Hurricane Matthew is making big news this hurricane season. Meteorologists are saying it’s the most powerful Atlantic tropical storm in nearly a decade with winds of 145 miles per hour. Granted, more than a few homes along the Atlantic coast and in the Caribbean will be destroyed by the storm.
What tiny houses are best for hurricanes?
If you are looking to purchase or build a tiny house that could possibly survive a hurricane, these five tiny houses might be your best bet. These designs are built to withstand heavy winds and rain or are designed to be moved quickly during an evacuation. The most destructive portion of hurricanes are storm surge and flooding, and any home (except for elevated homes on stilts or pilings) could be destroyed by flood waters. In that case, plan for an evacuation, with or without your tiny house in tow.
The Cubicco Cabana is the only tiny house on the market that can withstand Category 5 winds.
Cubicco Cabana
The Cubicco is the only tiny house design that has been specifically engineered for extreme weather events. The designs have been approved by the State of Florida and the company can claim their products are able to sustain a Category 5 hurricane. The Cubicco Cabana modular tiny house is 8×12 and costs $17,000. The full package includes all materials such as insulation, finishes, roofing, steel support legs and lifting brackets and all screws, bolts and sealants. Optional packages like rainwater catchment and solar panels are extra. If things get really bad, the Cubicco is designed to be relocated.
Atelierworkshop’s Port-a-Bach can be closed up against any storm.
Port-A-Bach Shipping Container Home
Tiny house fans either love or hate shipping container homes, but you can’t deny that these homes can withstand some hellish winds. Not only are they heavy and made of steel, but they can be closed up in case of heavy storms. Atelierworkshop in New Zealand custom designs the Port-A-Bach home, but other builders like Tim Steele and G-pod build container homes around the world.
Deltec Homes offers a 300 square foot design that can withstand heavy winds.
Deltec Homes
Prefab Deltec Homes have plans starting at 300 square feet and these round dwellings are designed to offer protection from high winds. Energy from wind is dispersed around the home instead of building up in a single area, and the roof pitch of these homes (6/12) deflects wind and reduces lift. Deltec Homes also have reinforced windows with impact glass to prevent wind and water from entering the house.
The Sol Duc Cabin is on stilts and can be completely closed up with steel panels.
Sol Duc Cabin
If you really need to lift up your home above flood waters, the Sol Duc Cabin by Olson Kundig Architects is a beautiful design. The 350 square foot cabin is clad in steel and raised up on stilts. The entire structure can be shuttered up against wind and rain.
The experimental Truffle looks doesn’t look like it’s going to blow anywhere.
![[©(c)Roland Halbe; Veroeffentlichung nur gegen Honorar, Urhebervermerk und Beleg / Copyrightpermission required for reproduction, Photocredit: Roland Halbe]](https://150057231.v2.pressablecdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Truffle-tinyhouse.jpg)
Nature seems to weather storms better than houses do. If you are looking to hide away from storms and don’t have to worry about flooding, the experimental boulder-like Truffle house by Spain’s Ensamble Studio might be your choice. The Truffle is made of local soil, hay bales and concrete. The building of the strange house took several years and the interior was actually created by a calf named Paulina. It’s not the most practical of options, but might be a plan for any future storms.
By Christina Nellemann for the [Tiny House Blog]
I have to wonder how well the Sol Duc cabin would fare with really high winds pushing against that massive overhang. Wind is like fingers grabbing any protrusions and pulling. There are also massive deflection forces at play on large sheets of glass so you want to hope you’re around to close that huge shutter and keep it from being another wind toy as well. The un-named orange container house also looks like wind would be able to push on the underside too much.
I believe that massive overhang is a sliding window cover.
I understand the difference between an overhang and a sliding cover, which is only a plus if you happen to be around to close it before the wind picks up. What I’m referring to is the extended front portion of the roof.
Tie-downs refer to the systems of heavy-duty straps and anchors that are used to keep your home stable during storms. There are several different types of anchors depending on what type of ground you are on. One thing we have heard from a lot of builders and owners is that tiny house trailers should have dee rings so the trailers can be tied down. Many come with these dee rings, but if not, they can be welded on, preferably long before a storm is headed your way!
Great article! I was just wondering about all of this myself being a long-term FL resident.
Aside from housing there’s also other things to consider- can you get out of your home via your road, or will it be blocked or swept away? What about power, food, water, emergency medical access, etc. Lots to consider. I’d go with the Deltec myself 🙂
Monolithic domes/concrete thin shell construction (monolithic.org) are really the only homes that will give full protection from strong hurricanes. Likely most people don’t care for the aesthetics of the shape, but it can be made beautiful with the right design elements.
DO you do a complete turnkey for the home, and do you cover California for construction? Please advise.
Those panels close up to make it a cube shape…but if they are left open lit would be a craZy ride !! Great ideas on all of them . My tiny house for now is a 40ft Tuscany RV ,our goal is to drive around the country and fine a spot to start tiny roots of our own..fully sustainable off grid ..Tiny House ,Big Living !
Do you like the west U.S. and do you like the desert?
good examples of strong houses