Mobile Homes and Hurricanes: The Crisis in Florida

For the past three years, several universities in Florida have been involved in a multi-disciplinary study on how to mitigate the effects of hurricanes on residences in Florida, particularly mobile homes, which constitute a substantial portion of affordable housing in the state. The research has involved several academic disciplines, including engineering, construction, sociology, geography, landscape architecture, and architecture. The mobile home sector is reaching a crisis that mainly derives from the lack of a state or local housing policy with respect to this specific type of housing. The impending crisis is best put in perspective when one considers that for some of the lowest economic sectors of society mobile homes appear to be the best, if not the only, alternative for affordable housing. This report focuses on one track: eliminating state and local barriers to upgrading mobile homes and communities in the state (specifically Polk County). This work involved interviews with mobile home owners and renters, mobile home park owners or managers, mobile home manufacturers or agents, architects, engineers, building and planning officials, as well as visits to several mobile home parks. Additionally the team conducted extensive research of existing local land-use laws, codes, plans and regulations and surveyed building officials and mobile home dealers to determine the extent of knowledge gaps with respect to regulatory environment regarding mobile homes. The team ultimately proposed typical redesigns and renovation scenarios of both mobile homes and mobile home parks. The importance of this research was made obvious by the 2004 hurricane season, and which four major storms created significant damage to Florida’s housing stock, particularly mobile homes.

Volume Editors
David Covo & Gabriel Mérigo Basurto

ISBN
0-935502-57-2