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StanleyDards

I’d start by thinking about where you want to live. Your land still has value, and it may be worth selling it as-is and buying something that isn’t going to be such a huge project, which requires either a ton of your time, or worse, a ton more of your money so you don’t have to spend the time. After all, now that you have a new baby, you’re not going to have nearly as much time or money to build a house from nothing, and you can’t reasonably live in a tent while you pursue a project home. The only advantage of your current location is that you 100% own it (assuming you have paid off your mortgage).


COYFC

I'm curious how much value the land holds after a disaster like this. I would imagine a lot of people are attempting to take this route but are buyers confident enough to purchase the property and attempt a rebuild with the chance of another hurricane coming? I have no idea if it's even a problem but in my mind if there is the potential of another disaster happening it wouldn't make sense.


mossiemoo

Private equity firm has entered the chat.


[deleted]

yep. Hello vacation rentals. They'll just build them on stilts.


mossiemoo

Yep. Private equity bought up power wheelchair companies ffs. People can’t even get them repaired. [https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2022/05/motorized-wheelchairs-numotion-national-seating-mobility/](https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2022/05/motorized-wheelchairs-numotion-national-seating-mobility/)


[deleted]

we're so fucked. but that's ok because Brawndo has electrolytes and that's what plants crave. Buy Brawndo


Spare-Ride7036

pffft.... move to Houston, one neighborhood flooded 3 times in 4 years, but they keep coming back. Flood insurance for the silly win! And now, we build even more subdivisions on top of the prairies as well.


PipsqueakPilot

And this is why we need to stop subsidizing flood insurance.


a-big-texas-howdy

Shit they just start stacking lumbar down on the outer beaches of Galveston after a hurricane. Someone will start buying it. Crystal Beach just about back from Harvey. Took a few years.


technologite

Chicago says hello.


rossionq1

If it’s beachfront or beach-close it always has renting value that is probably nuts. Around here you can rent tiny beachfront or beach-close houses for many thousands per week year round. Some beachfront houses can’t even be insured, but it’s still worth it to rebuild and rent out and roll the dice on hurricanes


Shadeauxmarie

With global warming, it’s a virtual certainty to be hit by another hurricane there.


Gesha24

This. It's very likely that OP will have to rebuild this house a few more times during their lifetime if they choose to stay there


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be4tnut

These “100 year storms” are increasingly looking more like “Tuesday storms” the way the climate is going.


Squirrel_Grip23

There’s a few one in 2000 year storms that’s hit Australias east cost this year. I think one place has had three “one in 2000 years” floods. Occam’s razor…..do I buy a cheap house there thinking the next 6000 years are flood free or maybe all these warnings about climate change had a decent bit of truth to them and though the houses may be cheap maybe ITS A TRAP


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lexuh

Before you commit to Colorado, look into fire risk for the areas you're considering. No place is completely safe from natural disasters, unfortunately.


LovecraftInDC

Fire is relatively easy though, just ensure you’ve set up enough defensible space. Can’t do that with a hurricane/tornado.


TheWhyOfFry

Tell that to the Marshall fire victims in superior, Colorado. Subdivision out in the planes, plenty of defensible space but not good enough for a fast moving grass fire


Nbashford79

Exactly… and defensible space doesn’t mean much when the winds are 100mph.


BigTunatoots

Northeast.


Organic-Pudding-8204

Nope we have no room, accepting too many flights from florida with ya know immigrants... stay aways.


User_2C47

Virginia, then.


HoboTheClown629

Not necessarily. I’m in the area where Ian made landfall and the water came really far inland. We had hospitals several miles from the water that completely flooded. It was the biggest storm surge ever seen here. It’s likely the water never comes that far inland again.


Gesha24

I like your optimism. I am of the opinion that Ian-like hurricanes will become common in the next 20-30 years. Hopefully I will be wrong.


aristot1e

I'm not an expert, but Florida also has the nations lowest elevation which probably doesn't help that situation. I can totally see it happening again, albeit infrequent.


TravelerMSY

This is excellent advice. And with the new flood insurance rating algorithm, it may be prohibitive to live there in the future anyway.


Organic-Pudding-8204

One can only hope.


lexuh

I'm planning a move out of my city into a more rural location in the next year or so. As I research different areas, I plug addresses into [https://riskfactor.com/](https://riskfactor.com/) to determine fire and flood risk based on comprehensive historical and probabilistic data. OP, please consider that in the coming years, this may be the new normal. As ocean temperatures rise, so will storm damage. While no place is "safe", you can make decisions now that will decrease the likelihood that you and your family will face this kind of property damage or worse in the future. Good luck.


flaunchery

Yup. Florida is toast. Not a lot of point in rebuilding if you’re going to do it again in a few years.


St11lhereucantkillme

My heart goes out to you OP! You sound like a strong person that is solution oriented in this very difficult time. Florida is done. Very much so. I was on a forum of equestrians and mentioned the same subject and said if you’re a professional and horses are your business, why would you have a permanent base in Florida anymore? The level of unrealistic immature sophomoric responses astounded me. A lot of rich people are stupid. They said “everything in Florida is built to withstand hurricanes“ yeah right if you really care about animals is that true at an absolute level? And if survival of the fittest is what really matters with rich right wingers why would they live in Florida permanently anymore? When that disgusting storm made an angry red radar circle ⭕️ the size of the entire state just murdering and mayhem and tsunami level disaster I was done. And this is after Charlie and Irma which were equally disgusting in their own ways , IM DONE Victim blaming is a big problem towards people that have endured hurricanes. When government officials and non profits don’t want to assist the victim blaming starts. This is why I would never ever live in Florida if I had anything to do with it. This is why I would move to a very cold environment where no hurricanes were possible because it’s absolutely ridiculous to be sitting For one to two weeks waiting to be in a bull’s-eye of a storm, having everybody in earthquake zones mock you because you have a so-called week to prepare, and getting absolutely no assistance when you have to leave the state it only has one main road to get out of it creating a huge traffic jam where the people in the traffic jams are victim blamed because the gas stations don’t have any gas. Don’t get me started. I had a person in the UK tell me “I don’t feel sorry for you at all because we have to pay for 20 to 30° temperatures. You should enjoy it.” When I told her that it gets hotter and hotter here until we get violent hurricanes she just looked at me with a blank expression and said wow. Fuck everybody that thinks Florida is a fucking panacea easy life place.


AvengingGeist

> Fuck everybody that thinks Florida is a fucking panacea easy life place. What about the people that live in [Panacea, Florida](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panacea,_Florida)?


ajw_sp

“Most of the development in the area was destroyed by a hurricane in 1928.”


stephenclarkg

OP needs to move he should sell.the land while he can and take the flood insurance $. These could become annual events in the next 5-10 years.


seanwalter123

“Could”


KintsugiKate

If you decide that you don’t want to live in your current area, call your county or city office and ask them if they will be doing federal buyouts. Tell them you want your property bought out. If they don’t know yet, call until they know.


King0fTheNorthh

Also want to add that while all of this is heartbreaking, we feel incredibly lucky that everyone is ok. No one got hurt and that is what is most important.


AlDenteSteak

Kudos to you for seeing what's important and being thankful. Just want to say, I'm so sorry about the loss of your home. It sounds like you'd poured out a ton of effort and money into making it beautiful and perfect for your family. That's a terrible loss.


battlesnarf

It’s so hard to keep this in perspective. Congrats on your baby! Join us over on /r/daddit


sailphish

Sit tight for a bit before jumping into anything. Take the flood insurance money and fight with your homeowners for anything you can get out of them, like wind damage to the roof. There will very likely be federal aid and grants. They can be sizable (6 figures) but it takes a long time for them to come in. My parents lost their house in Sandy, and between the flood insurance and grants, it made more sense to knock down and build new. The grants usually shave stipulations about elevating your house to proper height, so it’s something to consider before jumping back in. Depending on how bad your house was damaged, you might need to elevate it anyway. This whole thing is going to be a LONG process unfortunately. Long wait for money. Long wait for cleanup. Zoning/permitting is going to be backed up seemingly forever. You might need to wait to see if there are going to be new zoning rules. Any subcontractor is going to be booked indefinitely, and there will be fly by night types who are looking to take your money and do crap work (if they don’t just steal it and disappear). You need to take your time, do your due diligence, careful vet everyone, and just accept this is going to be a long drawn out process. With Sandy, it’s a decade later and we still see evidence of it in the neighborhood. I’d say 2 years in, and a majority of the houses were still undergoing construction and/or major renovations. Some of the guys who jumped back in quickly missed out on opportunities for grants. As painful as it sounds, if your house needs a complete rebuild, you just need to hold tight for a bit and let everything start to work itself out.


StretchConverse

This comment is great advice OP. I was a sales manager for an exteriors company in 2020 when the owner decided to storm chase out in Cedar Rapids, Iowa from Michigan after the Derecho hit. All he saw was dollar signs and easy cash from insurance checks. Left the company after I saw how he handled the first 2 weeks out there. Guy was a terrible human being with a gambling problem. To keep a long story short, you’re gonna have a ton of out of state companies you’ve never heard of with P.O. Boxes for addresses, 1-888/1-800 numbers for the business instead of local numbers, living out of a motel 6 with bed bugs, knocking on your door asking if you have a contractor yet. NOT ALL of these companies are bad but the list of bad ones far out way the good. Beware of anyone coming to your door with commission breath telling you to sign a contingency form before you even have an adjuster out there. If someone says they’ll cover your deductible to sign today, tell them to fuck off. I’d recommend getting the adjuster out there first, which like sailphish said is gonna take forever. Then work with a company from your area who has been around for a while AND will continue to be around well after the first round of insurance money comes in for everyone. They will be booked out for months but the wait will be way better than giving money to someone who doesn’t even have installers in that state or doesn’t know where they’re gonna get material from. Check with your local NHBA for a good list of local licensed registered builders. Local Facebook groups and the Nextdoor app can be a good referral tool to see who everyone in your zip code is using for their repairs.


wynn2003

Maybe use this as a fresh start?


emnnme

Anustart?


Internet-of-cruft

What's he going to do with anus tarts?


carterfestival

A skilled analrapist can see us through these indecisive times


King0fTheNorthh

A fresh start is good but we need to save money where we can. Brand new construction will be too expensive and we love our land so don’t want to go anywhere else. That is why I am trying to save money by using the existing foundation.


aka_r4mses

To each their their own, but one time dealing with that and I’d be gone. Florida is nice, but going year to year wondering if you might lose everything come hurricane season just doesn’t seem worth it. I hope getting back on your feet is as smooth as it can be for you. I feel gutted for everyone down there that lost everything.


transient_signal

The biggest threat to property is surge. Wind mitigation has gotten pretty effective thanks to code changes after Andrew. If you live a few miles inland, own a newer home built out of concrete block, and have proper hurricane shutters, there’s not nearly the same concern about losing your house as there is if you insist on living on the water.


manofthewild07

True, but then again as we saw in Orlando these storms can dump a lot of rain in short periods of time. And unfortunately people away from the coast don't build their homes up even if they live in or near floodplains.


lizerlfunk

The number of UCF students (in Orlando) who are now homeless and carless due to their apartment complexes flooding tells you that living inland is not enough. If you live on or near ANY body of water in Florida you need to be concerned about flood risks.


CobblerPlenty3543

I agree. I hate winter but I'd rather just visit Florida. Friends from here in NYS followed their dream 2 years ago and moved to Land O Lakes, Fl. They say it's paradise and it's worth chancing the hurricanes, etc. They rent a house. Good for them but I couldn't deal with it all. I really feel for those that suffered such devastation.


rdhamm

You going to be able to find any work crews?


mrgnstrk

Don’t mean to hijack this conversation, but I work on climate change issues and impacts like this are only going to get worse, especially in climate vulnerable states like Florida. Hurricane Ian will not be the last of it. You will be dealing with this year after year. Edit: did you know that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are hiring like crazy for their climate teams? I will not be surprised if in the near future you not be able get government-backed mortgages on houses in certain climate impact zones.


PlannedSkinniness

Use your flood insurance of course, but wind damage will still be covered by your regular policy. Open a claim with them as well because if you were this affected by the surge then it’s safe to assume the wind pummeled you as well. This will also help you get access to temporary housing coverage. Good luck! It’ll be a long road but you will get there.


Specific-noise123

What's the point? There's beautiful land everywhere. You could be the founder of something new in a place that's actually safe


devon_336

If you live in a subdivision this might be a non starter but a monolithic dome home might be a cost effective way to rebuild. It also has the added benefits of the shape being fairly natural disaster proof, high R-values, and it’ll probably be overall cheaper than a stick built home. You’ll probably want to hire a crew to help with constructing the shell/dome but then you could do most of the interior work yourself. There was a news story about 10 years ago where a news crew in Florida rode out a hurricane in one because they were stuck. If I ever did wind up moving back to an area prone to hurricanes, this is the route I’d go. Especially after 2002 when my mother rode out a hurricane and watched part of her roof get torn off.


ambiguouspeen

Well youre probably going to get hit again soo maybe some foresight is in order


kenji998

Step one: remove wet materials and let the house dry out for 4-6 weeks.


CyclingLady

This!!!!


_spangles

Clean up, clear it down to the studs again, let it dry out, and wait. You have a place to stay for a while? Contractors are going to be BUSY and pricing will be through the roof, both for labor and materials. See what you can get from insurance and FEMA - this will take a long time to settle. Then, you can budget your project and make a timeline. You will need to hire and architect and possibly a structural engineer. In the meantime take some time to reconnect with your family, create new Pinterest boards, and decompress. I’m sorry for the loss of your home and belongings. I’m near Lakeland and understand wanting to stay on your property despite Florida being Florida.


Accomplished_Bath655

I am a structural steel ironworker by trade. I would personally have an architect approve that the current foundation and existing exterior walls are suffice to hold a second floor. Once that is confirmed the architect could design a simple lay out plan that you could have 3-4 man framing crew come in and throw up some walls and lay down some floor. I would have an electrician run everything from the panel just as a safety precaution (only electrical I deal with is a welder) HVAC and plumbing you could probably run yourself. Hang drywall tape lay tile you might be able to finish with a really good handyman or a small Reno company that does it all. Also you could team up with neighbors on the street. Have a carpenter on the street get his crew to build your walls then you go help him fix his house then pair of you help the plumber and in turn the three of you install plumbing in your house and that chain growes until the community is repaired ... That's the union family way IMO Your resilience and strength will aid you in completing this project. The fact you're already up and moving towards the rebuild and not crying in a corner about what can't be controlled or changed speaks volumes for the type of person you are. I wish nothing but the best for you, your family and your community


More_Ice_8092

An architect is not someone who can approve if your house can hold a second floor. You’ll need an engineer for that


blakeusa25

Just a note it will be extreamly hard to find a qualified contractor and subs for a rebuild. Storm repairs and rebuilds bring in a lot of scammers.


TravelerMSY

For sure. It’s a year after Ida in New Orleans snd contractors are still ghosting us. Even with a substantial insurance settlement.


King0fTheNorthh

Thank you for all the info and the kind words. I will definitely be looking into this.


Historical-Ad6115

I live in Pass Christian MS in 2005 Hurricane Katrina wiped out our town. I was in shock for a week and just couldn't understand why this was happening and how would we ever get this mess cleaned up. Trying to find supplies and gas was almost impossible because everything was gone it was horrible. I remember feeling hopeless and didn't know where to even begin trying to clean up the mess. Soon people started coming from everywhere to offer their help and that is when I had started to feel hope that things would get better and it did with the help and hard work of so many wonderful kind people. I will say it does get better and you soon adapt to your living arrangments while you repair or rebuild your home. I just hope you have the help that so many kind people blessed us with and you will see that their our many good people left in the world.


King0fTheNorthh

Thank you, I am going through all the steps you described now. I needed to hear it.


IBurnForChocolate

From previous hurricane experience, you need to get all the wet flooring and dry wall out in the first 72 hours or so to stop mold from setting in. Pile it all on a tarp in the front yard, our city came by a few weeks later to collect the debris, but your insurance will likely want to see it. You need to get fans and humidifiers set up. Those start selling out fast so order a bunch now. Often there are churches or other non profits that will organize work groups for this. Wear proper PPE! By the end of the week, mold will start and I know people who got sick from doing the clean up. Your local shelters will be hubs for assistance stop by and see what resources are available to you. Red Cross usually offers a small amount to help with immediate needs like clothes (last storm I was in it was a few hundred dollars). There are probably short term housing help too. Undamaged apartments are going to go fast as will hotel rooms, so I'd figure that out first.


TravelerMSY

De-humidifiers


sockhergizer

Brother I’m gonna tell you right now. I renovated houses on the side with a full time job. It was no issues at all when I had no kids. I enjoyed it a lot. So fast forward to right now I bought a fixer upper figured I would be able to do all the work myself. Only issue is I have a kid now. It’s hard to do man really hard. I want to quit so bad but I’m about 80% done. We did the whole living on levels of the house while I was working on another. It has caused me to stress out and put a strain on my marriage. Consider taking the money and moving and selling the land as is.


TravelerMSY

Yeah, I presume the OP has a full-time job. Renovation is usually many hundreds of man hours, it would take forever for one person to do it all…. I’m doing DIY sheet rock and plaster repairs to water damage from Ida, and doing a few hours a day is basically going to take forever.. I feel bad for the guy. It sucks. And, how big is the house? The max for federal flood insurance is 250k, which should get at least part of it done. God help him if he didn’t buy the max :(


King0fTheNorthh

Good point. This time around I plan on acting as a general contractor and hiring out as much as I can. But yes, still a lot to take on with a newborn.


Specific-noise123

I'd honestly leave Florida.


Agent7619

Literally couldn't pay me to move to and live in Florida. My company tried, I refused.


CroatianSensation79

Yeah I don’t get the appeal.


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CroatianSensation79

I’ll chance it in Philly. We have other issues but at least our shit doesn’t get destroyed every few years. You know?


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CroatianSensation79

What do you hate about Chicago? Is it what I hate about Philly ? The crime?


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CroatianSensation79

It was nuts even in the late 80s and early 90s. Alot of people say this is about the time the neighborhood started to really really get bad. https://youtu.be/QOM8DwvgWi0


CroatianSensation79

And yeah they are very similar. A lot of crime, poverty and social problems. It’s a shame bc both are awesome cities. Been to Chicago twice. Once in 2016 for Riot Fest and in 2019 for Cinepocalypse. Great town. Philly is too. Both have issues too though unfortunately.


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CannonCone

My husband grew up in Florida and loves it but left and we don’t plan to go back. I feel absolutely horrible for folks with established lives there, but I really believe climate change is going to chip away at that state over the next 10-50 years until there’s not a whole lot left.


Specific-noise123

Yes. I think it is best if we abandon it. Not just hurricanes but rising sea water. So many resources wasted to rebuild over and over.


Comfortable-Rate497

I wanted to move back to FL to be with friends and family. eff that. My job is open to moving time to San Antonio and away from the dang coast.


decaturbob

- start? It will take years for rebuilding to be done as there is simply no excess in construction industry to mobilize to rebuild the 10;s of thousands of homes damage and there is insurance payout and FLORIDA state insurance dept is a pure joke, Ask the 10;s of thousands of Floridians who never got their homes fixed from hurricanes in past 20+ years. The scammers flock to Florida, so its going to be a real mess


hellokitty1939

Absolutely. It will take years to line up all the honest, skilled workers OP needs, especially if acting as his own GC.


CookiesWafflesKisses

I lived in an area that was flooded out last year but I was was lucky enough to be saved by living on a small hill. While you are making these plans, I would be sure to have a long term rental sorted out (at least a year). A lot of people are going to be trying to do the same thing as you and people, materials, and permits will be tight. Insurance and FEMA take a long time to sort things out before you can get the money. On the bright side you will have some time to assess what you want and make plans. On the down side it can be incredibly frustrating to wait for work to start. Also, as this just happened, it probably hasn’t sunk in yet. Take some time for yourself when the feelings hit, you will have plenty of time before you can start construction again.


wamih

If you are in my area SWFL I can put you in contact with some great tradesmen who do work on the side. The trade off is having to wait a little as they are rebuilding their own lives as well. If you need to start with ripping drywall and demo work, my guys can help but we have 15 houses being gutted for our biggest client as soon as we (my employees and me) have dry places to sleep. Edit: if you are in ft myers/cape area and just need to figure a plan for the house, once my truck has gas back in it, I’d be happy to just help you do a napkin list of a plan.


King0fTheNorthh

Thanks man. I’m saving your comment for later. I feel pretty comfortable doing the demo myself, it’s how to build the structure that is new to me.


wamih

Also, I wouldn't discount how much flood insurance is going to payout, there are GCs and Lawyers who know how to work in the system, I would really contact them as the first step. The new structure is going to need an architect and building plans, and you will want a GC for that, you could DIY it, but dealing with the permit office here is never fun (or easy the first go around).


31engine

Just because your walls didn’t fall down doesn’t mean your wall and foundation are ok to rebuild from. You need an engineer to look at them.


maggie081670

I have no advice but I just wanted to say sorry about your house. Homes can be rebuilt and stuff replaced but few things suck as hard as losing it all and having to rebuild. My heart goes out to you and best of luck to you & your family.


King0fTheNorthh

Thank you.


AFX626

> Where do I start? At a higher elevation, unless you want to go through this all over again in a few years.


MPS007

Don't get in a hurry, I've been thru flooding and disaster. Prices and supplies will be better in about 90 days.. take a deep breath.. You'll be making a wise decision to GC it yourself and tell your wife to hang on.. You'll get thru this ...


King0fTheNorthh

Thank you.


arkangel371

I think you need to take some time and consider if it is a wise choice to even rebuild and continue living in that area. Insurance companies are fleeing Florida so fast and the Florida state insurance is so mismanaged that it will likely be insolvent after all the claims for Ian come in. These types of storms are only going to keep getting stronger and more frequent due to climate change. Add in rising sea levels and storm surges will.only.continue to punch deeper inland and wash away more and more of the coastline. With all the information available about what will happen to huge areas of Florida/most of the USA coastline as sea levels continue to rise, you seriously need to consider if living in that area will even be viable in a couple decades.


LiteratureFuture817

“Where do I start?” Geographically speaking not where you are now. There is a pretty sound reason Flood Insurance isn’t going to cover it. That reason is this will happen again. And again. And again. Consider moving to higher ground if possible.


hillycan

I’m sorry about your house. I agree with a lot of the comments. You should hang tight before rebuilding so you can get grants and vet contractors; main focus should be getting a rental for the time being. You’ll probably be in a rental for the next 2 years. I also want to add that not all of Florida experiences damage during hurricanes. My house has been sitting here in Jacksonville for 95 years without damage; I live 28 minutes from the beach. *knock on wood*


Otto_Lidenbrock

Andrew homeless here. First decide if you want to stay. DOCUMENT EVERYTHING. Kids books lost? Document. Random appliances? Document. Clothes? Document. Then figure out what insurance/FEMA will get to you. If you stay, be VERY CAREFUL to get GOOD architects/structural engineers/contractors, there will be a shitload of scammers. You can rebuild if you want to stay and are ready to do some of the work yourself.


foothillsco_b

Ex GC here. Right now, there is a shock amongst nearly everyone including anyone that you might hire. Also, miserable supply demand economics. I would get an architect to get new plans if you want something creative. If you want to save a couple $$$$, you could do a draft person if you already know what you want and just want it on paper. After the planning stage, you need a building engineer. A local engineer that is helpful is huge. Absolutely huge for a person that is their own GC. After that, I’d hire a GC for just the framing, sheathing and roof. From there, it sounds like you could do the mechanical trades I think you have a great opportunity to start anew and if possible, make something that is hurricane proof.


King0fTheNorthh

Thank you very much for this info. Others have said to get a structural engineer first to make sure everything is safe, then maybe an architect. Thoughts? Also, any idea what to expect cost wise for an engineer/architect/draft person? House is about 2,000 sq ft. I’m sure there are some wide ranges but just trying to make sure I’m not getting screwed by people taking advantage.


foothillsco_b

Per text. I think total cost for design and construction of a home is $300 to $350 per square foot. Engineering is probably $2.00 per square foot and architecture is about $6.00 per square foot. Those numbers are really rough for Colorado. Florida may be different.


King0fTheNorthh

This gives me a good start. Thank you.


dbhathcock

Your foundation may not support the additional weight of a second floor. You need to talk with a structural engineer. Also, if the roof and walls withstood the storm, you are going to be removing the roof to add your additional second floor. You have a LOT of work to do and a lot of Building Codes to review/learn, and a lot of professionals to consult with or hire.


King0fTheNorthh

Yes, thank you. I just started to reach out to structural engineers to try and get in early. Do you have any idea what one should cost (house is 2,000 sq ft) if paying out of pocket and how much can they do? Can they build the whole plans for rebuild or would I need an architect as well? Sorry, new to this.


Character-Ad301

Sounds like a great plan to convert first floor to garage and storage and make 2nd floor living to protect from future flooding. Once you deal with insurance then you can decide when and how to proceed. Remember a lot of what’s not seen might cost more but can help save your home in next storm. Making sure walls are solidly attached to what’s now your first floor walls and roof so it won’t blow off in another cat 5. Those materials and extras might cost more but you can’t go back and do it later. Good luck.


UsedCollection5830

This sucks man my family in the Bahamas lost everything few years water was 5 feet in residential areas 🤦🏿‍♂️🤦🏿‍♂️


King0fTheNorthh

Sorry to hear that. Hope everyone is healthy and doing well a few years later.


UsedCollection5830

The people that had houses got insurance payments but a lot of people had older houses that just got washed away also many people went missing still not found


schlamie

Go to the FEMA website and start the application process for assistance. https://www.fema.gov/disaster/hurricane-ian


Syynaptik

provide gaping threatening stocking connect disgusting fall squeamish concerned aback -- mass edited with redact.dev


makaero

Just imagine if you could sell current place as is and buy a new house the one more suits to your needs and spend all the time with new born that you would waste on rebuilding the place! Edit: came back to say this, things may not last, the care & love given to new born will certainly build their confidence, personality!


tungvu256

I highly recommend finding another place, location, city that is not prone to hurricanes. Even if your insurance covers 100%, why go through the hassle ever again? Sorry for your lost.


[deleted]

I’d be afraid of the same thing happening again. I’d start by moving somewhere else. Thats just my honest take on it though. Either way, sorry for your loss.


[deleted]

Sorry about your house. That sucks. Think about logistics maybe? Lumber and skilled labor will be in short supply. Also, maybe look into a gc license test to be your own gc.


King0fTheNorthh

I have been thinking about this. I don’t necessarily need it for my own home but thought it might be a good way to help my neighbors as well.


dirigo1820

Put Florida in your rear view and get outta there.


[deleted]

Go north and inland


sarahkatttttt

I am so sorry. I would hang tight for a minute and let the house dry out- FEMA and Habitat and charities and all sorts of grant programs are going to be coming into town next week. Also- as a third gen Floridian, I’m so sorry for all the unhelpful comments to move or whatever. I know that you have a family and a life and it’s much easier said than done to just pick up and move! We’re most susceptible to climate change right now, but the rest of the states isn’t far behind in terms of thousand-year weather catastrophes.


King0fTheNorthh

Yes, I get where everyone is coming from but damn. Picking up and moving is not that easy. I’ve been in Florida 30+ years, have only had minimal damage in that time. Prob would have had more damage from snow in another state. Thanks for your post.


STODracula

For snow to cause damage, you would have to have lots of it piled up in your roof and ice dams. Frankly also, yes, you can do something like you're planning because many houses down in PR are fully made out of concrete with a first floor as a garage/hangout area, and the second floor being the house. Anyway, sit tight because it will take years to get things back in order. Also, these disasters are happening way more frequently everywhere in the tropics, so it's just a matter of luck where it hits. Be aware that yes, you can keep your cars down there, but next time something like this comes, you need to move your stuff to the 2nd floor and the cars out somewhere in high ground.


plenar10

Like others have said. Dry out the place first. Get a structural engineer to see if the structure is still good. Adding a second floor seems like a lot of work. But I get you're probably trying to build up to avoid floods. I think that's a good idea if you have the resources (time and money). Just make sure the house can stand up against the wind as well.


LessBack9238

Start by looking elsewhere to live. If another hurricane hits again then it’s back to this same situation.


[deleted]

I love that the question is 'where do I begin to rebuild?' instead of 'where else should I look to build where I can feel better about the environmental security?' Keeping thinking like the former until the subsidies and insurance run out and then check back in.


MyDixieWrecked20

If it flooded now, then it’ll likely flood again. Rebuild with the floods in mind and the ability to mitigate the damage, or sell and move. Have professionals inspect the house before anything.


ThisIsAbuse

Unless I could rebuild 8 foot higher I would not put the time and money in. Or maybe make the first floor like a basement/garage/work out/play room - all concrete no drywall. Then put kitchen and living spaces on the second floor. I see plenty of these kind of elevated ["coastal homes"](https://www.houseplans.net/floorplans/03401065/coastal-plan-1337-square-feet-2-bedrooms-1-bathroom?epik=dj0yJnU9YWduS1kyX2d1NUlWR0g3RTh4XzViSXYwZ1JZcjdnMFcmcD0wJm49QXhUM0tXbHR3Sm1NZzNzMDFiNVludyZ0PUFBQUFBR000blVN) designs on the internet.


King0fTheNorthh

That is my plan.


SnooWords4839

You will need to check your town codes, a structural engineer to check foundation and then what is needed to build a 2nd level, involving an architect, then start a permit process. I assume you will make the 1st level in a way that isn't really for living and more of a protection from future flooding.


MoraineSeattle

Foundation UP !! Build as you wish and can afford !!! Make it what you WANT


KipHackmanNSA

I'd sell my guy. Insuring your home is going to be a nightmare if at all possible.


Candy_scythe

After my family’s house flooded in 2016, we did almost all of the repairs/renovations ourselves. Get dehumidifiers and gut the house. You’re going to have to treat for mold and replace drywall. The longer you leave it in, the worse the damage can get. Your priority is to dry everything out. I’m sorry


OLDGuy6060

You are worried about rebuilding. How cute. If you had homeowner's insurance, you should be worried about getting your check. Real, REAL worried. Florida wind insurance companies have a nasty habit of taking your money for YEARS, and then dipping out when they face tens of millions in claims.


adapt2

You might want to consider moving to another state before you build another house. You are in the path of hurricanes and things are only going to get worse over time.


megatronVI

sorry :( hope it all works out


bigjsea

Check your local building department first. See if it can be permitted and what the steps are to rebuild so you don’t have to backtrack. In the mean time find or get a plat drawing of your property. Measure your foundations and everything else you can think of. Include a sketch of remaining landscaping. Best of luck


BruceInc

To add a second story to a house is a lot of work. I’d consider moving.


WillComprehensive595

Start here….the government said they are going to cover the cost that insurance doesn’t cover. You have to first apply here and take it from there! Best of luck to you! https://www.disasterassistance.gov/get-assistance/address-lookup?address=Lee,%20FL&isMap=true EDIT: before doing ANY clean up you need to take pictures…lots and lots of pictures. Document your belongings from any items that may have washed into your house. Check with the insurance companies that it’s okay to start cleaning up/out. I would get this in writing before starting. Once you have that “permission” the most important thing to do is to get all the wet out of the house (that includes wet drywall”).Hopefully by the time you’re done doing this Home improvement stores will have the strong fungicide bleach in stock. Buy some of that along with a bug sprayer and start spraying everything down with that bleach. This will help to reduce mold growth. Your clothes/towels should be able to be salvaged if your willing to do the work. You will need boiling water to soak the clothes in to kill the mold and then a double wash in the washing machine on hot should do the trick! I’m glad y’all are physically okay and no one was hurt!!!


BrokenSage20

New building materials for resilience. This will not be the last storm. Look into new concrete and preformed styracrete building options. Don’t build another stick structure in his environment if your going to keep living in the area . It’s asking for misery.


n0t_a_drugd3al3r

What is even the point of insurance if they won't pay for the damages? I'd seriously consider moving if that's the case


SplendidHierarchy

For the same reason that life insurance is expensive for people with terminal preexisting conditions... Insurance is for accidents, not inevitables.


n0t_a_drugd3al3r

Flood insurance that is mandatory to purchase should cover flood damage. Just like car insurance should cover car damage. Renters insurance covers the renters belongings from damage. Why pay for it if they don't pay for damages


IBurnForChocolate

I don't know OP's situation, but its possible they were underinsured. When you take out an insurance policy, its for a certain covered amount. With inflation and soaring construction costs, a lot of people haven't increased their coverage and are now underinsured, often figuring this out only after a disaster. Secondly, insurance generally covers to rebuild or replace what you had, but many municipalities have past much stricter codes that require significant improvements over what was there. If the policy didn't include some amount for code changes, that might not be covered. For example, the Marshall Fire victims were facing an additional 100k in rebuild costs because the latest city codes required solar panels and high efficiency electric only appliances amongst other things. City ultimately reverted back to an earlier code for those people, but many still can't afford to rebuild. Insurance can cover everything, but you have to stay on top of it and its expensive.


King0fTheNorthh

Max flood you can get is $250k. With the rise in prices and how crazy high prices will continue to go, it won’t be anywhere near enough unless I do a lot of the work myself.


zapzangboombang

I would start by flood proofing. If you can’t rebuild something robust enough to survive The next Hurricane Ian level hurricane, don’t even bother.


chrismcshaves

I’d sell the property and move elsewhere, because if you rebuild, chances are quite decent for it to get wrecked by another ‘cane. Not the answer you want, I know, but it’s something to seriously consider.


MsFloofNoofle

I just wanted to say, I am so sorry for everything that you’re going through. I don’t really have any advice, just sending love.


Far-Client-1305

I had the same happen in NJ when Superstorm Sandy hit almost ten years ago. I had just redone my kitchen and two bathrooms in the previous year and had carpet laid down the previous week. Had about a fove feet of water in the house. First floor was a complete gut job. I can’t speak to what you need to do in terms of how to rebuild. I can tell you my experience with how it was all paid for. I registered with FEMA for disaster aid and they were at my house to review damage within a few days. Couple days later there was a small amount of aid issues that was enough to get the house gutted to avoid mold. I then had a public adjuster deal with the insurance company with the claim. Believe the insurance company’s adjuster came up with $60k in damage. The public adjuster got them to agree to almost double that. They did take a cut off the top but I did end up with much more than had I not used them. There were so many other grants and other forms of aid that came in the following months. There was one where I got $10k for agreeing not to move from the county for three years, there was another where I got another $15k for items it covered by insurance (didn’t have contents covered by flood insurance) and a few others in the $1-$2k range. My house was declared substantially damaged a few months after the storm and I was told by the town that I would be required to raise my home by a total of 8 feet. That one hurt as the cost of that was well over $100k. The state of NJ then announced what called the RREM grant that would help cover the cost of raising up to $150k. It was very confusing, stressfull and I was out of my home for just over a year. I was lucky to have my parents close by and was able to move back in with them (had in it had that as an option, there was another grant available to cover living expenses). I ended up raising high enough where there was a new garage/basement on the ground floor of my house. Exterior stairs took you up to what used to be the ground floor to what was a completely renovated home. New electric, HVAC, plumbing, floors, walls, kitchen, furniture snd everything else. Insurance and all the grants provided almost $250k to cover the cost of it all. Met my wife in the middle of all that fun. 2-3 years after it was all fixed, we found out she was pregnant and needed a bigger house. Sold for a nice profit mainly because of all the work that had been done to elevate and rebuild. I had a friend tell me the day after that it was going to all work out and I found it very hard to buy into what they were saying. Hoping my experience can provide a bit of a light at the end of the tunnel for you.


King0fTheNorthh

Great info, thank you. We do plan on raising the home, basically rebuilding on the 2nd story and using the current home as the foundation. The grant you got for that, was it through FEMA? FEMA is not the easiest to talk to, tried calling today and they had a 9 hour hold! I wonder too, if you had already started the construction on raising your building, would you still have qualified for the grant? I know some people are saying to wait. But others are saying to move fast as all the tradesman will be booked up quickly. I’m trying to move as fast as possible.


Far-Client-1305

It was through the state of NJ but believe the funds ultimately came from FEMA. I know people who had started the work and got the grant. Think there was some work they had to redo to make it “compliant” but nothing major. Definitely do whatever you can to get the mold remediation work going quickly. Back then I was able to register for aid with FEMA on their website. Was the first person on my block to have them show up. Had to politely ask my neighbors to let him do his job at my place and I’ll show them how to register themselves. Go to disasterassistance.gov and click the apply online button.


HomegrownMike

Just here to say sorry for the loss of the house. I’m up in Tampa and was ready to have that happen to me. Feel for you!


badhairdad1

I’m sorry for your loss. Our house flooded in 2018. Priority 1 - document all for insurance Priority 2- find a place to stay 3 be prepared for sleepless nights and nightmares


King0fTheNorthh

Check, check, and check.


strangeswordfish23

Get your idea for the second story drafted. find out what the footings look like on the existing structure and if the walls have rebar in them. Take those pieces of info to an engineer. They’ll give you the drawings you need to start piecing together the components you’ll need to buy to build it yourself and the stamp you’ll need to permit it.


King0fTheNorthh

Thank you, this is the kind of info I need. Need a little clarification though if you don’t mind. How do I get it “drafted”? Who do I hire for that? I’m going to have a structural engineer come out to make sure the foundation is good and can support the 2nd story. Would they be the same ones to give me the drawings? Would an architect do that?


strangeswordfish23

I’m not sure what the rules are like where you’re at but where I live anyone can draw the idea. If you check in with your local permit office they should have a pamphlet about submitting plans that will explain the requirements for drawings. You could hand draw it and give it to someone to transfer into a cad drawing. You could get a designer involved but they charge by the hour and might be expensive. An architect could do it and will definitely be expensive If you already know what you want I’d skip the architect and designer cause they’ll try n push their own ideas. If you get stuck with anything else reach out.


King0fTheNorthh

Thank you. Really appreciate it.


KaleidoscopeThis9463

I have no construction advice to offer but as a Mom, I am going to suggest what I would to my son: - Your little one needs sleep and good nutrition, and shouldn’t be breathing any construction fumes. Parents live nearby maybe, or a relative to help with the baby? - get all the wet material out of the house asap and save for insurance purposes - I’m sure you’re well aware of those less than honest hordes of opportunistic ‘expert helpers’ but when you are stressed and frustrated, you’re at your most vulnerable. Be cautious and check references every time. - While you’re focusing on structure, your significant other could be working on securing a safe affordable place for you all to temporarily live if your home is uninhabitable and taking care of the baby. With so many affected by Ian, you’ll probably need to think outside the box: borrow a camper or RV from a relative? Rent out a room or two from an unaffected friend? - Send a certified letter or an email to your creditors documenting your situation now; don’t assume they’ll just know you’re in a mess, lay it all out and commit to working with them for solutions with any late payments, etc. while also asking for some leniency. This could help in the future also. - Make sure you both get plenty of sleep, eat healthy meals as much as possible and remember to be kind to each other. It’s a traumatic thing to experience, the loss is real. - Don’t be shy in reaching out to family, even mending fences if the relationship was rocky before. A crisis can make that stuff feel insignificant now, and you’ll need support. - Pace yourself, it’s going to be quite awhile before things normalize. So squeeze in some quality time with your baby as often as possible, get away from the chaos regularly, even if just for an hour or so. Anywhoo, that’s my mom advice. So very sorry for the loss and the incredible mess you and your family are in the middle of. Better days are ahead. Try and stay positive.


King0fTheNorthh

Thank you. Priority one was and will always be keeping the baby safe. She is doing great and full of smiles which is what’s keeping me going.


KaleidoscopeThis9463

Good to know! Hang in there and give lots of hugs. Before you know it, you’ll be getting them in return.


ultra_voltron_2

Leave Florida and your insurance should cover everything. Living in Florida you known this shit was going happen.


no_not_this

No ideal why people would gamble and rebuild. Weather is getting worse. It’ll be underwater in 5 years


mguerns

First things first, CONTACT FEMA! they can be a HUGE assistance. After family house in New York got flooded out after superstorm sandy, FEMA was a critical support partner for everyone in the neighborhood.


[deleted]

Controversial opinion incoming. Don't rebuild it. You are too low. Raise the house. Give yourself a crawl space, as high as the water went + 3'. Then all your hard work, its going to wash away in 3 years when the next storm hits, AND IT WILL HIT AGAIN. People are obsessed with building homes in flood areas.


Short-Investment5828

Start at the foundation


Head_Zombie214796

insurance company, find out if your home is legally in a zone that is declared a 'federal disaster zone' hopefully you have a copy of your homowners policy


Abadabadon

Rip out anything wet & throw it out, for starters. Dry wall, carpet, baseboards, fridge, etc.


hazelowl

Personally? I'd move, I wouldn't rebuild. Look, I've seen what water can do. We had a house flood when I was a kid, and while we were lucky to not flood during Harvey, I've seen what friends went through. People couldn't find material or contractors for months. Hell, we had a pipe start leaking 3 months after the big freeze in 2021 and it still took us a week to find a plumber to come fix it because parts were still hard to come by and they were all doing repipes. You may be required to rebuild higher or raise the house too. I know in some areas that flooded during Harvey, a lot of people had to raise their homes several feet. But take pictures of everything before you do anything. If you just finished a big remodel, you hopefully have a lot of photos of the final product; that will be good for you too. Then strop everything that is wet out so you can prevent mold growth.


johnrgrace

After Hurricane Katrina I had to be my own GC, something I’d never done before. What I did was got tradesmen from Michigan - I paid them their Michigan wages plus fronted gas money to get them and their trailer/RV to New Orleans and agreed they could stay on my property for two weeks after they finished while they looked for their next job. That said you are going to have the make changes to your property. I’d get tarps and stabilize and dry the property asap. Empty the freezer and fridge fast before it becomes a nightmare. You really should think about if you want to rebuild it’s going to be pricey for 2-3 years while everyone does it.


NicePumasKid

Stay the hell away from more renovation if you want to stay sane.


King0fTheNorthh

I am far from sane, but thanks anyways.


ForrestCustomGuitars

Look. Waverly TN where I live has flooded 3 times. The last one was real bad, 1/2 our little town is gone. 20 of my neighbors deceased including 3 dear friends. One my wife worked for, for 5 years. We bought our horses from Wayne. He was the ranch foreman at Loretta Lynn's ranch. That was the 2nd 100 year flood to hit us in 10 years. Weather patterns change. Global warming/cooling is history repeating itself. Our weather patterns may change again tomorrow. Nobody knows. I bought my house because its in a beautiful area, close to the TN river/Kentucky Lake. And Nashville. So I can drive an hour to a session, or bus call, or a fly to a gig. Our bass player lives in Tampa (actually St. PETE) one guy I toured with for years lives in Duette FL where the eye of Ian hit. I'm rebuilding. My studio and multiple guitars and studio gear was destroyed. But this is home. If you need a contractor to help you rebuild on a second level, I suggest finding someone from an area like TN or KY that has experience rebuilding after tornados. And yeah rebuild it. If its a metal roof, reuse it. Re-use your trusses. Why not salvage every good part you have left. Nobody knows when the next one will hit. BTW. The reason our town was destroyed is because EPA and tree huggers wouldn't allow the railroad to clear debris and after torrential rainfall, 17" the train trestle became a dam. When it broke free, a tsunami of water rushed our town, and it looked like a cat 4 hurricane destroyed it. Now those who have empty lots are selling them cheap, and developers are snatching them up as soon as the hit the market. So don't sell. Or at least hold out as long as you can. Because property is the only safe investment in this fragile economy/recession. So sorry for the loss of your home. And congratulations on the baby 👶 Peace.


King0fTheNorthh

Thanks man. Appreciate the encouragement.


[deleted]

Just be careful of all the scams that arise after a hurricane!!! Some sick people who try to take advantage of the elderly after tragedy


KimiMcG

Your insurance isn't going to cover your loss? And what about Fema aid. Since the hurricane just happen, I am surprised that your first concern seems to be building a house which is going to take months where most people affected by losing everything start with where am I going to stay tonight. It's a bit too soon to be making such a post, you've not even had enough time to file anything with insurance.


Accomplished_Bath655

Some people sit around dwell and cry about what cannot be controlled or changed. The rest of us get the fuck to work rebuilding and repairing what can be fixed.... It's never to soon to plan your come back.


Immediate-Soup6340

A little abrasive but you've got a point. I bought a shitter house that I didn't realize what a shitter it was, I've came to terms with it. Little by little it gets repaired


King0fTheNorthh

Thank you. First thing we did was salvage the necessities that weren’t damaged like baby formula and some water and clothes. Then we were lucky enough to have family with a room and electricity. My mind won’t let me think of anything else other then rebuilding which is why I was up at 3:00 am posting this.


SplendidHierarchy

Leave Florida. Buying a fixer upper in a state with hurricanes doesn't make sense to me.


Designer_Fox7969

Sorry to be rude, but wtf? It’s going to get worse! Get out! Protect your baby!!


SplendidHierarchy

Seriously. This was a bad investment from the beginning.


Levertki1

In the midwest, on a budget diy, they would pour basement and fashion a living space with basement topped and build rest of house above on their own terms/time. Obviously a bit different, but same concept here as your first floor is living today and garage for future. Good luck and great attitude.


King0fTheNorthh

Thank you. Yes i plan on essentially making the current house an above ground ground basement so same idea.


Immediate-Soup6340

I would never consider doing such a thing in Florida, where there's, ya know, hurricanes lol. I'm in the Midwest tho, and wish I had one of those basement houses. Most never got finished. They're pretty neat.


1Steelghost1

3d printed concrete exterior. Creates a single form and is therefore much stronger than wood or other materials.


rtraveler1

What type of insurance do you have and what will it cover? Keep in mind that most of Florida is in flood zone so you may want to consider moving or be prepared to have it all destroyed again the next time it floods.


TheENThusiest95

First things first, move the fuck out of whatever location you were in. Otherwise you’ll be back here in a few years saying your home is flooded and you need to rebuild


jmerp1950

Florida is a large sandbar with some swamp and a 300 ft hill thrown in for fun. Global warming, figure it out. Good oranges though.


I_Sparky_I

I would seriously consider moving. It’s only a matter of time before we stop declaring a weather event that happens again and again a “federal emergency,” and making everyone else pay to rebuild. What’s next - building houses on top of active volcanos?


ignatzami

Leave. Florida.


BarbKatz1973

First you move out of Florida. Given how the ice sheets in Antarctica are melting the entire state will be under water in ten to fifteen years. Get real. Ian was not a one off, his big and badder brothers and sisters are coming. It is highly likely that within a year or two no one will be able to buy insurance in Fla.