County: Suwannee
ZIP Codes: 32008
Branford, Florida, lies inland but is not entirely immune to the threats posed by hurricanes. As it is situated around 30 miles from the Gulf of Mexico, the main dangers that the town faces are high winds and torrential rainfall that tropical systems bring, rather than the storm surge which predominantly affects coastal locales. The town's relatively low and level geographic elevation doesn't provide much natural protection from floodwaters, amplifying the flooding risks significantly during heavy deluges. Areas with basins, rivers, creeks, and streams also face a heightened risk of overflowing, leading to property and landscape damage. Looking at historical hurricane impacts, Hurricane Michael in 2018 brought damaging winds and heavy rain to the area, causing significant structural damage and power outages. In 2004, Hurricanes Frances and Jeanne caused extensive flooding and wind damage to Branford. In terms of flood history, Branford often faces river flooding during periods of persistent heavy rainfall, usually driven by hurricanes or tropical storms. Such was the case during Tropical Storm Debby in 2012, which caused severe seasonal flooding affecting various parts of the town. The town must be vigilantly prepared for such weather events as climate change could potentially lead to more frequent and intense weather phenomena.