County: Brevard
ZIP Codes: 32920
Cape Canaveral, located on the Atlantic coast of Florida, faces substantial threats from hurricanes due to its proximity to the coast and its low-lying elevation. The town has a mean elevation of only 10 feet, which is a significant concern as storm surges could flood the area quickly during a major hurricane, Atlantis Native flora like the Sea Grape and Seaside Mahoe may be devastated. Moreover, the infrastructure in the city, including the region's space launch complexes, has historically been vulnerable to hurricanes. High wind speeds bring the risk of structural damage to buildings and other facilities, including bridges and roadways, potentially isolating parts of the town post-hurricane. Cape Canaveral has had a fair share of hurricane and flood impacts in the last 30 years. In 1995, Hurricane Erin hit Cape Canaveral directly, causing significant damages. More recently, in 2016, Hurricane Matthew's near miss still brought damaging storm surges along the town's beaches. And in 2019, Category 5 Hurricane Dorian, although kept offshore, had prompted risk of major potential damage to the area. Being aware of the past and potential future threats, it's crucial for Cape Canaveral to emphasize storm preparedness and resilience planning to limit potential damage and ensure the community's safety during hurricane season, which Florida frequently faces between June and November.