I've said it before and it becomes even truer as time passes: one of the best advantages of owning the Dome of a Home is the opportunity to meet wonderful and fascinating people. The Dome's unusual nature is a catalyst for unusual situations arising. Our guests include a world class musician from Wales who just wanted to play his guitar in the dome; fellow hurricane survivors looking for hope; politicians curious about the dome's survivability; and numerous media personnel telling the Dome's story.



This weekend we were blessed with Jessica and Dan from KPI TV. They were here filming a segment for HGTV's new program Extreme Buildings airing in March 2007. What lovely people they are! I was very impressed with how easily the shoot went. The days start early and Mark and I are usually exhausted by the end of the day. Before a shoot, we always have to prepare the house and lawn. This time we were returning from Montana and only had three days to ready everything. Even so, Jessica and Dan stayed on task and kept us on a schedule, but miraculously, they managed to do it without getting uptight and anxious. This, in turn, allowed us to tell our story in a relaxed manner and reduce our anxiety in front of the camera. They kept us laughing and I felt no animosity if we needed to shoot another take. I think because we were actually having fun, it made the days go by faster and we were not as wiped out as usual.

When you think about what those involved in the media manage to accomplish, it is mind boggling. They take average people who are not actors and are not familiar with filming procedures and put them in front of a camera. Amazingly, there is actually footage that can be used in the program. On average, for every hour filmed, one minute is usable.
It's one thing to direct people who have experience in the acting field, but to convey what they need to a lay person and accomplish their goals shows how skilled they truly are.
Jessica and Dan were amazing professionals and wonderful people. We are fortunate to have crossed paths with them.



Because we have participated in several programs about the Dome of a Home in the past three years, I have come to have the utmost respect for those in the media industry. Their hours are Draconian, they are literally up before the sun and work late, late. When we called Jessica, she was always at work. The Weather Channel crews were like watching a well orchestrated ant colony: organized, capable, and focused. Whether filming live or readying a segment, they were constantly busy. Whenever I watch any type of TV, I am conscious of the immense effort and skill it took to create the finished product I am enjoying. Many times, the behind the scenes personnel do not receive the credit due, so we just wanted to say, "Thanks for all of the hard work!"


PITTSBURGH CORNING GLASS BLOCK

http://www.pittsburghcorning.com 800.624.2120

Mark always intended the decks to have glass block railing and now it has come to pass.
One visitor commented that it was like the Dome’s jewelry or bling. I have to agree.

Finally, rebuilding has begun in earnest. Most of the destroyed buildings have been removed, repairs have begun on the existing buildings, and new structures are popping up daily. But, I have noticed that some of the things that we perceive as new are really old ideas just renewed. In Collins Past World Atlas of Archeology, I found pictures of domes made from bones in the Ukraine during Paleolithic times and in France at the same time, there were round structures made from animal skins and wooden poles. Obviously, the materials have changed, but the round structure has been home to man for thousands upon thousands of years.



It has been most encouraging to see people embracing alternative building methods after the recent onslaught of storms. We have a couple of ICF homes being built. With this system, insulated foam blocks are stacked to make walls. Rebar is laced between the blocks and concrete is poured into the blocks, creating an extremely strong structure. After these homes are completed, they appear to be conventional structures. They are energy efficient, durable, and a wonderful alternative when one wants to have a "normal" looking home.

The Elks Lodge is building an ark on pilings. I am not familiar with the exact process of construction, but it looked like they were putting together a 3-D concrete puzzle. The walls are massive. It looks extremely strong and durable. I don't know if the Elks are planning on hosting hurricane parties, but if I were going to one it would be there.



More round kit houses are gracing the beach these days. The house comes in segments that are put together on site. Construction is quick and the round shape affords some advantages against strong winds. The kit homes on the beach that have been through several storms seemed to have fared reasonably well. With a few additions to the building process, these homes could become even more impenetrable.
Using Peel and Seal will greatly reduce your leaks, even if the shingles are compromised or missing. It will keep your roof intact long enough to repair the shingles and will help you avoid any further damages when rainy weather arrives. Peel & Seal is a multi-layer, self-adhering roofing membrane system that goes on fast. It is easy to apply in temperatures above 60 degrees. All you need is a clean, dry roof area and a pair of scissors or utility knife. Simply cut to shape, remove the backing paper, and press into place directly on the roof.
We have even seen people use it under the siding of their homes. Great idea!!!!
When the storms drive the rain into a home whose sides have been Peel and Sealed, the walls are not compromised and wind driven rain is not an issue. (You might get water at your windows/doors, but the Peel and Seal will protect your walls from penetration.)



The most useful advice we could give to those building a conventional structure is to use a closed cell foam to spray under your roof and on the inside of your exterior walls. This procedure will strengthen your home's integrity and make it almost invulnerable to the destructive high winds. The foam bonds the roof to the structure so when the winds swirl around trying desperately to liberate your roof from your structure, the roof retains its integrity.
Another advantage: The foam will not absorb water. We used foam insulation throughout the Dome of a Home because we knew even if we did have a leak, the foam would eliminate the mold and mildew growth so often found on fiberglass insulation. And, of course, it is a much more effective, energy efficient insulating product for the humid climate we live in.

You don't have to live in a Dome to have a hurricane resistant home. You can build smart by using products and processes that make sense for coastal living. Three of our favorites are the closed cell foam, peel and seal membrane, and ICF building blocks.

Although we have not seen any other domes being built on Pensacola Beach, it is extremely evident that people are putting more thought into the structures they are building on the coast. Two families are building 'round' kit houses. They actually have straight walls, none over 8 feet long. The home has the illusion of almost being a circle, especially when you stand below the house and look up. The joists radiate out from a strong center, giving the appearance of a gigantic carriage wheel. There is strength in the shape of this structure.
The sign in front of one of the houses said:
DELTEC HOMES www.deltechomes.com 800.642.2508



The strength can be enhanced further by using closed cell polyurethane foam to coat the interior of the roof and exterior walls. This unites all of the walls and roof line, creating a very strong structure. Another advantage of using this foam as insulation, instead of the fiberglass type, is the fact that it will not absorb moisture. So, even if you have a breach in the structure, it will not permeate the insulation and begin growing the mold and mildew as fiberglass insulation is so prone to do. A wonderful option, one that we personally feel should be a requirement – part of the coastal building code. Why fill your house with a virtual moisture sponge, a Petri dish for mold and mildew, when there is an alternative that will protect and strengthen your home? This seems like a no-brainer.
Another added benefit when using foam in the interior walls is the quietness it provides between the rooms. Great when you have teenagers!



Another no-brainer: use a 'peel and seal' system below your roof and on the exterior walls will create a waterproof barrier, thereby greatly diminishing any moisture gain in the house. If you lose your shingles, the 'peel and seal' will protect your home for a year. If you lose your siding, your home is still protected. It is a wonderful option, one that we personally feel should be a requirement – included as part of the code – when building on the coast. It also helps keep the structure strong and intact.

Georgia Pacific DENS Technology sheetrock has a coated mat on it that does not allow the absorption of water, thereby eliminating the mold and mildew that grows so profusely on sheetrock after a storm. They make indoor and outdoor products. Their products are a must in a humid, storm ridden environment. http://www.gp.com/gypsum

The Elks' new building resembles a concrete puzzle. Huge concrete pieces were brought to the site and put together like a giant 3D puzzle. Looks strong! I don’t know if they are planning on hosting hurricane parties in that formidable structure, but it looks like a substantial piece of engineering.



There are also some ICF – Insulating Concrete Forms – homes being built. When we were researching the dome, this is another system we seriously considered. A very strong, efficient, conventional-looking home can be built with this system. Foam blocks are stacked and then filled with concrete. Many times we also see these homes using the poly urethane foam discussed above. Combining the many options available can result in a strong, hurricane resistant building --- without having to build a dome.

All in all, it is very encouraging to watch people look around, assess the damage, and then start thinking of how to improve the situation.

The fountain is flowing! The melodies cascading from the fountain immerse us once again in its music. I didn't realize how very much I missed the soothing sound of Serenity's joy bubbling over. The water revitalizes and rejuvenates us. I guess that is the balance of Nature. Sometimes the water depletes us when her energy is destructive. Yet, the same element has the potential for renewal. It’s the yin and yang, quite literally the ebb and flow of nature.



Building the Dome of a Home has provided many opportunities to meet several interesting people and to participate in many media events.
But, never, ever, ever would I have imagined receiving our latest phone call.

It's a Thursday afternoon and my phone rings.
A producer from ABC identifies himself. My mind immediately jumps to the programs the Dome of a Home has been involved with on ABC affiliates. I, of course, assume that hurricane season is around the corner and Good Morning America would like to do a follow-up story. Well, we all know what happens when we ass-u-me.

The gentleman asks if I am familiar with the program Wife Swap. "What? What did you say?" I stutter. "Wife Swap? I thought that's what you said. You must have the wrong number. Wife Swap? Why would you be calling us?"



Evidently, this producer is a fan of dome homes and thought filming in the Dome of a Home would make a great episode of Wife Swap. I was honest with the producer and told him I had only watched about 10 minutes of one of the shows. Ten minutes was enough for me to be mortified and to ask out loud to an empty room, "Who would be on this show? Why would someone do this to themselves? Insanity!" The producer explained in detail the premise of the show: I spend two weeks with another family while the wife/mother of that family comes to live in my house. For the first week, it's business as usual in each of the households. (Each wife leaves a manual of instructions.) The second week, the "new" wife gets to run the house as she sees fit.

I laughed and told him that I was afraid the "new" wife wouldn't want to leave. I knew from the ten minutes I had seen on TV that they would pair me with…. Well, with someone whose ideas are diametrically opposed to my own. I'm open-minded, but two weeks with a man who lives in the Dark Ages is more than I can bear. Talk about stress upon stress. The money they offer for participating would not cover my therapy bills. So, a midst much laughter, I politely told him I didn't think so, but I would discuss it with my family.



The producer asked if I would answer a few questions. Sure, why not?
He asked what our daily routine was like and then he asked me two questions that would irrevocably alter my perception. What would I change about my children? Hmm…. Well, of course, I wish for them to be wiser, but essentially I would not change my children – even if I had the ability to do so. Then, he asked what I wanted to change about my husband. I laughingly told him that there was nothing I would change about my husband. I think he is a generous, compassionate, loving soul that I am privileged to know. I knew it was a sappy, hokey answer, but it was the truth.
In the midst of frustration, I have muttered under my breath about my kids and husband. But, when I took a moment and actually evaluated what my goals would be to change them, I realized with great joy in my heart that I truly love them for who and what they are. Now, when I am frustrated with my family, I remember the laughter and joy I felt when the ABC producer made me stop and realize how blessed I was.

We had our first 2006 clients in February. This family had originally booked the Dome of a Home for their daughter's wedding in September 2004. We were thrilled when they called to schedule their 25th wedding anniversary here. Lovely people, great clients and we hope very much to see them again.

It's been half a year since Hurricane Katrina inflicted her furious wrath upon the Gulf coast and mortified the entire nation. It's been a year and a half since Hurricane Ivan rocked our world on a very personal level. Adding insult to injury, Pensacola Beach was slammed by Hurricane Dennis last year, as well. For the collective survivors, the wounds each storm inflicted are still open and sore, not yet a scar. I can see the exhaustion etched across the faces of my coastal neighbors; I feel the pinch when making repairs as building expenses continue to escalate. The fearful anticipation is palpable as hurricane season draws ever closer and the predictions are even more dire than last year's. Recovery is illusive.



We just spent two beautifully warm weeks in Miami Beach. Although I definitely prefer the Emerald Coast's beaches, it was wonderful to go to the beach and not be assaulted with reminders of hurricane seasons past. Not usually an advocate of high maintenance manicured grounds, I actually found the ordered lawns refreshing, a nice change from the chaos we have experienced over the last several months. On our return trip, as soon as we reached the hurricane affected areas, the lesion was ripped open, yet again. What I am trying to say is that a year and half later, we have good days and bad days. I'll be going about my day and suddenly be overwhelmed with emotions. And our trauma was minimal compared to so many.

Hurricanes are life changing events – period. You cannot be affected by a storm and not be affected down to your very soul's core. After the storms, I reevaluated my entire life, asking: what is essential to my well-being; what is a restraint; what is worth saving and keeping in my life; what doesn't really matter in the whole scheme of things; what do I value and why? Examining my life helps me to heal, to find purpose in the madness, and to make sense out of the senseless.

But, for a community to heal, both emotionally and physically, the need for decisive and clear direction from our leaders, is imperative. Those directly involved with the storm are in shock and suffer from post traumatic stress. This includes local officials. We have to have compassion for our officials and remember that they are humans who are traumatized – just like you are. I can't imagine having to make decisions for my family and everyone else's too. When my kids are frightened and scared, I remember that the officials' families need reassurance, as well. So many demands in so many directions, how do they do it?



Everyone's entire world is turned upside down and all parameters of normalcy have dissipated in the rising winds. I am not pointing fingers or placing blame at anyone's feet. It's unfair to insist that the local officials should have known what to expect. Today, they'd know what to expect. Hindsight is a valuable tool. But, at the time of Hurricane Katrina, the local leaders' personal lives and the lives of their constituents faced complete annihilation with a natural disaster the size of Katrina. How do you prepare for the unfathomable?

Obviously, at the state and federal levels: where the command stations are not threatened by rising water and relentless wind; where food, water, fuel, and shelter are not an issue; where difficult decision making is not complicated by personal tragedy; and where dependable communication centers can disperse information. The magnitude of coordination needed for a natural disaster of Katrina's caliber was unfathomable. From the individual to the President, no one believed such tragedy could occur. This tragedy had been imagined by FEMA officials, scientists, meteorologists, etc. The scenario had been portrayed in various magazines and programs. The big What If. Yet, no one could believe. The inability to comprehend what was needed to prepare for Hurricane Katrina increased the tragedy factor. Now, the pertinent question is: If there was a repeat performance this year, would the outcome be any different.



The outcome could be different, better or worse, on a large scale or on a very local level. The decisions made today decide which outcome prevails. If you are rebuilding, is it another "temporary structure" that will need rebuilding after another hurricane? Or will you utilize stronger, better building techniques? Domes aren't the only answer. There are elements we used in building the Dome of a Home that can be incorporated into conventional structures. The foam we used can be used to increase a conventional structure's roof line and walls. An added benefit to the increased strength is the energy efficiency and the sound-proofing of the building. Another plus is the lack of fiberglass insulation to grow hidden mold and mildew in the walls. We are watching a superb structure being built on Pensacola Beach by the Elks Lodge. It is all concrete – even the walls! They are being put together like a 3-D puzzle. When we were in Miami, the construction techniques are noticeably different than the ones here. Absolutely no wood was being used in any of the construction of homes or businesses along the coast. It was all concrete.

It is vital that our local emergency personnel have somewhere safe and secure to coordinate local efforts at the site of the disaster.
A place that is pre-stocked for a disaster, natural or man-initiated.
A place that is Base of Operations.
A place that has been pre-determined to be safe, available, and ready with all necessary supplies and equipment to handle an emergency effectively.
A place that is a haven for the officials and personnel needed to re-establish the infrastructure after the disaster.
A place that is home away from home, an office away from the office, a station away from the station.

And those places should be a monolithic dome.
A dome would allow the necessary personnel to have the confidence in the coordination efforts, without fear that they will unnecessarily be placing their lives at risk to do their jobs. Domes have proven themselves to be the safest structure available when faced with earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, fires, and radiation fallout.

Evacuation shelters should be able to shelter the public from the threat outside. Many storm shelters could not withstand a Category 5 hurricane or F-5 tornado. The result is a large number of people gathered in one unsafe place – a potential mass grave. Why not give tax credits to businesses, churches and schools that build monolithic domes that can be used as an evacuation shelter? Not only do they have a cost effective, energy friendly building, they also receive a reward for their efforts. I grew up in Texas and was always terrified when the tornado warnings were issued. If I had known that the school's gymnasium was a "safe building" dome, my anxiety would have been considerably less acute.

Hurricane Katrina caught the attention of the entire nation with its surreal drama. At times I almost believed I was watching a B-movie on the Sci-Fi Channel, but then the human tragedy would pierce the numbing hurricane statistics. Numbing because I could not absorb what I was hearing - could not believe the stark reality of the disaster.
I am relieved to see that the news media is still covering these tragedies six months later. Lately, I have seen several programs discussing better building techniques using better building materials. This is encouraging and exactly the point Mark and the NBC news crew were trying to make when they stayed in the Dome of a Home for Hurricane Ivan. The lessons from the past two hurricane seasons do not need to be so easily forgotten, so easily dismissed. This is a story that has far reaching implications economically, socially, politically, etc.

While I am on my soapbox, I would like to encourage our legislatures to reign in the insanity of the insurance debacle that is bankrupting businesses and creating homeless families. The wind insurance argues that it was flood damage; the flood insurance company insists it was wind damage. And while they argue, the client lives in limbo or worse. Months go by, no money to make repairs so that you can move back home. In short, this is what happens:

Storm hits, your home is damaged, find a place to live temporarily.
File an insurance claim so that you can make repairs and move back home.
Wind insurance denies claim, flood damage blamed.
Flood denies claim, says to contact wind insurance company.
Home deteriorates even further. More and more extensive repairs
will be needed because it has been so long since the storm and
you have no money for repairs.
Bank accounts dwindle as you pay your mortgage on a damaged home,
your rent on the temporary space, and (love this one) the next
year's premiums for your wind and flood insurance. I want to scream
at them, "Just take my premiums out of the claim you owe me. I can't
pay the premiums until you pay my claim."
Still waiting on insurance claims to be paid, and the new hurricane season is here.
This is ridiculous!!! We buy insurance as a safeguard. Supposedly, the insurance companies work for us. Yeah, right. They have become like enemies. Our premiums are due on time or we are dropped. Why don't the insurance companies have a designated time to pay or else be required to pay exorbitant interest on the money they are withholding? After all, I am paying a high interest rate on the money I have to borrow just to survive until the insurance companies pay the claim. If they pay the claim….
And now, it is up to us to prove how and what affected our homes in a storm. Okay…. so we stay and film the storm as proof or …. Or what? What exactly are our alternatives? This is beyond belief: you have to prove whether it was wind or flood that took your house. It's no longer the insurance companies' responsibility to determine this. So, the policyholder will have to have a film or hire an engineer???



We need one insurance policy that covers our home. Period. This would eliminate the opposing companies pointing the finger continuously at the other. This bickering makes money for the insurance companies as our claims set in their accounts drawing interest. But, it bankrupts families and businesses. Even if it is legal, it is morally wrong. Give us one company to deal with. We are under enough stress without having to fight for what is owed to us. Hell, with the stress this inflicts, they should be paying psychiatric care, too. We paid the premiums, pay the claims.

And before you write about your tax dollars covering our damages, please realize that this is not the case. It is a closed system ---only those who pay in are eligible to file claims. No one pays in that isn't a policyholder. One-third of all people and businesses in the United States are located in a flood zone. An average of 1000 people a day move to the United State's coasts. We need viable building plans and community leadership as the population continues to grow.

With each hurricane strike, the hurricane season seems longer and longer.
The "off-season" seems shorter and shorter, each time we spend those six months repairing from the previous six months. And the off-season is filled with TV programs and magazine articles about hurricanes past and what the future may hold. Sometimes, I watch them with morbid fascination, sometimes it's too painful and I have to change the channel. The Weather Channel's Storm Stories about Grand Lagoon is a tear-jerker I have only been able to watch once. As if there wasn't enough real human drama, the TV is filled with "What If…" programs: Yellowstone; earthquake in San Francisco; hurricane in New York City. AAAAGGGGHHHH! I want to scream! But, I confess, I do watch them occasionally. LOL

Last week, we were watching Discovery Channel's EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT HURRICANES. It was a program I eagerly watched, seeing if I could glean anymore information about the upcoming hurricane season. All of sudden, Mark and I are on the screen strolling down the beach in front of our house. Then, there is an interview with Mark about the structural properties of the Dome. I was impressed by the graphics explaining why the Dome of a Home was better capable of withstanding a raging hurricane. I was impressed!!! with the program and with Mark. The realization of Mark's dream and the reality of its hurricane resistant qualities never ceases to amaze me.

The Dome of a Home was completed less than three years ago. When we began this project in 2001, our mission statement was:

Our mission is to help reduce the suffering associated with the destruction and loss of one's home in a natural disaster. We want to help promote awareness of the superior building technologies that can alleviate unnecessary losses. Many of the new technologies are more energy efficient and environmentally friendly than their predecessors allowing the construction of structures while protecting and preserving the delicate balance of nature.

Now, in less than three years, our efforts to promote awareness have exceeded our wildest dreams. The Dome of a Home has been on programs and in publications around the world. This thrills us because people are becoming aware of that choices do exist. We do not build domes, we are merely homeowners that are thrilled we found an option after experiencing repetitive storm damage. We want to share our experiences with other homeowners. Hurricanes are not the only disasters domes can withstand. Monolithic domes also fare earthquakes, tornadoes, fires, and radiation fallout extremely well.




With hurricanes such a hot topic right now, the Dome's reputation for durability and dependability has catapulted to the top of the media's awareness.
As hurricane season approaches, I have noticed some repeat programming featuring the Dome of a Home so you might see the Dome on your TV soon. If you do, please email me at domeofahome@aol.com and let me know where you saw it. I am trying to keep track of it, but I know I am missing several. Here is what I have:

TV:
National Geographic, the Travel Channel, the Weather Channel, Discovery Channel, Discovery Channel Canada, MSNBC news, Countdown with Keith Olberman, Scarborough Country, Good Morning America, CNN, several local affiliate ABC programs, Santa Rosa Insider, UK film: A Year Of Storms.

PRINT:
Walls and Ceilings; Civil Engineering; Architecture; Florida Travel; United Airline's Hemisphere's; UMRAN (Saudi Arabia); CKM (Polish); several articles in the Pensacola News Journal; some news articles on the AP distribution for newspapers from New York City to San Francisco.


Through the past few years, I have had several architectural students and professors contact me when they use the Dome of a Home as an example in their classrooms. We find it very exciting that in such a short time span, our major goal has been met. People are becoming aware of the superior qualities of a dome structure. Maybe the 100th Monkey Phenomenon will occur soon. http://www.newciv.org/pos/monkey.html

Once again, I would like to thank all of the people who continue to support our endeavors with their encouragement. We appreciate it very much.