What is the name of Florida’s first hurricane-proof town?
Hurricanes are storms that can cause lots of destruction. When Hurricane Ian made landfall on the southwest Florida coast in September 2022, it caused lots of damage.
But guess what? There's a town called Babcock Ranch in southwest Florida, USA. It didn't get much damage from the hurricane because of its design. This is Florida’s first hurricane-proof town.
How was the town made hurricane-proof?
Babcock Ranch opened in 2018. It's a pretty town with lots of careful planning. There are community pools in the town where residents can gather. These pools also work as retaining ponds that protect the houses from flooding. The streets are made to absorb extra rainwater.
The town’s community hall also functions as a storm shelter. The town is powered by solar panels. So, even during Hurricane Ian, the town had electricity, internet, and clean water.
Building the town took years of planning. The planning team discovered the land's natural flow routes - the route water would move through during heavy rainfall. The town was built around them. This helped preserve the surrounding wetlands, which can absorb rainwater. These wetlands can hold rainwater and prevent floods.
When it rains a lot, the wetlands get full, but the water goes to a nearby river, preventing floods. Babcock Ranch is also located 30 feet above sea level, which protects it against storms.
Other developers should learn from Babcock Ranch and build safe places like this to face minimal storm damage.
