METAMORPHOSIS: Building the Dome of a Home

As I edit this book, I find there is even more information to include. Last week, March 1, 2007, a
tornado destroyed a school complex in Enterprise, Alabama. Lives were unnecessarily lost. Mark
and I traveled to Enterprise the day after and spoke with some students who explained that many
people flocked to the new gymnasium because it was built to be stronger than the older gym.
After the storm abated, it became evident the old gym was the better survivor. The churches
located directly next to the school also suffered severe damage. The destruction left me in
shocked despair. A dome gymnasium and churches would have provided safe shelter not only
for those at the school, but for the surrounding neighborhood residents as well. With community
dome safe shelters, there would be no question where to run to when a severe weather alert is
issued. Tragedy that can be averted is the worst kind of tragedy.
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 element 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 repairswill 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.
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