News

September 19, 2017
Especially for non-Florida residents, hurricanes can be a very scary thing. The fact is that our area has rarely received the brunt of a storm.

Before last week’s visit by Irma, it had been over a decade since the last major hurricane hit our area. Mobile home safety, regulations, and construction have only improved in that time, and our communities have grown and strengthened. As a note, our communities have fared well in all prior storms, even prior to new construction.

There are dangers no matter where you live in our country. The North has blizzards, the Midwest has tornadoes, the Pacific Islands have volcanoes, and Florida has hurricanes. It comes with the territory of living in this beautiful state, and we consider ourselves fortunate to prepare for these events – unlike many other natural phenomena. With the advancements in news and social media, you can adequately plan for a storm. It does not just sneak up on you in the middle of the night, and for those who feel the need to seek shelter, there are always numerous public shelters open during the storm.

You may have heard that Hurricane Irma was a massive storm whose “eye” encompassed Central Florida. Yet, even in the eye of the storm, our communities were largely unscathed. The effects of this storm were minor in Cypress Creek Village and Winter Haven Oaks, and no homes were left severely damaged or uninhabitable. Why? Because we believe in preparation, safety, and follow-up. While we did everything we could to protect our residents, we also laid the groundwork for recovery after the storm. Homes and common areas were cleaned and secured. Residents were given as much information on local resources and shelters as possible. Our managers were prepared for what may come.

When the storm cleared, CRF Communities employees and volunteers assembled to help with clean-up and supply distribution. CRF sent food trucks to communities that were temporarily without power to offer free food and, ultimately, relief from everyday stresses such as planning a meal and cooking. We genuinely care for our residents, and it was our pleasure to serve them.

These storms often serve as a blessing. They tend to unite neighbors and strangers and allow the good to outshine the bad even when times seem tough. We are so proud of our CRF family and residents, and we know there is always plenty of sunshine awaiting us on the other side of every storm.

Our communities did not only survive the storm; they thrived!

A Note from Cypress Creek Village Community Manager:

As you know, Cypress Creek Village came through the hurricane with barely a scratch.   I was curious why that was the case and have asked many residents about their experiences.

Close to a dozen residents stayed home to weather the storm, even though the state urged the area to evacuate. I have spoken with almost all of them, and they all tell the same story as follows:

• The wind and rain were abundant
• Their house did not shake at all
• Their home did not leak at all
• Their home held up fine on the inside and out throughout the hurricane.
• Returning residents are reporting that none of the pictures on their walls are crooked!

I attribute the excellent performance of these homes to the strict building and design standards that are in place