METAMORPHOSIS: Building the Dome of a Home

Tom said he really didn't want to swim back to Gulf Breeze. So, he started walking up to Via De
Luna Dr.
Once on Pensacola Beach's main street, Tom was quickly spotted from the air by an Escambia
County Sheriff's Department helicopter.
The National Guard and Sheriff's Department found him and made the assumption they had a
hurricane survivor. Tom, not wanting to disappoint his rescue team or face incarceration, agreed
enthusiastically and asked for a ride back to the mainland.
He was taken to the Dome Home, Pensacola Beach's hurricane-proof house built partly with a
federal grant, which was being utilized as Police Headquarters at the time, where he was given
minor medical treatment for sunburn and dehydration.
Next was the phone call to his family.
Tom, in front of authorities and still fearful of incarceration, called his wife, who was not aware of
her husband's activities that day, and told her he was at the beach, but without food and water.
Wendy said, "what are you talking about you SOB, I just fed you four hours ago."
At that point, Tom put Mark Sigler, owner of the Dome Home on the phone with Wendy.
Wendy was still convinced Tom had been somewhere pounding beers all day. "No, Ma'am, he's
not drunk," (Mark) assured Wendy. "Just a little shell-shocked and sunburnt."
After getting off the phone, the Dome Home owner asked Tom how long he had been married.
"Forty-one years" was the reply.
The man shook his head and said: "I think I now understand why you spent the hurricane by
yourself on the beach."
An NBC crew working from the house asked to interview Tom, but lucky for him, the crew was
called away to interview Florida Attorney General Charley Crist first. Given the chance to slip out,
Tom hitched a ride in the back of a National Guard Humvee across the Bob Sikes Bridge to Gulf
Breeze.
The story spread like a wild fire through the close knit community, some rumors labeling him a
miraculous survivor, others calling him things a little less complimentary.
But Wendy was harder to convince.
"If I hadn't had my notes on the paper plate to show her, Wendy would still be mad at me," Tom
said.
Charlie Crist, Florida‟s Attorney General and future Governor of Florida, had arrived with
Congressman Jeff Miller to provide a way off the island for the remaining NBC crew. Kerry,
Craig, and Chuck respectfully declined the offer, saying they would like to stay in the peace and
quiet of the Dome another day. We had ribs on the grill, wine in the fridge, and hungry stomachs
growling. Having only had MRE meals since Ivan‟s arrival, Mr. Crist was happy to accept our
offer of grilled treats. After a satisfying meal, I gave Mr. Crist a tour of the Dome. I was
impressed with Mr. Crist‟s willingness to listen to my explanation of the various features found in
the Dome of a Home. He took the time to understand why this home was more hurricane
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