These past couple weeks have been busy ones in the Caribbean due to large hurricanes getting a lot of media attention, and rightfully so. These storms were large and dangerous, the kind you see once in decades. Starting with Hurricane Harvey decimating Houston, and then the even larger Hurricane Irma who leveled a couple of Caribbean Islands before hitting Florida. These storms did extensive damage and caused loss of life, but should they deter you from buying in the Caribbean?
How Common are Hurricanes in the Caribbean?
Obviously this is a tough one to answer as it varies depending on location. Most islands however only see storms every few years, and even then its usually only a glancing blow. These glancing blows or lower speed storms do not tend to do a lot of damage other than to landscaping. In terms of storms like we saw over the past couple weeks, these are very unusual and not at all something you would expect to see very often.
When you look at Florida or Texas, you can count on one hand the big storms that have hit these locations over the past 25 years. Yes they are terrible, and should not be taken lightly, however they are hardly a deterrent for those who loving living in these locations.
Construction Standards are High in the Caribbean
Because the Caribbean does see hurricanes every year, construction standards are high and homes are made to withstand these storms. Hurricane proof windows, cinder block construction, and specially designed roofing systems all aid in keeping your home safe during the most powerful of storms. Again, generally landscaping tends to be the hardest hit during most storms.
These extras will obviously add to the cost of your home, but they are a must when building in the tropics. As you see in Florida this week, mobile homes don’t fair well in extreme weather.
Will Storms Become More Powerful?
This is a tough question to answer, we really don’t know. It’s definitely too soon to say this is the new norm, but it should cause us concern that what we are doing is having terrible ramifications around the globe.
In summary, hurricanes are a fact of life in the Caribbean, however they should not deter you from buying your dream home in paradise. Do your research into your island of choice to see for yourself, hurricanes happen but are not normally what we experienced this past week.
