Hurricanes
Hurricane season is June through November, but they can occur anytime. In 2024 we had five “named” storms come through the Gulf causing wind and tide surge damage to Sarasota. Hurricane Helene passed us by, but coincided with tides such that we had an enormous tide surge. Boats cut loose from moorings in the bay as well as in the marina. Below left is a boat the washed up beside O’Leary’s Tiki Bar dock. Below right, is a mooring field boat that cut loose and landed in Bayfront Park.
Image from YourObserver.com
Photo by Jim DeLa from YourObserver.com
St.Armands Circle from above after Hurricane Helene’s storm surge.
Photo from the Herald-Tribue 09/20/24
Indigo, a beautiful yacht, was docked in Marina Jack until Hurricane Milton.
Photo by Max Osiris from YourObserver.com
Hurricane Protection
Mentone Court is made up of two concrete block buildings with tile roofs which is far more desirable than wood for insect and storm protection. It is not in a flood zone which means it’s easy to get flood insurance for a a couple hundred dollars. As it is in evacuation zone D (the range is A through E, with zone E being inland), there has never been a call to evacuate Mentone Court residents even during hurricanes Helene and Milton (the latter of which was a direct hit on Sarasota in 2024).
Mentone Court suffered no damage other than a bent gutter in either hurricane. Both of our units have Kevlar roll-down hurricane blinds that are Miami-Dade County (MDC) approved for up to category 5 hurricanes. This is the highest level of protection available for commercial products in all of Florida. The blinds are operated by a remote control on an interruptible power source (they still work when the power is out) and they also offer 95% sun protection, as well as acting as privacy screens.
Being under three stories means the complex is not subject to the new periodic Milestone Inspections by structural engineers. The inspection, not the condo association, also sets a condo association’s financial reserves to meet estimated repairs/replacements in the future. This can add up to tens of thousands of dollars in unexpected, sudden assessments for owners. Those costs are passed on in terms of higher rents and sales pricing. None of this applies to Mentone Court whose owners make these decisions.
In the next section we’ll describe our primary condo units.
Mentone Court is made up of two concrete block buildings with tile roofs which is far more desirable than wood for insect and storm protection. It is not in a flood zone which means it’s easy to get flood insurance for a a couple hundred dollars. As it is in evacuation zone D (the range is A through E, with zone E being inland), there has never been a call to evacuate Mentone Court residents even during hurricanes Helene and Milton (the latter of which was a direct hit on Sarasota in 2024).
Mentone Court suffered no damage other than a bent gutter in either hurricane. Both of our units have Kevlar roll-down hurricane blinds that are Miami-Dade County (MDC) approved for up to category 5 hurricanes. This is the highest level of protection available for commercial products in all of Florida. The blinds are operated by a remote control on an interruptible power source (they still work when the power is out) and they also offer 95% sun protection, as well as acting as privacy screens.
Being under three stories means the complex is not subject to the new periodic Milestone Inspections by structural engineers. The inspection, not the condo association, also sets a condo association’s financial reserves to meet estimated repairs/replacements in the future. This can add up to tens of thousands of dollars in unexpected, sudden assessments for owners. Those costs are passed on in terms of higher rents and sales pricing. None of this applies to Mentone Court whose owners make these decisions.
In the next section we’ll describe our primary condo units.
