HURRICANE SEASON PREP FOR NEW HOMEOWNERS

Living on the Treasure Coast means respecting hurricane season (June 1 - November 30). The good news? New construction homes built to Florida's current building code are engineered to withstand major storms. Here's what you need to know.

Your new home's structural advantages: impact-rated windows and doors (no plywood needed), reinforced roof-to-wall connections, concrete block construction, and wind-rated garage doors. These features aren't optional — they're code requirements for new builds in our wind zone.

Insurance benefits are significant. Homes built to the current Florida Building Code qualify for substantial wind mitigation credits. Expect to save 40-60% on the windstorm portion of your homeowner's insurance compared to older homes. That can mean $2,000-$4,000/year in savings.

Despite the structural advantages, you still need a hurricane plan. Stock a 3-day supply of water (1 gallon per person per day), non-perishable food, medications, important documents in a waterproof container, flashlights, and batteries.

Know your evacuation zone. Most new construction communities in Fort Pierce and Port St. Lucie are NOT in evacuation zones A or B, but verify yours at KnowYourZone.com. If you're in a flood zone, separate flood insurance is required and NOT included in standard homeowner's policies.

Generator considerations: if you want whole-home backup power, plan for it during construction. Running a natural gas line and installing a transfer switch is far cheaper before the drywall goes up. Many buyers add this as a construction upgrade for $3,000-$5,000 — a fraction of the after-build cost.