Cat 5 Survivor

Mr. Gomez presently lives in Homestead, FL and loved there during hurricanes Andrew in 1992 and Wilma in 2005. Both times, the entire shingle roof system was blown off. Despite the loss of his shingle roof, Mr. Gomez's home survived both hurricanes virtually undamaged.

His home was built in 1983. In 1985 he decided to install 1" of foam adhesive to the underside of his roof, the purpose being better insulate and strengthen his home. It wasn't until the devastating Andrew blew thru in 1992 that he realized how strong and water proof the foam adhesive was.

The eye of Hurricane Andrew passed directly over the area. Gomez's home became safe haven for some 70 family, friends and neighbors. The storm was so powerful that a group of eight men and women took turns applying pressure to Mr. Gomez's garage door to keep it from collapsing. Despite losing the entire exterior roof, the only damage to the Gomez home was from an exhaust fan flying off, which caused a minor leak in the kitchen area.

An elderly couple living in the same neighborhood wanted to ride the storm out in their own home. After the storm had passed, the Gomez's went to check on them. After removing all types of debris in search of them, they were huddled in their tub in a pile of rubble. Their house was destroyed. They decided against rebuilding and moved away.

The entire area was devastated. The Army found the Gomez's home to be the only usable, sound structure to set up a base for a Central Relief Station.