Sebring, Florida's relative distance from coastline allows it some protection against direct landfall of hurricanes, however, the threat of overland tropical systems or remnants of hurricanes making their way into central Florida should not be underestimated. These remnants can bring heavy rainfall leading to flooding issues, especially considering Sebring is low-lying and has many freshwater lakes, which can increase the town’s vulnerability to flooding. Importantly, even though Sebring is about 50 miles inland from both the Gulf and Atlantic coasts, it doesn't mean it is safe from hurricane winds; strong wind gusts can still cause structural damage to buildings and bring down trees and power lines, resulting in power outages and potentially blocking roadways. Historically, Sebring has been impacted by major hurricanes, most notably Hurricane Charley in 2004, which produced wind gusts of up to 85mph in several inland areas of Florida, including Sebring. Though the worst wind damage was relative localized, the storm left many residents of Sebring without power for a week. In 2017, Hurricane Irma also impacted the region with high winds, heavy rain, and flood, again emphasizing the importance of hurricane preparations for Sebring residents. Economic damage from these storms was significant, and recovery took considerable time. So, while Sebring's relative distance from the coast does provide some level of protection from storm surges and the most catastrophic impacts of hurricanes, the town's inland location and local topography make it vulnerable to heavy rainfall, flooding, and wind damage from tropical systems and hurricanes.