"I also did not rely on local design standards and talent. The key is learn and bug the crap out of builders, engineers and contractors." I'm a smart girl. I married the best carpenter, designer, builder etc in town. He's not an engineer on paper, but he knows his stuff. When HE wants to evacuate what HE builds, you know it's gonna be bad.
I don’t care how smart you think you are or what kind of carpenter you married. but it is completely possible to build a home that can withstand a major hurricane (I did) and live relatively comfortably. It is a matter of good design, planning and execution. It takes budgeting, also.
I frankly would not live in a place in a home that mandated evacuation. Hurricane evactuation around here is a joke - unless you leave days early and then 99% of the time you leave wrong.