When a hurricane swept through Mark Famiglia's home in Sarasota, Florida, he could never have guessed that a second hurricane would occur only 10 days later. The scale of devastation between the two weather systems was immense, with nearly $2 million of damage caused.
So, how does a home come back from such damage? 'With friends and subcontractors, cleanup and mold remediation started the very next day,' Mark says.
Here, Mark shares his renovation story and the careful steps he took to futureproof the property, highlighting the importance of preparing your home for hurricane season.
This Sarasota estate suffered devastating damage from two hurricanes in 10 days
For more than 35 years, Mark has personally overseen the construction, renovation, and stewardship of his sprawling peninsula estate, located on 725 feet of shoreline at the southern end of Mandalay Point Lane, Siesta Key, with unobstructed views north, east, and south.
'The main home, which I built more than 35 years ago, is a post-and-beam concrete design with soaring spaces, a 36-foot foyer, and walls of glass,' says Mark.
The main residence is made of glass and concrete, and has a guest house, gym pavilion, adjoining garages, 200-foot driveway, covered boathouse complete the waterfront elements and a five-foot-thick seawall surrounding the 7,500 ft property.
These elements testify to the stunning grandeur of this sweeping property; making a home emergency-ready is often a different story.
In Mark's case, just before the back-to-back hurricanes in September of 2024, his estate had undergone a full renovation and a meticulous landscaping project.
'The grounds featured a royal palm grove, xeriscape cactus gardens, Caribbean boulders highlighted by artful lighting, and expansive pool systems,' he explains.
All this, however, soon suffered devastating damage.
'The storm surge destroyed the wood floors, cabinetry, appliances, and pool equipment; the palm grove was largely lost; the driveway collapsed six feet deep, exposing water and sewer lines; and debris piled along the road in towering mounds,' he recalls.
'The first storm required full evacuation, and despite extensive cleanup and immediate remediation, a second hurricane struck 10 days later, battering the home with reversing winds of over 115 miles per hour. This came only months after an eight-month renovation of the entire property.'
Additionally, says Rachel Blindauer, an award-winning interior designer who worked on the Sarasota project, the hurricanes also 'necessitated the removal of drywall, replacement of appliances, rewiring of electrical systems, reconstruction of the docks and more.'
But what this property proudly highlights, says Mark, is 'a story not only of architecture and design, but of resilience and renewal.'
Indeed, with dead fish littering the living room and nearly two million dollars in damage to put right, restoration began immediately.
'The foresight in construction allowed for rapid recovery,' says Mark. 'Electrical systems could be replaced swiftly, and structural integrity was preserved. Cleanup and mold remediation began the very next day, with the support of friends and subcontractors.'
The key in this renovation, however, was doing whatever was possible to future-proof the property against further extreme weather.
How Mark future-proofed the property
According to designer Rachel, while the value of the damage caused was in excess of $2 million, 'The rebuild cumulative cost exceeded $1 million, not including the emotional toll and constant rebuilding work from the homeowner.'
From this experience, she says, the main takeaway was that 'building it right the first time equals far fewer headaches down the road.'
Here are her top tips:
- Material selection: 'Make the most of concrete and water-resistant materials that can withstand flooding.'
- Furnishings: 'Choose cost-effective, easily replaceable furniture instead of high-end pieces. Treat a home on the Gulf like a beach shack, then fly to your second home during hurricane season. Just enjoy the beautiful weather and water. Don't treat it like your forever home, or store important documents there.' If you do have to keep anything important in the property, or indeed any property, we recommend using a fireproof and waterproof document bag, available at Amazon.
- Electrical Systems: 'Elevate electrical systems above potential flood levels. Use refrigerators that have the compressor on the top, because they have a better chance of surviving water intrusion.'
- Tile: 'Use natural stone tile, not wood floors or carpet.' This will save you from having to get water out of a carpet, but if your home is already carpeted, using a wet/dry vacuum, such as the Armor Wet/Dry Utility Vac available at Amazon, and your best dehumidifier can really help after any significant flooding.
Mark also considered installing flood gates, but found the time and cost it would take to install these, along with the scant availability of labor, made it untenable.
That being said, he adds, 'The removal of flooring and installation of less porous stone flooring throughout, coupled with raising electric outlets, will allow us to significantly lower rebuild costs in the event of another disaster,' Mark explains. 'Wooden kitchen cabinets were removed and replaced with stainless steel.
'I have also purchased several ozonation units [which eliminate odors, mold, bacteria and viruses] and several high-capacity dehumidifiers.
'All of the seven air conditioning compressors have been elevated an additional five feet, and spare well pumps have been purchased, together with electric generators, which will enable me to flood all landscaping and sod immediately after a weather event, to reduce the impact of salt water from floods.'
As Rachel adds, 'In hurricane-risk areas, the true luxury is the weather, the water and peace of mind, not opulence,' which is crucial to keep in mind when future-proofing a home from extreme weather and devastation.
In this instance, Mark's home is not only a reflection of his vision for contemporary coastal design – it's a testament to his resilience, determination, and lifelong passion for bringing beauty and endurance together in the places he calls home. That's the lasting tale this property tells.
Hurricane preparedness essentials
If you're concerned about the risk of hurricanes in your area, learning how to pack a DIY hurricane preparedness kit can arm you against the worst. Here are some essentials our experts recommend including in your go bag. Keep it stocked and placed somewhere elevated and accessible.
All prices were correct at the time of publication.
This emergency radio features three power sources for when you need it most, with a crank lever, solar panels, and AAA batteries to ensure you have power when you're unable to generate it. It will also dependably receive up-to-the-second emergency weather forecasts and emergency news broadcasts, and can provide a much-needed light source in nighttime emergencies.
If disaster strikes, keep yourself and your family or friends fed with this compact stove, which is made of durable materials and features wind protection to ensure consistent cooking performance, even in extreme weather conditions.
This BPA-free water storage container holds 20 liters, offering a food-grade, odor-free taste with a light, compact, portable, leak-free design that can be reused again and again.
When plugged in, these emergency flashlights switch on automatically during power outages, with superior LED technology that can illuminate objects up to 30 meters away.
This all-purpose, compact, portable first aid kit contains everything you might need in an emergency, filled with doctor-recommended brands.
This power station offers a safe and steady power supply, which can recharge itself and charge up to six devices at once.
Meet Mark
It's not just hurricanes that can cause extensive and expensive damage to your property. It's also important to prepare your home for thunderstorms and protect your home from flooding, too.
