County: Santa Rosa
ZIP Codes: 32565
Pine Level, Florida, though located inland, is not immune to the impacts of hurricanes and tropical storms due to its relatively close proximity to both the Gulf and the Atlantic coasts. Historically, storms have been known to maintain their strength as they travel inland, posing a threat to communities like Pine Level. Flooding is a foremost concern due to high rainfall levels associated with these storms, and despite Pine Level's lack of coastal risk, the town is fairly flat with a low elevation which can exacerbate this issue. Additionally, the heavy winds associated with these storms can lead to structural damages and power outages. In the past 30 years, Pine Level has been affected by several major hurricanes and flooding events. The most significant were Hurricane Charley in 2004, which crossed directly over Pine Level as a Category 2 hurricane, wreaking havoc with powerful winds and heavy rains, and Hurricane Irma in 2017, which caused extensive damage in Central Florida with flooding, power outages, and strong winds being the main threats. Interpreting these historical events, residents of Pine Level should be prepared for similar occurrences in the future, particularly in terms of flooding and wind damage, and should pay close attention to official guidance when intense storms are forecasted.