Secrets of the Incredible “Hurricane-Proof” Florida Town That Rode Out Milton With Ease



Babcock Ranch — a community that opened in 2018 — managed to effortlessly ride out Hurricane Milton, while most of Florida experienced immense destruction. While they did experience some downed traffic lights and trees, the residents of Babcock Ranch never lost power. That’s because the city was specifically built to withstand hurricanes. Buildings can withstand winds of 150mph, and power lines are buried underground so they can’t be toppled by the wind. The town, which is set to expand to 35,000 residents, is also built on wetlands, vastly reducing the chances of flooding. Hurricane Milton whipped across the Sunshine State last week, leaving more than 3 million residents without power. Babcock Ranch still made sure to prepare for the storm by turning a local school and sports facility into shelters for evacuees, as residents from nearby Fort Myers made their way to the city for cover. The town also has 150-megawatt solar farms and an underground transmission system that kept the community’s electricity on when other towns were without power. Homes in the community range from $300,000 to more than $4 million.