Hurricane Irma’s eye of the storm made landfall at Cudjoe Key in Florida on the morning of September 10 with sustained winds of 130 mph.
With much destruction already laid waste in its path, Hurricane Irma’s storm center made landfall on Cudjoe Key in the lower Florida Keys on the morning of September 10, 2017. According to the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami, its top sustained winds were 130 mph. In the rain-soaked hours and days ahead, Irma proceeded north through Florida and up into Georgia and the Carolina’s, leaving intense flooding, massive power outages and devastation in its wake. Irma was the most intense Atlantic hurricane to strike the United States since Katrina in 2005, and the first major hurricane to make landfall in Florida since Wilma in 2005, 12 years before.
Slowly, evacuees from the Florida Keys and the rest of the path of Irma’s devastation across Florida anxiously returned to their homes to see what Irma had left them. Soon we were gratified to begin hearing from many of our happy and relieved homeowners who contacted us, eager to share their personal customer testimonials of how well their Palm Harbor homes weathered Hurricane Irma. Here are just a few we wanted to share.
Palm Harbor Customer Reviews: Our Home Weathered Hurricane Irma!
We live in Cudjoe Key, Florida. Our Palm Harbor home survived Hurricane Wilma, and now most recently, Hurricane Irma. Cudjoe Key, as you may know, was devastated by Hurricane Irma. However, our home received minimal damage. Just loss of roof shingles on one side, almost all skirting, and our duct work underneath the home. That’s pretty amazing strength and durability, being that Irma’s winds were 173 mph when she tore through our area. We just wanted to share our Palm Harbor customer review with you. Our house looks great & this is a tribute to the quality of homes Palm Harbor builds.
– Kurt S, Cudjoe Key, FL
Hello, Palm Harbor – Plant City, Florida! I have wanted to write for a long time. My late husband and I bought our new home from you after a house fire in Feb 2002. Our home was called the Full House. Love it! Love it! It has been 15 years since then and I still love it today! In 2004, shortly after my husband passed away in July, we were in the midst of 4 hurricanes, Charley, Francis, Ivan and Jean. Ivan and Jean being the closest. My Palm Harbor home was so well put together that I didn’t even realize we were having a storm. I felt very secure. Now 13 yrs later with the threat of Hurricane Irma, my home was secure and sound. I had my window panels put up and barely knew a storm was there. The storm was fierce here in St. Petersburg, too. But not one shingle or siding came off. Am I lucky? Probably. But you build great homes. I tell people how much I love my home and recommend Palm Harbor Homes to everyone. I have never regretted the choice my husband and I made and I’m happy to give you a happy customer review. Thank you!
– Marjie K, St. Petersburg, FL
95% + every house in our area was damaged or completely destroyed. Most houses that looked as if they had minor outside damage were completely destroyed inside by water damage due to roof, soffit and eve failures. Our house was in the middle of the damage and we have ABSOLUTELY ZERO damage inside and out. The only thing that didn’t survive was the landscaping, car and contents in the downstairs enclosure which was minimal. We had 46″ of water in the enclosure without any damage to the structure. We noticed other new Palm Harbor homes with no damage. THANK YOU FOR AN AWESOME BUILT HOME!!!!!!!
– Mike & Kara J , Little Torch Key, FL
- The home of Mike & Kara – During Hurricane Irma
- The home of Mike & Kara J – After Hurricane Irma
- The home of Mike & Kara J – After clean up
- One of the homes in Mike & Kara’s neighborhood
- Another home in Mike & Kara’s neighborhood
We have been through 5 major hurricanes, in the past 15 years, and our Palm Harbor home is still standing. Thank you for building such a quality home.
– Ann Marie V
Kudos to Palm Harbor Homes in Plant City, Florida. We just went through Hurricane Irma in Ruskin, Florida, and no damage whatsoever! They are built strong and beautiful! Thank you so much. We did not know what we would come home to, but it’s perfect ??!!
– Bev S, Ruskin, FL
I live in Venice, Florida. I bought a new Palm Harbor home in 2003. I was so happy when I came back. We had no damage at all. Just wanted to thank you for a well built home.
– Dolores C, Venice, FL
I would be happy to do a commercial for Palm Harbor Homes. The fear that I felt was very real, actually I thought I was going to die!!!! It sounded like a freight train and the 2 semi-tractor trailers heading straight for me. Heard it, felt it, screamed for my husband, and couldn’t believe I wasn’t airborne or dead. I will pass this on when selling…safer than stick built!!! Now I can add a story of my home and I survived IRMA. Way to build a STRONG HOME, PALM HARBOR!
– Lorraine D, Lakeland, FL
Helping Florida Homeowners Recover from Irma
Comparing claims as a percentage of population, Monroe County, which includes the hard-hit Keys, emerges as the most heavily impacted county in Florida so far with 15.3 claims for every 100 residents. That number could increase, as many Keys residents only recently returned to their homes, and insurance adjusters are still assessing damage.
As a major home builder in Florida for more than 40 years, Palm Harbor is an integral part of the Florida community. Many of our homes are located in the Keys where major damage occurred when the storm made land fall. Our team at our factory in Plant City, Florida, has been deeply involved with the recovery efforts following Irma. As a fundraiser to help those who have suffered catastrophic loss, they made and sold these “BUILT IRMA STRONG!℠” bracelets and donated the proceeds to local recovery efforts.
Palm Harbor always advocates following local, regional and national weather and evacuation warnings. However, it is good to know that the work we do to build strong homes gives so many of our Palm Harbor customers a place to come “home” to that really did weather the storm.
Tags: Florida, Hurricane, irma, manufactured home prices, modular home, storm, weather, wind
