What's the Risk? How Storm Wind & Water Hazards Impact Your Area

Hurricanes and tropical storms extend beyond coastal areas and its category is not the determining factor for its aftermath. Wind and water can cause devastating effects that stretch hundreds of miles inland.

Although hurricanes present the most significant risk to both life and property, tropical storms and tropical depressions can also cause significant damage. The key dangers associated with tropical cyclones, encompassing tropical depressions, tropical storms, and hurricanes, consist of storm surge flooding, extensive inland flooding due to heavy rainfall, destructive winds, tornadoes, as well as elevated surf and dangerous rip currents.

Storm surge refers to the water propelled toward the shoreline by the swirling winds of a storm, and throughout history, it has been accountable for the most significant loss of life during hurricanes. This elevation in the water's level has the potential to lead to extensive coastal flooding, resulting in the immersion of whole regions, structural harm to buildings, and the erosion of roads. The reach of storm surge can extend several miles inland, particularly along bays, rivers, and estuaries.

For more information on storm surges, check out the NHC's Storm Surge Hazard Maps.

The considerable volume of rain that any hurricane or storm can cause has demonstrated its dangerous potential through prolonged flooding episodes and abrupt instances of flash flooding. Residences, commercial establishments, and roadways can become submerged, hindering travel and evacuation efforts, while posing a life-threatening risk.  Moreover, floodwaters can harbor perilous bacteria, chemicals, wildlife, and other hazardous debris. Extraordinary rainfall from hurricanes and storms can even overwhelm those regions typically unaffected by flooding. These floods can materialize far inland, spanning hundreds of miles, and endure for several days following the passage of the storm.

Even when the beach appears to have pleasant weather, waves generated by distant storms have the potential to generate dangerous rip currents and turbulent surf, affecting shorelines situated a considerable distance away. It's essential to recognize that favorable conditions on the beach do not necessarily indicate safety in the ocean. Remarkably, storms located over 1,000 miles away can still instigate significant consequences.

Powerful winds of hurricane force have the capacity to inflict harm upon homes and other structures, varying from mild to catastrophic outcomes. The consequences of wind damage encompass all regions experiencing power and communication blackouts, alongside the toppling of trees and the obstruction of roads by debris. Objects such as signs, roofing materials, and various items left outdoors can transform into airborne projectiles amid hurricanes and strong storm winds. Notably, mobile homes are particularly susceptible to wind-induced destruction.

Tornadoes can also be induced by hurricanes and tropical storms. These tornadoes tend to emerge predominantly within thunderstorms nestled within rain bands, which are located a significant distance from the hurricane's core. Nonetheless, they can also manifest in proximity to the eye wall.

Make sure to find out whether your residence falls within a storm surge evacuation zone. This assessment will shed light on your susceptibility to storm surge, and its importance will be paramount when devising an evacuation strategy.

Not sure if you live in an evacuation zone? Find your evacuation zone here!

Examine whether your residence possesses any vulnerabilities that might pose a life-threatening risk during a hurricane. Have your exterior doors and garage door been reinforced to withstand hurricanes? Are storm shutters in place? Certain features of your home can be fortified to enhance its resistance to hurricane impacts, while others may not be modifiable. It's worth noting that mobile homes are especially prone to damage from hurricane-force winds, whereas basements are particularly susceptible to storm surge and flooding.