Florida's 'vulnerable' homes survive storm with light damage

Key Largo, Florida

WHEN Lorraine Tucker came back after Hurricane Irma to check on her two-bedroom mobile home, she expected the worst.

She and her daughter had ridden out the storm at their homes in Miami, and the two had made the 70-mile drive together. They were aware of reports that the Florida Keys had been among the hardest-hit parts of the state.

When they inspected her home, which Ms Tucker had bought nine months ago, they found that the aluminium carport had been blown away, as had a small strip of the metal roof. But that was it.

"Inside it was perfect, no damage, no water," said her daughter, Jennifer Lappen.

Florida has almost 850,000 mobile homes, more than any other state, and they were considered especially vulnerable during Hurricane Irma's rampage. …