Hurricane season and your property: what to check before you buy in Honduras

How big is the risk?

The Atlantic hurricane season officially runs from 1 June to 30 November, according to the National Hurricane Center. Most storms that reach the western Caribbean pass north of the Bay Islands, so in a typical year Roatán sees heavy rain and wind rather than a direct hit.

The exceptions are memorable. Hurricane Mitch in October 1998 stalled near the Bay Islands, battered Guanaja and caused catastrophic flooding on the mainland. In November 2020, Eta and Iota struck within two weeks of each other and flooded large parts of the Sula Valley around San Pedro Sula. Both are documented in the National Hurricane Center’s storm reports.

On the islands: wind, surge and water

• Elevation and setback. A house a few metres above sea level and set back from the shore is far safer from storm surge than one on the beach line. Ask for the height above sea level on the survey.
• Structure. Reinforced concrete and block walls, a roof tied down to the walls with hurricane straps, and a roof shape that does not catch the wind.
• Openings. Impact-rated windows or proper storm shutters for every opening, including sliding doors.
• Water and power. A cistern, a backup generator and a way to keep them running for a week. After a storm, utilities can take days to come back.
• Trees and docks. Large trees close to the house and wooden docks are the first things to go.

On the mainland: flooding and landslides

In San Pedro Sula the question is water, not wind. Parts of the valley floor flooded for days in 2020. Ask neighbours and the agent where the water reached, check the street drainage and look at the ground floor walls for old water lines.

In Tegucigalpa, some hillside colonias have a history of landslides in heavy rain. Look at retaining walls, cracks and drainage, and have an engineer check a hillside lot before buying.

Questions to ask the seller or developer

• How did the property come through Eta and Iota in 2020, and any storm since?
• Has the roof been replaced or reinforced, and when?
• Are there shutters or impact windows for every opening?
• Is the property insured today, and with whom?
• For new builds: which engineer designed the structure, and to which wind standard?

Insurance and timing

Property insurance with windstorm cover is available in Honduras, but terms vary widely and some policies exclude older or beachfront buildings. Get quotes from local brokers before closing, not after. If you are buying a house that will sit empty part of the year, arrange a caretaker who will secure it before a storm.

Many buyers visit in the dry season, roughly from February to May. Try to see the property after heavy rain too: it is the quickest way to learn how it drains.

Important

This article is general information, not legal, tax or engineering advice. Confirm every step with a Honduran attorney and, for buildings, a qualified engineer before you pay a deposit.

Sources

1. National Hurricane Center (NOAA): Tropical cyclone climatology: the Atlantic hurricane season
2. National Hurricane Center (NOAA): Tropical cyclone report: Hurricane Mitch, 22 October – 5 November 1998
3. National Hurricane Center (NOAA): Tropical cyclone report: Hurricane Eta, 31 October – 13 November 2020
4. National Hurricane Center (NOAA): Tropical cyclone report: Hurricane Iota, 13–18 November 2020

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