FEMA, the federal agency, approved the plans, and even provided a small grant to the beachfront project.

The house sits on 16 pilings, driven 17 feet into the sand. It's a solid concrete house with 5 miles of steel reinforcements for added support.

The shape of the house, in conjunction with the pilings, was designed to allow the water to literally wash around the house, rather than knock it down. And that’s exactly what happened.

First light, still standing
The bad news: part of the design included break-away stairs. And in the storm surge the stairs did as intended and washed away. So we are in a house that is 22 feet above ground and we have no way down.

Dome of a home.

  That is not important however because there is     no down to go. We are surrounded by water.  

   All around, the barrier island that            makes up Pensacola Beach is                  submerged  -- and damage is                  widespread along this barrier island.

The 'dome home' has some wet floors but not much else.

We have a generator so we have power. The wet floors are the result of driving winds forcing the rain water into the small crevices of the home.

There was even a moment of humor this morning when a small green tree frog appeared in the kitchen. The frog discovered the 'dome home' was a good place to hide.

Relief and heavy sleep
Sigler, the Dome’s designer was relieved this morning. His home, did as it was designed to do. 

"I'm tired. I didn't get a lot of sleep. The sleep I got was the sleep of the dead," Sigler said. "I was amazed the way this dome home did as it was designed to do. Considering we have some wet floors and not much more -- it's just amazing."

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FEMA, the federal agency, approved the plans, and even provided a small grant to the beachfront project.

The house sits on 16 pilings, driven 17 feet into the sand. It's a solid concrete house with 5 miles of steel reinforcements for added support.

The shape of the house, in conjunction with the pilings, was designed to allow the water to literally wash around the house, rather than knock it down. And that’s exactly what happened.

First light, still standing
The bad news: part of the design included break-away stairs. And in the storm surge the stairs did as intended and washed away. So we are in a house that is 22 feet above ground and we have no way down.

Dome of a home.

  That is not important however because there is     no down to go. We are surrounded by water.  

   All around, the barrier island that            makes up Pensacola Beach is                  submerged  -- and damage is                  widespread along this barrier island.

The 'dome home' has some wet floors but not much else.

We have a generator so we have power. The wet floors are the result of driving winds forcing the rain water into the small crevices of the home.

There was even a moment of humor this morning when a small green tree frog appeared in the kitchen. The frog discovered the 'dome home' was a good place to hide.

Relief and heavy sleep
Sigler, the Dome’s designer was relieved this morning. His home, did as it was designed to do. 

"I'm tired. I didn't get a lot of sleep. The sleep I got was the sleep of the dead," Sigler said. "I was amazed the way this dome home did as it was designed to do. Considering we have some wet floors and not much more -- it's just amazing."

Are you absolutely sure you want to delete this article? This process cannot be undone and is permanent.

Yes, Delete This Article

Are you absolutely sure you want to remove this article? This process cannot be undone and is permanent.

Yes, Remove This Article