Professional storm chaser reveals his new Mississippi home built to withstand 200mph hurricanes: Frame is bolted to foundations, and property is raised by 23ft to avoid storm surges
Professional storm chaser unveils his new home in Mississippi, built to withstand 200 mph hurricanes
- Josh Morgerman is currently building a home that he says can withstand Category Five hurricanes
- The property, in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, sits 25 feet above sea level and can withstand winds of 200 mph, according to Morgerman
- The area had previously been devastated by Hurricanes Katrina and Camille
A professional storm chaser has unveiled his newly built hurricane bunker in Mississippi, which can withstand winds of 200 mph.
Josh Morgerman, aka iCyclone, shared Fox news that he was on a mission to build a home that can withstand Category Five hurricane-force winds.
Morgerman’s new building, in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, is 25 feet above sea level, which he says will help combat any storm surge.
The interior has been reinforced and a roof has been added that can withstand winds of 200 mph.
According to Morgerman, 53, Bay St. Louis is ground zero for hurricanes, having previously been devastated by Hurricanes Katrina and Camille.
Morgenman, pictured here, is a professional storm chaser and is currently building a home in Mississippi
The interior has been reinforced and a roof has been added that can withstand winds of 200 mph
Morgenman told Fox, “I’ve seen this happen a lot in buildings and homes during hurricanes.
“Everything is fine until a window breaks and the wind comes in, and it’s like a balloon that gets in and starts to look like it’s wreaking havoc and maybe blows the roof off.”
To combat this, Morgerman had the frame bolted to the foundation and reinforced the house from all angles.
He continued, “Making sure the frame of the house is bolted to the foundation and making sure the roof is bolted to the top plate, those are really important things.
“Really focusing on those connection points with straps with clips and using a lot of them, it’s just something anyone can do.”
In addition to the fortified interior, the house is 7 meters above sea level to combat storm surges.
He said, “This is one of the things that will give me an edge when it comes to flooding from storm surges.
“The floor of the house is quite high, there may be events when the storm surge actually reaches the property, but the house is fine.”
One of the additions that help weather storms is the property’s elevated height
Morgerman has said the roof of the house, pictured here, can withstand winds of 200 mph
The contractor with Paramount Contracting Beau Ladner said building resilient homes is gaining popularity.
Lander told the outlet, “It’s starting to get more popular because of the insurance prices.
“People are starting to take notice and say, hey, if I do this I can save 30% on my insurance.
“I can spend $4 or $5,000 right now and save 30% over the life of my home.
Morgenman hopes to finish building the house in the fall
Federal Alliance for Safe Homes president and CEO Leslie Chapman-Henderson said, “He is building a house using the highest standards in our country.
“We’re really happy to see him doing that he’s spreading the word about how important it is.
‘Whether a house is hurricane-resistant, time will tell. But if there’s a house that has a shot at being hurricane-proof or hurricane-proof, this is it.”
Morgerman hopes to complete construction on the house in the fall and that the building will weather the next storm on the Gulf Coast.