Brook Patterson
Building A Bunker With All The Comforts Of Home.
Millard Gamble lives on the southernmost tip of Pass-A-Grille Beach in Tampa" target="_blank">Pinellas County, surrounded by water as far as the eye can see.
For peace of mind, he built another house, due east and 44 feet above sea level, with a builder who is on the cutting edge of stormproof construction.
Now Gamble sleeps soundly, knowing his family will have shelter from the storm in the event of a major hurricane.
“Two and a half years ago, we had to evacuate from home and office again and again,” Gamble explains, “and all of our important business files and equipment had to be moved every time. I resorted to renting rooms in hotels and trying to live and work from there.”?
Consequently, Gamble logged hours of research into construction techniques, hurricane-safe products and leading-edge home design. That’s how he learned about David Helms of Signature-Built Homes.
Says Helms: “The basic idea involved the creation of a modest home that could shelter Millard’s family during an extended evacuation period and provide safe storage for business documents and equipment. Basically, we built him a bunker.”
The three-bedroom, two-bath Key West-style home is now complete. There’s a generator that could supply power for a week or so and the home incorporates storm protection techniques throughout, from its specially-attached roof to the reinforced foundation.
Gamble is pleased with his new home’s appearance but even more satisfied with what he can’t see.
“David built safety into the walls, around each window and door, from the trusses tied to the ground,” Gamble says. “I’m confident that my loved ones and my property will be protected. We can be there in just 15 minutes but during a hurricane, this house will be a world away.”??
For peace of mind, he built another house, due east and 44 feet above sea level, with a builder who is on the cutting edge of stormproof construction.
Now Gamble sleeps soundly, knowing his family will have shelter from the storm in the event of a major hurricane.
“Two and a half years ago, we had to evacuate from home and office again and again,” Gamble explains, “and all of our important business files and equipment had to be moved every time. I resorted to renting rooms in hotels and trying to live and work from there.”?
Consequently, Gamble logged hours of research into construction techniques, hurricane-safe products and leading-edge home design. That’s how he learned about David Helms of Signature-Built Homes.
Says Helms: “The basic idea involved the creation of a modest home that could shelter Millard’s family during an extended evacuation period and provide safe storage for business documents and equipment. Basically, we built him a bunker.”
The three-bedroom, two-bath Key West-style home is now complete. There’s a generator that could supply power for a week or so and the home incorporates storm protection techniques throughout, from its specially-attached roof to the reinforced foundation.
Gamble is pleased with his new home’s appearance but even more satisfied with what he can’t see.
“David built safety into the walls, around each window and door, from the trusses tied to the ground,” Gamble says. “I’m confident that my loved ones and my property will be protected. We can be there in just 15 minutes but during a hurricane, this house will be a world away.”??