Vernon, Florida, though situated inland, is less than 50 miles from the Gulf Coast, thereby placing it in a physically vulnerable position to hurricanes and tropical storms. Because of its low elevation of approximately 43 feet above sea level, the town is prone to widespread flooding from the rainfall associated with these systems even if it escapes the brunt of damaging coastal storm surges. An additional risk factor for Vernon is that the town, situated in Washington County, lies within a region of Florida that features multiple rivers and streams. These water bodies, which generally flow towards the Gulf Coast, can rapidly rise during heavy rainfall episodes, causing inland flooding. Reflecting on the recent history, Vernon, like many Florida communities, has experienced the effects of several notable storms over the past three decades. For instance, Hurricane Michael, a major Category 5 storm in 2018, brought significant rainfall and strong winds to the area, causing extensive damage to buildings and infrastructure as well as power outages that lasted several days. In 1995, the Tropical Storm Alberto caused significant flooding in the area. The flood situation was aggravated by the fact that the grounds were saturated owing to above-average rainfall during the pre-storm period. These past instances, combined with Vernon's physical and geographical positioning, underscore the importance of hurricane preparedness and flood mitigation for this community.