When Hurricane Ian tore through Southwest Florida in September 2022 with sustained winds of 150 mph and a 12-foot storm surge, it left a path of devastation.
Fort Myers, Cape Coral and nearby communities saw widespread destruction—downed power lines, collapsed roofs and flooded streets. But just 12 miles inland, a planned community called Babcock Ranch weathered the storm with minimal damage and virtually no interruption to essential services, The New York Times reported.
The difference? Babcock Ranch was purpose-built with resilience in mind.
Designed as a model for sustainable development, Babcock Ranch incorporated hurricane resistance into nearly every aspect of its engineering and construction. Homes, utilities and public infrastructure were built to modern codes—or beyond them—with climate adaptation as a core priority.
Most homes at Babcock Ranch are built to Florida’s strict building codes, which were adopted after Hurricane Andrew crossed the peninsula in 1992. Additional features in the code include:
- Impact-resistant windows and reinforced roofing systems
- Elevated home pads above floodplain levels
- Underground power lines to reduce outage risks (CNN, 2022)
One of the community’s most striking advantages during Hurricane Ian was uninterrupted access to electricity. While much of the region lost power for days or even weeks, CNN reported that Babcock Ranch maintained power throughout the storm and its aftermath.
Two years later, when Hurricane Milton knocked out power to more than 3 million homes across Florida, the lights stayed on for Babcock Ranch’s 9,200 residents, while another 2,000 people from other communities sought refuge there, according to the New York Post.
The reliability of its electric grid comes from an on-site solar power farm—one of the largest in the state—backed up by battery storage and smart grid technology. Even with heavy clouds and strong winds, the system remained operational.
The water and wastewater treatment facilities also stayed fully functional. These systems are municipally managed but were deliberately sited above the floodplain and built with storm surge in mind. No boil-water notices were needed.
Planners didn’t just rely on hard infrastructure. Babcock Ranch’s layout includes over 50% preserved green space—wetlands, swales and natural buffers that help absorb floodwaters and reduce runoff. Roads are designed with drainage and grading strategies that keep water flowing away from structures. Even landscaping choices emphasize native species that can survive extreme weather with minimal maintenance.
For architects, engineers and builders serving Florida’s Gulf Coast, Babcock Ranch offers a clear example of how building for resilience can pay off. The big lessons include:
- Underground utilities may increase up-front costs but dramatically improve continuity of service during and after big storms.
- Elevated construction is essential, even for areas not technically in flood zones.
Site planning and stormwater management play equal roles alongside building code compliance. - Distributed renewable energy, when paired with battery storage, offers reliability in a grid-down scenario.
- Building techniques that harden homes and buildings against high winds greatly reduce property damage.
Best Supply’s experts can help you select the right materials for Florida’s weather-resilient construction. Request a quote here.
