FEMA Visits Hunters Point
This week, I had the pleasure of welcoming FEMA Deputy Administrator Victoria Salinas and her team to Hunters Point to show them why we’re setting a new standard for hurricane resilience and sustainable living. Here in Cortez, Florida, where storms are a familiar threat, we’ve built a community that not only stands strong in the face of hurricanes but generates more energy than it uses. This makes Hunters Point a model for what the future of storm-resistant, net-zero living can look like, even in the most challenging climates.
During their visit, we took a close look at the key features that set our community apart. First, the homes at Hunters Point are built to exceed Florida’s stringent building codes. Each residence sits elevated 16 feet above sea level to mitigate flood risks, and we’ve reinforced every structure with Simpson steel straps to secure against high winds. We’ve also embraced a unique flood management approach where streets are designed to hold floodwater temporarily, ensuring that homes stay dry even during the heaviest storms.
The tour also highlighted our energy infrastructure, which is truly a breakthrough. Every home at Hunters Point is equipped with Q.ANTUM solar panels and Sonnen battery storage, creating an interconnected, off-grid energy network. This means we produce sufficient energy for our community and contribute surplus power back to the grid. Our homes are effectively energy-independent, a critical advantage when storms disrupt regional power supplies.
In the spirit of sharing best practices, I showed the FEMA team how every design decision—from the spray foam insulation that maintains indoor temperatures to the flood-resistant garages and strategically buried power lines—contributes to both resilience and sustainability. The materials we use, like concrete-filled block foundations and FEMA-approved insulation, are carefully selected to enhance durability and reduce environmental impact. Our approach to modular construction minimizes waste and ensures every home is crafted with precision.
Hunters Point is more than a community; it’s a proof of concept for resilient living in hurricane-prone areas. As we walked through the neighborhood, it was clear that building stronger, greener homes is not just about surviving the next storm but about setting a new precedent in residential design. By opening our doors to FEMA and sharing our methods, we hope to inspire more communities to embrace the future of sustainable, resilient living.
- Marshall Gobuty, Founder and President of Hunters Point Pearl Homes and Marina
