What Brands Did Charley Destroyed?

[Karen]

We all have seen the devasation that hurricane Charley did to the mobile homes community in Florida. I can imagine the devasation and angst the people who lost their homes are going through. Does anyone know what brands were mostly destroyed and which one withstand the storm?

I thought with the federal and hud regulations, these homes were built to stand against the baddest storms, but I guess not. Time for the manufacturers to start working on a way to make the homes stronger.

[rmurray]

This has been the common bad press of the industry....Punta Gorta, Fl. has tens of thousands of manufactured homes.....Charlotte County, FL. has many tens of thousands of manufactured homes....Early in the reporting..CNN..FOX and others were reporting piles of bodies in manufactured home parks guarded by sheriffs....Day 2 I heard many reports of refrigerator trucks and scores of body bags being ordered to handle the bodies of those in manufactured home parks....

This morning...final official information...1 dead in any manufactured home in all of Charlotte county...he died of heart problems..in a damaged (broken windows) but not destroyed early 70's model manufactured (mobile) home...

This over exagration of the death toll and causes is similar to the reporting on manufactured homes...over done....

Finally 1 report ..buried and not covered very much...HUD has already inspected all 31 parks in Punta Gorta...the place of the direct hit..they announced that all home built since 1994 and the new wind zone requirements...have survived and there were NO total losses...the only total losses were pre 1994 built homes...most losses were pre 1976 built homes...Punta Gorta had thousands of 60's and early 70's homes still in use everyday..thousands of these still exist..

I work with Palm Harbor...our Florida division President visited a park directly on the Bay in Punta Gorta...mostly PH product...all recent models..all set to current codes...winds recorded in the park at 150 mph...NO destroyed homes...damage as one would expect from such winds and flying debris...even a trash can in this wind can do lot of damage....very few homes are unlivable...Scores..maybe many more folks expressing graditude to him about the quality of the homes...

To be fair...from what I have been able to find out...all post 94 models have done very well...All manufacturers in the state are probably represented there...there would be lots of Palm Harbor..Homes of Merit..Jacobsen..Fleetwood and many others..

[Dan Mehlman]

This is in response to what manufactored homes were damaged by Charley. We have a 2003 Fleetwood in El Jorbean which is in the northern part of Charlotte county. It has 2 pieces of sliding damage and a couple of shingles off. All the newer homes are okey, even the models that aren't tied down. However, the older section has quite a bit of damage. There is a lot of debris and aluminium all over from these older homes. All this was flying in the air from the winds. I am quite pleased with how well our home stood-up and in the overall quality of the house for the money you pay.

[Karen]

Thanks for the information. I was just looking to see who made the strongest manufactured home that can withstand a hurricane as strong as Charley. I wouldn't want to waste my money on something that will only live out a few storms and then it's gone. Thanks!

[Rick Johnson]

Dear Karen: It's just pure luck for which homes survived Charley. There were thousands of homes destroyed. Some were manufactured homes. I wonder why you didn't ask which "site' homes survived? The answer is simple, God only knows!

[rmurray]

Thanks for the direct report...I wish CNN..MSNBC and FOX would interview you..

Enjoy your home...

[David]

I can't remember which channel or network I was watching, but the reporter was talking about how so many mobile homes had been damaged or destroyed by the hurricane, yet the images on the screen as this guy spoke were of damaged/destroyed brick and concrete block structures. I never did see the mobile homes he was referring to.

And, for the first time in my life, I heard a reporter (or weather forecaster) use the term "manufactured home." It's usually "trailer," "trailer home," or "mobile home" that these TV people use.

[JohnnyJ]

Once more, it is time to say this about manufactured or site built homes:

If you are in the path of a hurricane or a tornadoe,.... NOTHING is going to
be very safe from a direct hit. The best protection you can take is to not
be there when your home is hit.

Most of the people left the area, and went to a safe place hundreds of miles
from where Charly made land fall. Having several days notice and good common
sense probably saved thousands of lives.

Here in the south, when we see tornadoes come in fast and furious with little
or no warning, we see an upswing in related deaths.

It does not matter what kind of home you are in when you get a direct hit
from a tornadoe on an F-4 to F-5 scale.

If you buy a home of any kind in an area prone for violent weather, then spend
a bit extra and put in an adequate storm shelter. It could be the most important
buy you have ever made.

good luck all

[Rick Johnson]

I would love nothing more than to be interviewed br CNN, MSNBC and others about what homes survive severe weather. They probably wouldn't want to hear the truth. Truth is, when a Hurricane or Tornado strikes an area, news hounds send reporters and photographers to manufactured home communities first! This is to maximize the sensationalism of destruction. What do you want? How many homes are placed in a community. They sell news. I live in a manufactured home. A good shelter and more important, common sense will go a long way. As far as the home? I love it.Rick Johnson