Vero Beach, Florida is particularly susceptible to the impacts of a hurricane due to its direct coastal position on the East Coast of Florida. This coastal positioning not only allows for a direct impact from a storm moving either on a north or west path through the Atlantic, but it also places the town at a significant risk of storm surge flooding. The average elevation of Vero Beach is only around 12 feet above sea level which means that in addition to the onslaught of rain typically associated with hurricanes, the town is also highly vulnerable to flood risk due to storm surge, a major source of hurricane-related deaths. With sea levels continuing to rise due to global warming, this concern is becoming a growing threat. In regard to historical hurricane impacts, over the past 30 years, several significant storms have affected Vero Beach. This includes Hurricane Frances in 2004 which led to severe flooding and wind damage, as well as Hurricane Jeanne in the same year, which led to further extensive flooding and damage. Hurricanes such as these, along with frequent tropical storms, are stark reminders of the types of threats Vero Beach faces during the hurricane season, which typically runs from June through November. Furthermore, these severe weather events often lead to damage from falling trees and power outages due to the high wind speeds associated with tropical cyclone systems.