County: Pinellas
ZIP Codes: 33708, 33730
Redington Shores, Florida, is a Gulf Coast township in Pinellas County, directly vulnerable to hurricanes due to its coastal location. It sits at a low elevation, with a majority of the area lying less than 20 feet above sea level, making it susceptible to storm surge as well as flooding from intense rainfall. The coastal geology and lack of natural barriers exacerbate the town's vulnerability to these storm impacts. Furthermore, hurricanes can cause considerable wind damage to structures and vegetation, power outages, and disturbances to daily life and tourism. The region's population density and flood history make evacuation plans necessary to consider, especially for the elderly and those living in mobile homes that may be destroyed by wind or water. Looking back on historical data, Redington Shores has been affected by several significant storms over the past 30 years. Most notably, the area was seriously impacted by Category 3 Hurricane Irma in 2017, with major flooding and wind damage reported. In 2004, Hurricane Frances, a Category 2 storm, also inflicted severe flooding and wind damage to the town. It's worth stating that as climate change continues, storms are anticipated to increase both in strength and frequency, and thus this raises additional concerns for vulnerable coastal communities like Redington Shores.