If you’re living in Florida, hurricanes are always a threat. Storm protection is essential for protecting you and your family from wind-borne debris, rain, and more.
But not all areas of Florida are equal. Living in Orlando, for example, you won’t be hit by as many hurricanes as you would be in South Florida. So let’s look at the top six worst places in Florida for hurricanes. These areas have had the most storms that are category 3 hurricanes or higher. If you live in one of these areas, you’ll want to think about investing in impact windows and impact doors.
1. Southeast Florida (Miami–Fort Lauderdale–West Palm Beach)
Southeast Florida is very susceptible to hurricanes, given its location at the tip of the state. Most large hurricanes affect Southeast Florida with storm surges and plentiful rain – and those that make direct landfall can cause severe damage.
One of the worst hurricanes to ever make landfall in Miami was the Great Miami Hurricane of 1926, which destroyed thousands of homes and caused damage of $196 billion in inflation-adjusted dollars – the costliest hurricane in history when normalizing for inflation.
2. Key West And The Florida Keys
The Florida Keys are also very vulnerable to intense hurricanes, with storm surges posing a particular threat to these islands. Hurricane Andrew was a category 5 hurricane that struck Florida in August 1992. It was the most destructive hurricane to ever hit Florida until Hurricane Irma surpassed it 25 years later. Hurricane Irma, which made landfall in 2017 as a Category 4 hurricane, you can read more about Irma below.
3. Southwest Florida (Fort Myers–Naples)
Southwest Florida is often spared some of the worst of hurricane season, but that doesn’t mean that significant storms don’t make their way around the Gulf Coast. Hurricane Irma is the worst hurricane to have hit the Fort Myers-Naples area in recent history in 2017. As a Category 4 hurricane, Irma caused more than $64 billion in damages, with winds of up to 150 mph and huge storm surges around the coast. Hurricane Irma was the most powerful Atlantic hurricane in recorded history!
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4. West Florida (Tampa-St. Petersburg-Sarasota-Clearwater)
The Tampa Bay area has been lucky, without any major hurricanes hitting the region in recent years. The last powerful storm to hit the area was the 1921 Tampa Bay hurricane. This storm peaked at Category 4, with winds exceeding 140mph. Despite its power and a 10-12 storm surge, though, there were few fatalities and about $110 million in inflation-adjusted damages to the area. Hurricane Irma did head towards Tampa but was downgraded to a category 1 storm by the time it came through. This is still a major storm but not as bad as it might have been. Hopefully, their luck will continue!
5. Central Florida Atlantic Coast (Melbourne-Cocoa Beach)
The Brevard County and Central Florida Atlantic Coast are quite susceptible to massive hurricanes, though most which make landfall weaken before they affect the area. Despite being less likely to suffer direct impacts from hurricanes, the Melbourne-Cocoa Beach area is still at risk of damage from storm surges and high winds.
Hurricane Charley did not hit the area directly, but Hurricane Jeanne and Hurricane Frances, both also in 2004, caused more than $2.8 billion in claim payments combined.
6. Florida Panhandle (Pensacola-Panama City)
On average, the Panhandle is affected by a severe storm about every two years. Hurricane Opal in 1995 was one of the strongest hurricanes to hit the area in recent memory, landing as a Category 4 with winds of over 150mph, and causing at least $4.7 billion in damages, and leaving more than 34,000 homeless. An estimated 100,000 people were evacuated from the area before the hurricane’s impact. But nothing compares to Hurricane Michael in 2018 and the most powerful on record in the Florida Panhandle. Hurricane Michael made landfall with a category five status, making it the US’s strongest storm since Hurricane Andrew ravaged southern Florida in 1992, causing over $25 billion in damage.
Protect Yourself From Powerful Hurricanes – Get Replacement Windows Today!
At Wrights Impact Windows & Door, we take hurricane protection seriously – which is why we offer high-quality replacement windows and PACE finance options for our customers. The benefits of impact windows and impact doors are numerous – from better energy efficiency to reduce noise and higher home values.
But, most importantly, impact windows and doors can help keep you, your family, and your property safe. So no matter where you live in Florida, consider getting replacement windows for your home. Not only is it a great idea to protect your family, but Florida building codes now require hurricane protection for all new windows and doors! So, if you’re ready to get started, call us now at 561-588-7353, or request an estimate online.
The price of repairs, in both human and financial terms, is always going to be higher than the cost of being well protected before a natural disaster occurs – Howard Van Natta, President of Wrights Impact Window & Door.