Babcock Ranch Telegraph

Babcock Ranch gains attention of national media




In the aftermath of Hurricane Ian, the national press swooped down on Southwest Florida, telling tales of destruction and survival, especially on the region’s barrier islands.

Journalists also took note of Babcock Ranch. The inland community survived with only minimal damage: a downed traffic light, some felled trees and denuded palms and a few shingles missing from roofs.

It not only survived, but also thrived, never losing power or internet.

National print, radio and TV reporters wanted to know how Babcock Ranch could weather a Category 4 hurricane with such minimal impact.

They learned it was because the town was built to do just that.

The Babcock Ranch story was covered by CBS’ “60 Minutes,” CNN, NPR, BusinessInsider.com and Entrepreneur.com, among others.

The media called developer Syd Kitson “a mastermind” and referred to Babcock Ranch as “eco-conscious and innovative” as well as “safe and resilient.”

After digging into the destruction on Sanibel Island, “60 Minutes” turned to Babcock Ranch.

Pallets of bottled water fill the sidewalk in front of the Field House, which sheltered evacuees from flooded areas surrounding Babcock Ranch. STEVE MITSKAVICH / BABCOCK RANCH TELEGRAPH

Pallets of bottled water fill the sidewalk in front of the Field House, which sheltered evacuees from flooded areas surrounding Babcock Ranch. STEVE MITSKAVICH / BABCOCK RANCH TELEGRAPH

The contrast between the two places — the decimated island with leveled homes and no power, water or internet, and relatively unscathed Babcock Ranch — was marked.

The news program interviewed Mr. Kitson, introduced as an “eco-conscious developer and former football player” who had a vision to “build America’s first environmentally friendly, hurricane-proof, fully sustainable small town.”

Mr. Kitson showed the solar array field, and the reporter commented on how people were out walking and biking and kids were playing, as if nothing had happened.

“60 Minutes” also showed part of a video Mr. Kitson took amid Hurricane Ian. Like others in Babcock Ranch, he stayed in his home during the storm. He shot some video as the wind and rain hit, noting that the storm’s power created whitecaps on Lake Babcock.

But nothing flooded.

Mr. Kitson’s home, as well as the homes of everyone else in the community, remained intact.

A toppled trash can is the most visible sign of Ian in front of the Discovery Center.

A toppled trash can is the most visible sign of Ian in front of the Discovery Center.

He explained to the reporter how the community sits 25 to 35 feet above sea level, so it will not be affected by storm surge, and how all the telephone and power lines are buried underground so they cannot be toppled by 100-plus-mph winds.

National Public Radio reporter Scott Neuman, on “All Things Considered,” said Hurricane Ian was a big test for the Babcock Ranch community.

One it aced.

“It was built from the ground up to weather the worst that Mother Nature would throw at it,” he said in his broadcast.

Mr. Neuman marveled at the community’s durability and resilience and spoke about how the town’s new Field House provided shelter for people from nearby flooded neighborhoods.

He also noted how retention ponds at Babcock Ranch were built so if they overflow, the water goes between houses and floods roads, not homes.

BusinessInsider.com called the town “a forward thinking community.”

Downed traffic signs are among the mild casualties of Hurricane Ian.

Downed traffic signs are among the mild casualties of Hurricane Ian.

And according to CNN, “Babcock residents say their neighborhood is a model for urban development in a climate-ravaged future.”

CNN reporter Rachel Ramirez interviewed Babcock Ranch resident Anthony Grande, who previously lived in Fort Myers.

“He wanted to find a new home where developers prioritized climate resiliency in a state that is increasingly vulnerable to record-breaking storm surge, catastrophic wind and historic rainfall,” Ms. Ramirez wrote.

She called the recent hurricane “a true test of the community,” and Mr. Grande commented that the monster storm “certainly exceeded our expectations of a major hurricane.”

“Climate resiliency was built into the fabric of the town with stronger winds in mind,” Ms. Ramirez wrote. “Its residents say Babcock Ranch is proof that an eco-conscious and solar-powered town can withstand the wrath of a near-Category 5 storm.”

“I think Babcock Ranch’s future has gotten even brighter,” said Mr. Grande.

Just like before, sunset was spectacular two days after the storm.

Just like before, sunset was spectacular two days after the storm.

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