The number one question I get after every hurricane is something along the lines of “How did the communities listed on your site do?”
So I thought this time around I'd ask the question and let the communities speak for themselves. I'll be updating this article as I hear back from others, but the long and short is, everyone did great.
That may come as a shock to some of you glued to the news, but remember, most of the communities on this site are new communities. Florida has enacted some of the toughest building codes in the country, and they get more stringent every couple of years, so these places are rock solid.
The damage you typically see on the news is most often at older homes and communities, built well before the 1990’s and 2000’s when these new building code changes were made.
Here's how the following communities fared:
Babcock Ranch – (Near Punta Gorda)
“Ian failed. Helene failed. Now Milton failed too! Babcock Ranch did not lose power or internet. Minimal damage and business as usual the day after our latest hurricane. Hope everyone else is safe.”
– Jim Cohen, Singurealty
60 minutes covered Babcock Ranch after Hurricane Ian a few years ago:
GL Homes – Multiple Locations
GL Homes is building their “Valencia” 55+ communities throughout the state, including in Wesley Chapel (Valencia Ridge), Naples (Valencia Trails), Boynton Beach (Valencia Grand), and Port St. Lucie (Valencia at Riverland).
“Because GL Homes was founded and only builds homes in Florida, all of our homes are specifically designed to thrive in this unique tropical region. From sturdy concrete block construction and energy-efficient materials to distinctive architectural designs and maximizing outdoor living spaces, GL Homes knows Florida better than anyone.
With over 45 years of Florida construction experience, we have continually improved and advanced our construction plans to meet Florida’s exceptional tropical environment. Many of our land development and construction plans and policies exceed what is required by municipal building codes. That means GL homes are among the most advanced new residences available. We are pleased to report that our communities experienced little or no damage from the recent hurricanes that hit Florida.
All of our sales offices and models, including our 55+ Valencia communities, are open.“
Neal Communities – Multiple Locations
Neal Communities builds 55+ and all-ages communities throughout Southwest Florida, including Englewood (Boca Royale Golf & Country Club), Venice (Grand Palm), Port Charlotte (Kings Gate), Fort Myers (Verandah), and Naples (SkySail).
“As Southwest Florida’s largest and most established locally owned and operated builder, we understand the importance of having a home you can rely on during extreme weather. All Neal Communities homes are built with the safety of our homeowners as one of our top priorities. Despite several of our communities lying in Hurricane Milton’s path, we are happy to report that our communities made it through with no substantial damages and received power back quickly following the storm.
All of our sales centers are open and our team is ready to serve you. We can’t wait to welcome you home.”
On Top of the World – Ocala
As we've covered before, Ocala is one of Florida's most hurricane-resilient cities, according to a Wall Street Journal study.
“On Top of the World’s diligent land development and infrastructure practices are a top priority for us and as a result, the many retention areas within the community did their job to ensure the heavy rains as a result of Milton were contained. These careful practices ensured that no flooding affected homes or roadways.
The community was also well-prepared in advance of Milton ensuring any debris from yard waste or tree trimming was removed, and maintenance crews arrived onsite early Thursday morning to clear up any debris that may have resulted from the storm to ensure the community roads were clear for residents travel.
Water and wastewater utilities remained fully functional throughout the storm thanks to onsite utility Bay Laurel Center Community Development District. BLCCDD staff spent the night on property, as they do in any storm-related event, to address any concerns that may occur and to ensure water utilities remain operational for resident use.
In addition, no power outages were reported in any OTOW neighborhoods throughout the storm.“
Parkway Preserve – Fort Myers
Parkway Preserve offers stylish 1-story villas and spacious 2-story townhomes with both 55+ and all-ages options available.
“All is good and Parkway was not affected whatsoever thankfully! We are located in a non-flood zone east of I-75 and all of our homes are built using hurricane-resistant impact windows and doors.”
Villages of Citrus Hills
We've mentioned before how well the Villages of Citrus Hills weathered Hurricane Helene, despite being one of the closest communities to where the storm made landfall.
Here's their update after Hurricane Milton:
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