was no flooding at all.

Narrator: So, we asked the engineer who helped build this town to break down its hidden designs. Here's Babcock Ranch from above with Fort Myers and Cape Coral nearby. For a lot of the surrounding areas...

Everything is developed very grid-like, which is traditional because it utilizes the land the best.

Narrator: But this type of development doesn't always consider how nearby wetlands expand and absorb excess flood water.

Amy: You do have a waterway that flows right through here. These areas that used to act as a sponge are, kind of, all taken up by development and so these areas are very prone to flooding.

Narrator: Babcock Ranch took a different approach. These photos show part of the ranch before and after it was developed. All the dark patches are wetlands and you can see how the ranch was built around them, leaving some areas where they'll flood and connect untouched.

It was very important to us to utilize the existing water systems.

Narrator: But it didn't just leave these systems intact, Babcock Ranch also mimicked them. To do this, they turned the ponds and lakes into a network of bowls.

So the way the entire system is designed is each of these lakes acts like a very bottom of a bowl and the rest of the system is built up around the edges of the bowl and it sits a little bit higher, so you have the houses at the highest point, and the houses, the water falls off of it, and it goes down into the bowl.

Narrator: Each bowl is connected through a series of pipes underground, that way if one lake fills up, it won't spill over, it'll just drain to a different bowl with more capacity. Then if there's a blockage, all these extra pipes help ensure the water keeps flowing and Babcock system lets them control the water levels, allowing them to drain the bowls before hurricanes to accommodate the extra water, which is eventually discharged down to the river.

There is a ditch that runs right through the middle of the property and all the way out to the river here. Traditional design would say to move the water through that ditch as fast as possible. What we've done at Babcock is we've allowed that water to come out to the fringes of the development and fill in this entire area.

Narrator: Slowing the water down lets the wetlands absorb some of the water, preventing an onslaught of storm water from inundating the river and surrounding areas. The next key to managing hurricane flooding is elevation. Babcock Ranch's natural elevation ranged from 12 to 38 feet.

So, generally anything that falls within the development footprint overall was elevated.

Narrator: But certain areas of the town were elevated higher than others, directing water towards specific collection points.

Amy: The smaller roads were elevated by about three and a half feet, the larger roads were elevated by approximately four and a half feet, and then any of the homes were elevated by about five feet.

Narrator: Now, the majority of the community is at or above 30 feet. In a hundred year storm event, the ranch would face about 14 inches of rainfall and the water levels would rise by about four feet, and all of the homes on Babcock would be one foot above the water level, it's grocery store and some offices, two feet above it.

So if things were to be catastrophic, we want to be able to bounce back as quick as possible, so being able to go get your groceries, being able to go to work, those types of things need to be the first accessible places.

Narrator: But while all the buildings would be safe, the roads would be completely flooded by design.

At a certain point, they're going to go underwater 'cause they were what was built the lowest. We can intentionally use those roads to help direct the flow, to allow the water to connect between the lake and the roads away from the homes and the structures.

Narrator: But much of the ranch's success also lies in its location. It's about 20 miles inland from Florida's west coast and that distance alone is enough to mostly protect it from the deadliest force in a hurricane, storm surge. As hurricanes move inland, they push a huge volume of water ashore at high speeds and with immense force.

Amy: It's going to pull the water from the Gulf and push it all the way inland this way.

Narrator: Take Hurricane Helene.

Amy: Hurricane Helene, kind of, took the path here and made landfall around the Keaton Beach/Steinhatchee area, where 80% of the buildings were completely destroyed from storm surge being 12 to 16 feet overall.

Narrator: But as a storm moves inland...

Amy: So a nine foot storm surge on the beach, for example, would get up to the rafters in the house. What you'll see is a nine foot storm surge here is only a three foot storm surge here.

Narrator: Florida's coastline is lined with mangroves that act as a natural buffer, slowing down the storm surge and trapping debris.

Anything that's creating friction for that water is going to also help slow that water down.

Narrator: But far away from the dangers of the coast, rainfall still poses a significant threat. About 25% of hurricane deaths in the US occurred in inland counties.

As we've seen more and more storms that are exceeding a hundred year events, across the United States, it appears more and more likely that designing to a hundred year storm event is not going to be enough to keep a home from flooding over the course of its built life.

Narrator: There's a 1% chance every year that a 100-year storm event will happen and since Amy started working on this project.

We've seen three 100-year storm events.

Narrator: Hurricanes have cumulatively caused over 7,000 deaths and cost $1.5 trillion in damages since 1980, and Florida is one of the most vulnerable places in the country. So, while the current laws mandate many homes be built to withstand a hundred year event, some developers are building beyond the requirement, just look at Hunter's Point, a new coastal development. It was required to build at an elevation of 10 feet above the flood zone but instead, it was built 16 feet above it. So during Hurricane Helene, the streets flooded but the homes remained dry. Each one that sold has gone for upwards of a million dollars.

Amy: There is a larger push from people who have experienced flooding situations to purchase those types of homes. I think, ultimately, we can prevent the amount of destruction that we've been seeing with hurricanes. People are going to want to move to Florida no matter what, we're prepared to be more resilient and move on quicker, and that's a big part of making sure that we're developing responsibly if we are going to develop an area that is subject to such extreme events.

The Hidden Engineering Behind the ‘Hurricane-Proof’ Florida Town

Each episode of Pro Perfected uses a quintessential expert in the specific topic area to explain how they would perfect a common problem.

The Hidden Engineering Behind the ‘Hurricane-Proof’ Florida Town

Pro Perfected

Up Next

At Barron's

View All

MarketBrief Clips

View All

MarketBrief Full Episodes

View All

Barron's Explains

View All

Barron's Streetwise

View All

Barron's Roundtable

View All

Barron's Investing in Tech Clips

View All

Wealth Gap

View All

Level Up

View All

Barron's Events

View All

Back to Business

View All

Great Investors

View All

MarketWatch

View All