A homeowner in Pinellas County, Florida, is elevating her house 24 feet to avoid flooding, following repeated storm damage. This effort, reported by Tampa’s WFLA News Channel 8, shows the extent many Floridians go to in adapting to stronger hurricanes and flood risks. More homeowners in Florida are raising their houses instead of abandoning them, largely due to high insurance costs and frequent storm damage.

Pinellas County is surrounded by water on three sides, making it one of the areas with the highest number of properties in FEMA-designated flood zones in the United States, based on local floodplain data.

A Rare 24-Foot Home Lift

The Pinellas County home, located in Madeira Beach, is notable for the 24-foot elevation. Kristi Robinson from Modern House and Building Movers, the company overseeing the project, noted the unusual height. “Typically, we do 12 to 14 feet, sometimes 10. But 24 feet, this is the first,” said Robinson.

The extra height is also due to plans to add a second floor. The project took about eighteen months from contract signing to permitting before construction began. The physical elevation started in February and concluded by April, as reported by WFLA.

The method includes building structural columns around the house, installing beams, then gradually lifting the building while removing temporary supports. Robinson explained, “They will go in and they will form columns around this house… then they’ll build the beams, and then they’ll start removing the columns.”

Cost and Timeline

The homeowner revealed to WFLA that the lifting alone cost approximately $575,000. Additional work includes new walls, flooring, stucco, and paint, with completion expected by December. Despite the expense, Robinson emphasized the importance of community preservation and safety. “A lot of these homes are homes they grew up in… they want to stay in their home. This is an option where they can stay,” she said. “We want to see homes and safety… when or if we ever do have a flood again, they won’t have a problem with that.”

Hurricanes and Flooding Driving Change

This elevation project follows a destructive period for Florida. In 2024, Hurricanes Helene and Milton hit the Gulf Coast back-to-back, causing severe storm surges, heavy rains, and even tornadoes. The aftermath led to over 78,000 flood insurance claims with potential losses exceeding $10 billion.

Beyond major hurricanes, storm surge and flooding account for most hurricane-related deaths and damage, more so than wind, according to the National Hurricane Center. Elevating homes becomes a crucial strategy for risk mitigation.

Community Reactions

The elevation project sparked discussions among users on X. A commercial insurance broker, Gary Drucker, commented, “Smart move. I always tell my Florida clients to lift the house first and call the insurance company second. That is just sound advice.”

Florida realtor Peter Draschman noted, “That’s wild! FEMA could have paid up to 100 percent to elevate this home. If the owner had 4 NFIP [National Flood Insurance Program] claims in a 10-year window they could have been approved for the Flood Mitigation Assistance program.”

Microbiologist @jzell2285 queried, “I can’t imagine local ordinances will allow that? Building codes n such. I’m guessing the pallets are just temporary while they put the real supports in?”

Author Dan McGrath commented on future accessibility: “No one ever plans for the future. How will this homeowner navigate the stairs when they are older?”

User @ChaosCruxFL shared an image of another lifted home, explaining, “They are doing this to store RV’s underneath, there are several on Madeira Beach like this.”