PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. – In a striking display of determination and self-reliance, a Florida homeowner fed up with repeated flooding from the 2024 hurricanes has taken an extraordinary step: elevating her entire house 24 feet off the ground rather than packing up and moving.
The unidentified homeowner in Pinellas County told local media she has no desire to leave her property but refuses to deal with another round of storm surge and water damage. The ambitious project, expected to wrap up by December, carries a hefty price tag of $575,000 and includes plans to add a new lower level beneath the existing structure.
Workers from Modern House and Building Movers are handling the lift using temporary wooden cribbing to support the home during construction. Kristi Robinson, with the company, noted the unusual height."Typically, we do 12 to 14 feet, sometimes ten. But 24 feet, this is the first," Robinson said. The process involves forming engineered columns around the house, building beams, and then removing the temporary supports.
The move comes as many coastal Florida residents face tougher building requirements and flood insurance realities in the wake of Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) rules often mandate elevations in flood zones to qualify for future coverage, pushing homeowners to adapt or sell.
Videos of the elevated home, shared widely on social media, have ignited a mix of reactions. Some praise the ingenuity and commitment to staying put in hurricane-prone areas, calling it a smart long-term investment in resilience. Others question whether the towering structure can withstand high winds, joking about "treehouse living" or the challenges of daily stairs.
"This is the history of Florida," one observer noted in coverage of the project. "We don't want to see high rises."
Elevating homes is not new along the Gulf Coast, where residents have adapted to flooding risks for generations from post-Katrina builds in Louisiana and Mississippi to Outer Banks properties in North Carolina. Many use the ground level for garages, storage, or breakaway walls designed to handle surge without compromising the living space above.
