Comparison of MFH vs. Conventional tract home in Hurricane weather

[Pat Riley]

I spent the week-end in Port Charlotte and Punta Gorda, we took our set-up crew down to help put in temporary MH's for FEMA. Most of the severe destructiion was done to pre-1994 homes. There were lots of stick-frame site-built and concrete block stuctures that were total losses also. You don't even get a clue to the devistation from TV. When Mother Nature gets ugly you better run cause she carries a really big stick. The National Institutes of Science and Technology has stated that the new building codes for MFH after Andrew (ie1994) are 25% more stringent than that for site-built to the standard building code. And after, the Central Florida tornados in 1998 they increased our tie-down and anchor codes to make them the strongest of any in the country. No one can make you 100% safe but, today's manufactured housing is as well built if not better than site-built in many cases and is an affordable alternative to conventional housing. It is a shame that it can't throw off the "trailer" stigma.


Pat Riley,
Tradition Homes, LLC
Fort White, FL.

[John Arendsen]

We are licensed general and manufactured home contractors from California with over 30 years of hands on disaster response experience in earthquake, fire, flood, etc.type disasters. We will be in Palatka on 9/1/04 to take the installers 1 day training program and then on to Gainsville for the exam on the 3rd. Once licensed and properly bonded and insured we will be working with myriad insurance companies on the installation and replacement of new homes and the rehab and repair work on those that were damaged.

We have been asked to start in the Punta Gorda area, however, have been informed that living accomodations are in short supply. Do you have any suggestions as to where we may look for temporary housing for our crews. We will have access to RV's campers and travel trailers but need a place to set up camp. In California many of the cities involved in crisis management have, in the past, secured temporary locations for such occassions. We plan full mobilize to Florida between the st and 15th of October. Your feedback would be greatly apprecaited.

[Jackie]

Just curious. Are you in Florida? If so what area are you in? I am looking at a Mobile Home too as my landlord does not seem too interested in repairing the roof and ceiling of the house I live in now. Am researching wind zone requirements, etc. Thanks, Jackie

[Jackie]

Hello all,

I just stumbled across this site while looking for information on mobile homes now that I have to move out of my house. (Damage compliments of Charley) I am located in Sanford, Florida which is about 20 miles north of Orlando. I feel rather lucky when hearing how badly other areas were hit. While it will take this area many, many years to recover many of our homes are still standing. We had winds logged at the Sanford airport around 105 mph. There is a mobile home park not far from there and I have not heard of any massive destruction.

For those of you who have come or are still coming to help us.... Thank you. You don't realize how much we all take for granted everyday until you have to deal with stores that run out of certain foods, no electricity to run fans, a/c, refrigerators, etc. Waiting for word of mouth to know when the next delivery of fuel will be made at which gas station. The list goes on and on.

For those of you coming to help or coming to visit please be careful and come prepared. Mother Nature is NOT done with us yet this year. She is making up for a lot of calm years. Hurricane Frances is headed our way and most likely will hit some of us that haven't yet recovered from Charley. I am waiting till next week to see what is still left standing.

[Kristi]

what kind of winds will a old mfh stand up to????

[dawn warbington]

why do manufactured homes tend to loose value rather than gain equity like conventional homes. Is there no way to reclassify your manufactured home once it is placed on a permanent foundation?

[Debbie]

I live in northern California and the price of homes here is ridiculous. I am looking at mfg. homes. I am trying to figure out if I would be throwing money away by doing this? Mfg. housing seems to do better in the southeast. I am wondering if anyonw has any idea of how they do here?

Thanks!