County: Orange
ZIP Codes: 32820, 32833
Bithlo, Florida, although not situated directly on the coast, is still very much susceptible to the impacts of a hurricane. Being about 37 miles from the Atlantic Ocean to the east, this small town is vulnerable to significant wind damage and extensive rainfall leading to flooding, particularly because Florida overall has a relatively flat topography. While Bithlo does not have a record of severe floods due to its inland location and relative elevation advantage over coastal towns, heavy rain that persists for days can overwhelm the local drainage systems, escalating the likelihood of flash floods. The past three decades have seen a number of hurricanes that have impacted central Florida and likely affected Bithlo. These include Hurricane Erin and Hurricane Opal in 1995, the trio of Charley, Frances, and Jean in 2004, and Hurricane Irma in 2017. These hurricanes brought destructive winds and heavy rainfall which led to widespread damage and some flooding. It is important for Bithlo residents to be prepared for such possibilities in the future, and to understand that their inland location does not absolve them entirely from hurricane risk.