Dear Tom,
Florida has apparently gone through this hurricane season affected only by Tropical
Storm Edouard. I’d like to move there. Is any part of the state less prone for hurricanes?
-Molly Nellis
Dear Molly,
The entire state is vulnerable. With three coastlines, Florida is a target for hurricanes
approaching from the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean and the Atlantic. Since 1850 more
than 110 hurricanes have made landfall there with the Panhandle and northwest most
vulnerable, followed in decreasing order by hits in the southeast, southwest and the
northeast. Because Florida is a long, narrow state, hurricanes can easily move across the
state with little decrease in intensity. In Florida’s nightmare 2005 season, Hurricane
Wilma produced more damage in southeast Florida than it did after its landfall in the
southwest part of the state.
