County: Palm Beach
ZIP Codes: 33411, 33412, 33470
The Acreage, Florida, which lies approximately 15 miles inland from the eastern coastline of Florida, could be considered moderately at risk to the potential threats posed by hurricanes. Due to its distance from the coast, the town's primary hurricane threats include strong winds and heavy rainfall, rather than direct storm surge. However, its relatively low elevation (around 20 feet above sea level on average) makes it at risk for flooding, particularly if a hurricane or tropical storm stalls over the area and continually dumps rain. As the area is heavily forested with loose soil, high winds and heavy rains may cause downed trees and power lines, leading to extensive power outages. In the past three decades, The Acreage has been affected by major hurricanes, including Andrew(1992), Frances and Jeanne(2004), and Irma(2017). All these hurricanes brought heavy rains and high winds, causing extensive property damage and flooding. The flooding issue could be exacerbated by the town's ample network of canals and waterways, which can rapidly overflow during heavy rainfall. Evacuation routes and shelter access should also be taken into consideration given the rural nature of the community and the limited number of main highways in and out of the town.