City planners in the United States are poised to draw inspiration for future urban developments from Babcock Ranch, an ingenious “hurricane-resistant town” that effectively withstood Hurricane Ian in September last year.
The community, with around 5,000 residents, proudly calls itself “the world’s first solar-powered town.” Its secret to resilience lies in its solar panels, which provide 100% of its energy.
Even during the hurricane, when neighboring areas lost power for days, Babcock Ranch remained lit. They even shared extra energy with a nearby storm shelter, keeping it powered.
“When storms take aim at southwest Florida and evacuation orders are issued, residents of Babcock Ranch are at a distinct advantage,” Lisa Hall, a Babcock Ranch representative, told CBS News. “Storm safety and resiliency has been factored into every element of design and engineering of the town.”
Beginning of Florida’s hurricane-proof town
In 2005, Syd Kitson, a developer, made a bold purchase of 91,000-acre cattle ranch in Charlotte and Lee counties in southwest Florida. Kitson instantly sold the state 73,000 acres and retained 17,000 acres to develop as a new town.
For the remaining 17,800 acres, he kept nearly half as green space and parks. On that tenth, he envisioned a green city of 50,000 residents living in 19,500 homes built to energy-conservation standards and 20,000 workers in 6 million square feet of energy-efficient buildings.
Key features
Located in southwest Florida, Babcock Ranch isjust 20-minutes northeast of Ft. Myers.
- 18,000 acres (50% dedicated to greenways, parks, and lakes)
- 19,500 residential units
- 6 million sf of commercial
- 75 mega-watt solar facility
- Adjacent to 73,000 acre Babcock Ranch Preserve
Strengths of Babcock Ranch
The solar panels in Babcock Ranch are specially designed to withstand storms, as proven during Hurricane Irma in 2017.
Only two out of 343,000 panels were damaged. Moreover, the houses themselves are built to be sturdy, and capable of withstanding winds up to 145 miles per hour. The town’s location, 30 feet above sea level and 17.5 miles from the coast provides additional protection during floods and storm surges.
When Hurricane Ian hit, Babcock Ranch barely suffered any damage. It took just one day to recover, mainly fixing a few roofs. This impressive resilience is due to careful planning and engineering that prioritizes storm safety.
Babcock Ranch is not alone in its approach. In Puerto Rico, two prototype homes gained attention for surviving Hurricane Fiona, which knocked out power across the island. Like Babcock Ranch, these houses rely on solar energy, storm-resistant materials, and a rainwater filtration system for drinking.
In a world where climate change is leading to more extreme weather events, communities like Babcock Ranch and innovations in sustainability and hurricane preparedness are becoming increasingly important. They show that we can live sustainably while being ready for nature’s challenges.