Located just a few feet from the ocean, this ICF home in New Jersey withstood the full fury of Superstorm Sandy’s terrifying winds and pounding waves. It’s hipped on all four sides for maximum wind deflection, and trusses were placed 16″ on center for additional strength. The roof is engineered to withstand 250-mph winds. In this case, the site is exposed to high tides and “open water high wind potential.” Russell studied the charts, then built the slab 12″ higher than the anticipated maximum 100-year flood height. The site has a FEMA”D” rating, meaning there are “possible but undetermined” flood hazards. The house sits on a “Carolina Slab”-a CMU stemwall foundation extending several feet above grade, filled with dirt and topped with a concrete slab. He built with ICF and reinforced concrete, but he also made sure it was elevated well above the flood plain. When he planned his home near the coast between Daytona and Jacksonville, he took special care to ensure it was built to withstand the hurricane that would eventually come. Mike Russell is the Logix ICF territory manager for Florida. Contact your insurance company to check that they cover the area where you are considering buying.”Įlevated slabs keep living areas above the storm surge and are very compatible with ICF construction. Consult these maps and do your research on potential sites prior to committing. NOAA has released new color-coded maps which show where water surges may occur in the event of inclement weather.
Be cognizant of rising water levels and storm surges as insurance companies will no longer cover homes situated in flood zones. Prevention is Bestįor property owners seeking to build a home strong enough to withstand these events, the best option is to avoid flood-prone locations.Īmvic ICF reminds builders, “It’s all about location when it comes to picking the right site for your home. Tests have shown that wood stud walls can be destroyed by waves as small as 18 inches high, and not even concrete construction is immune. Additionally, the rushing water will turn uprooted trees, dumpsters, automobiles, and other debris into battering rams, demolishing everything in their path. The challenge is that water weighs approximately 1,700 pounds per cubic yard, which generates an incredible amount of force. Seismic waves (tsunamis) and massive rainstorms-such as Hurricane Harvey in Texas last year-can produce similar surges of water. Hit by Hurricane Irma, this ICF home stood above the storm surge and came through unscathed.
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