County: Pasco
ZIP Codes: 34668, 34667
Bayonet Point, Florida, has a significant risk for hurricane impacts given its coastal location on the Gulf of Mexico. Even though it has a low elevation, the primary concern involves flooding from storm surge, wind velocities over hurricane force, and heavy rain. Those residents nearest the coast face the highest risk, but even those located further inland could experience flooding from the heavy rain that hurricanes often carry. It should be noted that Hurricane Irma in 2017 caused significant flooding in the area, and more recently, Hurricane Sally in 2020 affected the town as well, reminding residents of the potential risks during hurricane season. Historically, Bayonet Point has seen impacts from several major hurricanes over the last thirty years. The most notable of these was Hurricane Michael in 2018, which caused catastrophic damage throughout the area due to a combination of storm surge flooding, punishing winds, and heavy rain. Similarly, in 2004, Hurricane Charley also led to substantial damage in the area due to similar effects. As well, during Hurricane Ivan in 2004 despite it's landfall point being in Alabama, Bayonet Point still faced flood threats due to the storm's wide-ranging effects. Resilience measures such as home fortifications, moving to higher ground, and evacuation plans should be considered to reduce potential future risks.