Mobile homes constructed to be installed in Wind Zone 3 or Exposure D are rated to withstand high winds. Wind Zone 3 is located in the lower third of Florida, where the most severe hurricanes come ashore, and Exposure D (also called “D-Sticker”) is the category for any home installed within 1500 feet of the coastline all around the state—an even more dangerous area in a hurricane. 

    Both of them are required to have upgraded windows rated for a higher wind resistance than Zones 1 or 2. But HUD does not require the homes for the top two zones to have any impact-resistance rating. One manufacturer we called today says they will install impacted-rated windows in a new mobile home if special-ordered, but warned that they are very expensive. An alternative would be to add hurricane-rated shutters to the window openings after the home is installed.

    To learn more about Wind Zones and hurricanes, see our blog post What is a Wind Zone 3 mobile home? and What year were mobile homes required to become more storm resistant?  and What are the tie-down requirements for a mobile home? and What happens when a mobile home foundation fails in a hurricane? 

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Here’s links to a collection of our blog posts about MOBILE/MANUFACTURED HOMES: 

• Where can I file a complaint if I have problems with my new or used manufactured/mobile home in Florida?

• What are the most common defects in mobile/manufactured home foundation piers?

• How do I determine the age of a very old mobile home?

• What is a "HUD label verification letter" for a mobile/manufactured home?  

• When did a ground cover vapor barrier (plastic sheet) become required under a mobile/manufactured home? 

• Is it safe to go under a mobile home? 

• Are older mobile homes unsafe? 

• What do I need to know about buying a foreclosed mobile home? 

• Does it make sense to buy an older mobile home and remodel it? 

• Where do I find the vehicle identification number (VIN) on a mobile home? 

• How do I find out how old a mobile home is and who manufactured it?

• What is the right price for a used mobile home?

• When were the first double-wide mobile homes manufactured?

• How do I upgrade my old (pre-1976) mobile home to meet HUD standards?

• What size air conditioner is right for my mobile home? 

• Can you move an older mobile home in Florida? 

• What does the HUD tag look like and where do I find it on a mobile home? 

• Can you put a zone 1 mobile home in Florida?

• How can I remove water under my mobile home?

• What's the differences between a trailer, a mobile home, a manufactured home, and a modular home? 

• What is a D-sticker mobile home? 

• What are the tie-down requirements for a mobile home?

• How fireproof is a mobile home?  

• What walls can I remove in a mobile home?

• What can I do to prevent dampness and mold in my mobile home? 

• How can I tell if a mobile home is well constructed?

• How can I tell the difference between a manufactured home and a modular home?

       Visit our MOBILE/MANUFACTURED HOMES  page for other related blog posts on this subject, or go to the INDEX for a complete listing of all our articles.