Myth Bust #2 – Mobile homes will not “blow away” in a storm
October 15, 2013
Sometimes, we’ve even had residents from nearby apartments wait out storms in our mobile home park shelters!
My hair dresser mentioned to me that she is downsizing out of her high-maintenance, three-story house. I asked her if she considered
manufactured housing? Her impression is that they’re not safe. I asked whatever gave her that idea? Seems that when she was a kid, her family lived in a “trailer” that would rock back and forth in the wind. This would naturally frighten a small child. It was an eight foot wide home, probably vintage 1950s or 1960s.
No wonder!
Fact: new installation and construction laws have made mobile homes and manufactured homes more sturdy and reliable than ever.
The Manufactured Housing Institute has some great information about manufactured home safety:
·Building materials in today’s manufactured home are the same as those used in site-built homes.
·Homes are engineered for wind safety and energy efficiency based on the geographic region in which they are sold.
·Manufactured homes are among the safest housing choices available today due to federal laws requiring smoke detectors, escape windows, and limited combustible materials around furnaces, water heaters and kitchen ranges.
·Properly installed homes can withstand 120-130 mph 3-second gust winds in areas prone to hurricanes.
In addition to factory built homes being much safer than they used to be, all Hames Communities have storm shelters; our larger communities have two! For our residents’ safety, the storm shelters have concrete foundations and floor with brick clad masonry or concrete walls. The ceilings are precast hollow core concrete planks covered with a steep roof and asphalt shingles.
Sometimes, we’ve even had residents from nearby apartments wait out storms in our mobile home park shelters! Talk about a sense of safety.
Come and see why our manufactured home communities are the best in eastern Iowa. Call us today at 319-377-4863 and we’ll show you why our residents love our friendly, safe neighborhoods and beautiful homes.