A Florida man strapped his house down using cargo bands in an inventive way to protect it from Hurricane Milton. His unorthodox tactic went viral right away because many people were unsure if his property would survive the hurricane.
Residents of Florida braced themselves for the worst as Hurricane Milton drew closer, bringing with it torrential rain, tornadoes, and high winds. Millions could be put at danger if the storm’s course changes, the National Hurricane Center warned.
With officials advising inhabitants in high-risk areas to evacuate, Florida’s Gulf Coast, which had not seen a major storm in more than a century, prepared for impact. “This is it, people,” Cathie Perkins, director of emergency management, cautioned. This one will be considerably worse if you were affected by Hurricane Helene. You must evacuate, and you must do it immediately.
The situation was severe, with tropical-storm-force winds already hitting the coast and storm surges forecast to reach up to 13 feet. Some Floridians looked for unusual ways to secure their houses, while many others evacuated.
Orlando resident Pedro Caceres had a different strategy and chose to practically strap down his home. Inspired by his experiences in Puerto Rico, where he had seen extreme storms, Caceres used strong cargo straps fastened to eight-foot-deep concrete to secure his house.
According to Caceres, the arrangement cost him roughly $3,000, which included $1,000 for the cement and $2,000 for the specialty straps. He had applied the same strategy in 2004 with Hurricane Charley.
“We’re praying to God that this second hurricane holds our home like it did the first time,” Caceres’ daughter said, expressing their optimism. The family trusted their special preparation, even if the storm was unpredictable.
Many were enthralled by Caceres’ audacity, and his tactic went viral as word spread. Support was expressed on social media by commenters, who said things like, “We’re all rooting for this man,” and “This man took HOLDING DOWN THE FORT to a whole new level.” With remarks like “If this man’s house survives, he will be a Florida legend,” many were excited to see how things turned out.
Hurricane Milton hit land with great force, bringing with it strong winds and a lot of rain. People were worried about whether Caceres’ home would survive and whether his straps would hold.
Thankfully, everyone was reassured by an update from Raisa, Caceres’ daughter: “We’re doing good.” We simply stepped outside to tidy up and inspect our house for any damage.
Because Caceres used a creative strategy to protecting his property, Hurricane Milton largely spared it. His bold approach has earned him a place in Florida’s storm survival history, whilst many people continue to use conventional tactics.
