Storm Resilience Is One More Reason Homebuyers Choose Ave Maria
Florida homeowners continue to prioritize hurricane preparedness when choosing where to live. In Southwest Florida, Ave Maria stands apart as a master-planned community designed with resilient infrastructure, modern construction standards and thoughtful planning that helps residents feel prepared and protected during hurricane season.
Through multiple hurricanes in recent years, including Hurricane Ian in 2022 and the active 2024 hurricane season, Ave Maria did not experience community-wide damage or disruption to essential services, reinforcing its reputation as a safe and resilient place to call home.
Today, 5,800 homes have been built in Ave Maria which is supported by its own water treatment facility, underground utilities, on-site fire and EMS stations, and homes constructed that meet or exceed Florida’s latest hurricane-resistant building codes.
Ave Maria’s Utility Company (AMUC) has onsite power generation equipment for the water plant, wastewater plant, as well as critical master sanitary pump stations. The utility company’s extensive storm-resistant equipment and protocols have proven resilient through many storms to date, including Hurricane Irma in 2017. Irma caused widespread damage and long-term power outages, gas and ice shortages, throughout the region while Ave Maria experienced no interruptions. Hurricane Ian in 2022, as well as the 2024 storms, again caused no issues in the community.
The location of Ave Maria results in lower insurance rates for homeowners, says Insurance Manager Charity Moser. “While the homeowner insurance market has somewhat stabilized, some Florida residents are still experiencing rate increases and fewer carriers to choose from,” she explained. “Communities like Ave Maria continue to be attractive to insurance carriers because of two key factors: location and the age of the community. Ave Maria is located approximately 20 miles from the coastline, and the entire community is only 20-years old.”
Homes throughout Ave Maria are built using modern construction methods that include impact-resistant features, reinforced concrete block construction and advanced stormwater management systems designed to meet today’s stringent Florida building standards.
Serf Sanchez, who moved from Miami, is no stranger to hurricanes, but feels safer living in Ave Maria. “Being from Miami originally, we have gone through many storms, so we are happy to be in a Florida community that is farther west and inland,” Sanchez said. “We feel safe.”
Sanchez said another huge benefit is the lower cost of insurance. Since homes are much less likely to be damaged by storms, flood insurance is not required, and regular insurance is cheaper. “Many of us in this town are
saving money with the cost of insurance,” he emphasized.
Peter and Judy Clouet also used to live near Miami and feared approaching hurricanes. Three years ago, they moved to Del Webb Naples in Ave Maria, where they feel safe from storms. Having experienced multiple hurricane seasons since moving to Ave Maria, the Clouets say they continue to appreciate the peace of mind that comes from living father inland.
Ave Maria residents rarely lose power and if they do, it is quickly restored. “In areas that are inland like Ave Maria, underground facilities are ideal,” said Karen Ryan, public relations director for Lee County Electric Cooperative (LCEC). “Ave Maria is ideal because there is no storm surge.”
Hurricane resilience is just one of the many reasons homebuyers continue to choose Ave Maria. From thoughtfully planned infrastructure and modern construction to reliable utilities and a location that offers added protection from coastal storm surge, the community was designed to provide homeowners with lasting peace of mind. For buyers seeking a new home in Southwest Florida, Ave Maria offers the confidence of living in a community built to weather today’s challenges while providing the lifestyle, value and quality of life that make it one of the region’s most desirable places to call home.