Reasons Why Gilchrist Home Withstood Hurricane

Many people have wondered why the yellow house in Gilchrist, TX survived Hurricane Ike– and now we know.  A lot of credit can be given to the owners Pam and Warren Adams who had it designed and rebuilt after being demolished in 2005 by Hurricane Rita — to withstand a Category 5 hurricane. Following engineers’ designs to a T, contractor Mike Riley said it survived the hurricane because he built it, “…doing what the engineers spelled out and paying attention to details.” Details such as:

• Installing windows and the pitch of the roof to withstand 130 mph winds (Ike had winds of 110 mph)
• Building the home on 19-ft stilts (the surge was 14-ft high)

Also, the ground the home was built on happens to be the highest in that area.

Here comes another bizarre twist to this story: The latest comment on this ABC News story is by Pam Adams, the owner of the yellow house who claims that Mike Riley was actually fired from the job due to “poor workmanship” and she wants the media to come to her so she can tell her side of the story. Bizarre… and, to be continued, I’m sure.