Teresa Fogolini of Punta Gorda, FL held the phone to her ear and listened in disbelief while her husband Jim Minardi described the step by step destruction of their 40-year-old home by Hurricane Charley. Jim was able to watch it all unfold from the relative safety of a neighbor’s house–safer since it was a new home built to modern building codes and designed to survive a hurricane. When inspecting their home after Charley passed through, they were heartbroken. Their house (top right) was destroyed and most of their possessions were lost.

The house was built in 1964 and lacked many modern building-strengthening technologies which exist today. The house where Jim and Teresa sought shelter (middle right) during Hurricane Charley survived with barely a scratch.

The dramatic message was not lost on Jim and Teresa. They promised themselves that when they rebuilt in the neighborhood that they loved so much, they would do so employing the latest technologies.

Jim and Teresa broke ground for their new and fortified house in early 2005. It would meet all new construction requirements and would also employ some “code plus” technologies.  Not only would this house be a safe haven for Jim and Teresa, but it would also serve as model that would inspire others to build or upgrade their homes in such a way so as to minimize personal injury and property damage from future storms. (New house shown at the bottom right)

Click here to view "house hardening" technologies used in Jim and Teresa's house. Perhaps you will be able to incorporate some of these features in your own new construction or remodeling plans.