Minneola, Florida, about 25 miles west of Orlando, is largely inland and thus is somewhat buffered from the direct hurricane impacts experienced by coastal locations, like storm surge. However, this does not make the town immune from the potentially catastrophic effects. While storm surge is not a significant concern due to the town's distance from the coast, hurricanes can cause widespread wind damage and precipitation-induced flooding, even at this distance. The flat terrain of Florida and its low elevation mean that the town can still be subject to significant flooding, particularly should a slow-moving or stalling hurricane occur. Over the past 30 years, Minneola, like much of Central Florida, has felt the impacts of major hurricanes. Notably, in 2004, Hurricanes Charley, Frances, and Jeanne all affected the area with heavy winds and rainfall causing flooding and wind damage. Another significant hurricane was Irma in 2017, whose immense size led to widespread power outages, tree damage, and flooding due to heavy rainfall. Although direct hits from hurricanes are relatively rare for Minneola, the wide-reaching effects of these storms and the potential for inundating rainfall necessitates thorough preparations and precautions.