This is a grit-your-teeth issue every time a storm comes near, especially with the building boom in South Florida (Palm Beach, Broward, Miami-Dade Counties).
Before Hurricane Andrew hit in 1992, the region had not been impacted by a significant storm in years and there was a very lax attitude toward building codes. Many places built in the 1980s we’re not always constructed with the most sound practices [1], builders were taking shortcuts and local government turned a blind eye to the issue.
Andrew changed everyone’s thinking after the “new” neighborhood of CountryWalk was flattened [2]. Some of the strictest building codes in the nation were implemented — and enforced — after Andrew.
But the lax attitude has returned. For instance, in the past decade, I’ve seen new multi-level residential buildings constructed with wood (instead of concrete) above the second floor, wondering how such construction even receives approval given the building code.
But it is happening, and the majority non-native, transient population has no clue the overpriced real estate they’ve purchased may not be suited to handle a major storm. They will face a reckoning if this day ever comes.
I would advise anyone looking to buy down here to do your due diligence. Hire a good inspector and engineer to examine your potential purchase, as well as a lawyer to make sure all repairs or improvements were all done above board.
Before Hurricane Andrew hit in 1992, the region had not been impacted by a significant storm in years and there was a very lax attitude toward building codes. Many places built in the 1980s we’re not always constructed with the most sound practices [1], builders were taking shortcuts and local government turned a blind eye to the issue.
Andrew changed everyone’s thinking after the “new” neighborhood of CountryWalk was flattened [2]. Some of the strictest building codes in the nation were implemented — and enforced — after Andrew.
But the lax attitude has returned. For instance, in the past decade, I’ve seen new multi-level residential buildings constructed with wood (instead of concrete) above the second floor, wondering how such construction even receives approval given the building code.
But it is happening, and the majority non-native, transient population has no clue the overpriced real estate they’ve purchased may not be suited to handle a major storm. They will face a reckoning if this day ever comes.
I would advise anyone looking to buy down here to do your due diligence. Hire a good inspector and engineer to examine your potential purchase, as well as a lawyer to make sure all repairs or improvements were all done above board.
[1] https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/...
[2] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Country_Walk,_Florida#Histor...