You'd hardly know Hurricane Ian passed through Babcock Ranch, a community north of Fort Myers. But it wasn't luck that kept the homes unscathed — it was intentional, innovative design.
In 2018, Wilkerson became one of the first 100 residents of Babcock Ranch — an innovative community north of Fort Myers where homes are built to withstand the worst that Mother Nature can throw at them without being flooded out or losing electricity, water or the internet.
The community is located 30 miles inland to avoid coastal storm surges. Power lines to homes are all run underground, where they are shielded from high winds. Giant retaining ponds surround the development to protect houses from flooding. As a backup, streets are designed to absorb floodwaters and spare the houses.
Mark Wilkerson with his solar-powered golf cart. He was one of the first 100 people to move into Babcock Ranch.Mark Wilkerson with his solar-powered golf cart. He was one of the first 100 people to move into Babcock Ranch.Wilkerson says he and his wife moved here from Illinois."We'd almost been ready to build north of Tampa, on the Gulf," he says."And then the last hurricane came through and reminded me that ... I want to be in a place where I don't have to evacuate.
In fact, his house didn't even lose a shingle. That's the basic story of Babcock Ranch, post-Ian: Aside from a traffic light at the development's main entrance that's no longer there, a few street signs lying on the ground and some knocked-over palm trees, you'd hardly know that a hurricane came through.
Unfortunately, not so for many of the surrounding communities, where damaged structures and power outages have not been uncommon.Carlos Osorio for NPR
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