Built for the Big One: How One House in Mexico Beach is Still Standing

news image
Special Stories
17 Oct 2018 12:55 PM
https://youtu.be/kYGD_VsIfUA While most of the buildings in Mexico Beach, Florida were reduced to rubble by Hurricane Michael, one stood tall and strong. Lebron Lackey and his uncle, Russell King, finished construction on the vacation home known as "Sand Palace" in early 2018. Little did they know, Mother Nature would soon put it to the ultimate test. “We don’t have near as beautiful a home as some folks or as we would like to have had, but we thought well someday it might make a difference. Had no idea that that someday would be in October of 2018. But here we are and miraculously we made it.” Reflected Lackey. https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=1637018379748448&id=1623025691147717&__xts__[0]=68.ARB1KCKpxIBgRiiXmOfCqrZkmQsFlkbkM28z87GhSQAEgIYrd0xh4L3TfraJ3Kig__5GgXO4AXLBPQvkNdqu-SXvkY0mYYlQJJ76YCQCWEaUE1k2NckKu24NMTFwQSZ3Gp2uO0Qc5NrqHF_b9XKJL97U6lObJiNEFdgg29FZ7h485YZ0-cLLsyk1JgRPZaSUveVwoZe6eaQmlt3VAIk-da4y&__tn__=-R Inspired by structures in Costa Rica built to withstand earthquakes, Lackey and King poured over every detail. Going above and beyond building codes. “Our foremost concern was survivability… The window behind me here was two windows there, were combined into one. So there’s more concrete. We did that all over. We took windows out and put concrete in.” detailed Lackey. Despite all of the planning, despite every painstaking design, they still knew it would never be enough. Evacuation was the only option for guests. King said “They actually pulled all of our furniture in the house. But there was never any doubt. They started doing that in plenty of time to make sure that they had battened down the hatches so to speak, and were able to get out. If they had not been able to do that… there was never any question to get out.” According to the Sand Palace Facebook page, the ground and middle floors did experience serious internal water and wind damage. After seeing the damage all around their home, King has one final word of advice. “When you’re listening to WeatherNation or anybody and they say the storm is coming, get out. Get out. Get out. It’s not worth your life.” https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=1831396850310599&id=1623025691147717&__xts__[0]=68.ARBbyEwzp5CTuNQdBuRqR2IhVasHwfb4Y9z-R8nAgepDulDdJ7n9_xnNSdoaZj7PCHxIBytVdhvux_Vbn1z5LhkiJhupVqg3tjv6jiLWB3PjM78JprWA9QKhspfowPa_FLfxcduiRi-EsG2B4OdeyA4EQc4V7ggVVIWNA_rmCwaY_NBZ81MniIvesRgh3WmGXxEe6HLEVMpqrvH8j20iXwlX&__tn__=-R
All Weather News
More
A Few Clippers In the Forecast

A Few Clippers In the Forecast

NORTHERN PLAINS - Today, an Alberta Clipper d

9 Dec 2025 3:10 AM
Arctic Blast to Bring Dangerous Conditions to Millions

Arctic Blast to Bring Dangerous Conditions to Millions

The Northern Tier of the country is no strang

9 Dec 2025 12:30 AM
Atmospheric River Builds In The Northwest This Week

Atmospheric River Builds In The Northwest This Week

NORTHWEST -Now through Wednesday, we will see

9 Dec 2025 12:20 AM
Overnight Snow for the Colorado Rockies

Overnight Snow for the Colorado Rockies

DENVER, CO - Denver saw its first significant

6 Dec 2025 3:30 AM
Snow & Ice Lingers for the Mid-Atlantic & Appalachians

Snow & Ice Lingers for the Mid-Atlantic & Appalachians

Multiple low-pressure systems moving across t

5 Dec 2025 9:40 PM
Northern U.S. Bracing for Multiple Clipper Systems this Week

Northern U.S. Bracing for Multiple Clipper Systems this Week

MONTANA - A clipper system has been moving th

4 Dec 2025 2:00 AM
Gulf Low turns Coastal Low as Millions Brace for Plowable Snow

Gulf Low turns Coastal Low as Millions Brace for Plowable Snow

We're hoping many Thanksgiving travelers have

2 Dec 2025 8:50 PM