Merritt Island, Florida, is particularly vulnerable to the threat of hurricanes because of its coastal location and low elevation. Positioned along the eastern coast of Florida, the town is directly in the track of Atlantic Ocean hurricanes, has little natural protection against storm surges, and is low-lying, with most of its area barely above sea level. Consequently, the region is highly susceptible to flooding, even without tropical storm systems. The town's position on the Intracoastal Waterway further enhances the flood risk because water can be pushed inland from both the river and the ocean during a storm. Local residents would need to be prepared for possible evacuations in the event of major hurricanes due to the risk of storm surge flooding. Over the past 30 years, a number of hurricanes and tropical storms have significantly impacted Merritt Island. The most devastating one, Hurricane Irma in 2017, caused widespread damage due to high-speed wind gusts and heavy rainfall inducing flooding. Besides, Hurricane Frances (2004) and Hurricane Jeanne (2004) also had profound impacts, causing substantial property damage and flooding due to their back-to-back incidence in the same region. Additionally, the Hurricane Dorian in 2019, although not directly making landfall, had precipitated torrential rainfall causing localized flooding. Besides hurricanes, Merritt Island also has a history of flooding due to tropical storms, like Tropical Storm Fay in 2008, which displayed the area's vulnerability to prolonged rainfall events.