Like other families in their bayou community in Gulfport, Mississippi, Diane and Mitch Kiser evacuated their home the day before Hurricane Katrina struck. Unlike most of their neighbors, the Kisers returned four days later to find their house still standing amid the ruins, a ravaged landscape of slabs and pilings.

From the outside, there was no apparent damage other than a few missing shingles. Inside, a 24-foot storm surge had left the second level living space a "floating mess" filled with five feet of water. "The contents of our cherished home were lost to Katrina forever, but the house itself survived the worst storm ever to hit the Gulf Coast," says Diane, who has lived in the area all of her life.

The main difference between the Kiser's house and their neighbors was that the Kiser's house was a prefabricated "round house." Six years before, the Kisers had purchased a Deltec circular home built in 1984. "We had never seen anything like it - the unusual design with all the glass, the wrap around porch, the views. We just had to have it," says Diane.

According to nationally syndicated newspaper columnist and home building expert Jim Dulley, round homes can be a good choice for construction in high wind areas. "Although these houses look circular, most are made of many flat wall panels that give the circular appearance. By being more aerodynamic to winds, a circular home can withstand high winds better than a rectangular one. Circular houses have been left standing when other nearby homes were demolished by high winds," says Dulley.

The Kisers' home suffered no structural damage from 145-miles-per-hour winds and a 24-foot storm surge. All of the walls and windows remained intact, having survived the force of Katrina and the tornados spawned by the hurricane. While less-fortunate neighbors sold their homes "as is" and relocated, moving was never a consideration for Diane and Mitch. "We wanted to stay. Our heart is in this home. We love it," says Diane.

Deltec Homes, based in Asheville, N.C., has been building hurricane-resistant homes for nearly 40 years. "Our record speaks for itself. We have never lost a home to high winds," says Joseph Schlenk, Director of Sales and Marketing for Deltec Homes. "It gives us great satisfaction to hear from our homeowners after a hurricane to find out that they are ok and their homes are still intact."

During the recovery process, the couple lived in a generator-powered trailer in their driveway. Both their contractor and insurance adjuster were impressed by how well their round house performed during Katrina's fury. "Our contractor could not believe the design of the floors and the strength of the walls," says Diane. "This house is solid as a rock."

The Kisers say they wouldn't have any other kind of house. "It fits our lifestyle and it's suitable for the environment," says Diane. Despite the overwhelming devastation of their once beautiful community, Diane and Mitch are certain they've made the right choice. "Storms are a natural part of living on the coast," continues Diane. "Recovery is long and challenging, but not even the worst storm could destroy our spirits and our memories or our home."

Source: Deltec Homes, Inc.

Web site: http://www.deltechomes.com/