Damage worth $2 million inflicted on the expansive Sarasota estate, following consecutive hurricanes within a 10-day period, braces for a tale of endurance and restoration.

In the hurricane-prone region of Sarasota, Florida, homeowner Mark Famiglia has faced the wrath of Mother Nature head-on. Over the past few decades, his estate on Mandalay Point Lane has suffered devastating damage from two hurricanes in ten days.

The main home, built more than 35 years ago, is a post-and-beam concrete design with soaring spaces, a 36-foot foyer, and walls of glass. The estate also includes a guest house, gym pavilion, adjoining garages, a 200-foot driveway, covered boathouse, and a five-foot-thick seawall surrounding the 7,500 ft property, which lies on 725 feet of shoreline at the southern end of Mandalay Point Lane, Siesta Key.

To prepare for future hurricanes, Famiglia has made significant changes to his property. He removed wooden kitchen cabinets and replaced them with stainless steel, installed less porous stone flooring, and elevated air conditioning compressors. These modifications were aimed at lowering rebuild costs in the event of another disaster.

Award-winning interior designer Rachel Blindauer, who worked on the Sarasota project, emphasised the importance of these changes. She recommends using concrete and water-resistant materials, elevating electrical systems, and using natural stone tile instead of wood floors or carpet when preparing for hurricanes. Blindauer also suggests choosing cost-effective, easily replaceable furniture and keeping important documents in a fireproof and waterproof document bag.

Famiglia also invested in essential items for a DIY hurricane preparedness kit. This includes an emergency radio with three power sources, a compact stove, a collapsible water storage container, emergency flashlights, a first aid kit, and a portable power station. The emergency radio features an SOS alarm, solar panels, and AAA batteries to ensure power in emergencies. The collapsible water storage container holds 20 liters, is BPA-free, odor-free, light, compact, portable, and leak-free. The emergency flashlights switch on automatically during power outages, with superior LED technology that can illuminate objects up to 30 meters away.

The power station offers a safe and steady power supply that can recharge itself and charge up to six devices at once. Famiglia also purchased several ozonation units, high-capacity dehumidifiers, spare well pumps, and electric generators.

Mark Famiglia, a Sarasota- and Nantucket-based entrepreneur, philanthropist, and preservationist, has a lifelong commitment to architecture, history, and the arts. He has personally overseen the construction, renovation, and stewardship of his peninsula estate for more than 35 years.

The first aid kit contains 160 pieces of various medical supplies. Debris piled along the road in towering mounds, and the first storm required full evacuation. Cleanup and mold remediation began the very next day with the support of friends and subcontractors.

The main takeaway from the hurricane experience was that 'building it right the first time equals far fewer headaches down the road.' Famiglia emphasised the importance of future-proofing the property against further extreme weather. Despite the challenges, Famiglia's resilience and commitment to his property shine through, ensuring that his estate continues to stand strong against the elements.

In hurricane-risk areas, Blindauer advises that the true luxury is the weather, the water, and peace of mind, not opulence. Indeed, for Famiglia and many others in Sarasota, the pursuit of a hurricane-resistant home is a testament to the enduring allure of the region and the determination of its residents to weather any storm.