Located in northern central Florida, Fruitland Park is somewhat protected from the direct impacts of hurricanes compared to the coastal towns. Its distance from the coast offers some natural buffer, reducing the severity of storm surge and extremely high winds typically associated with direct, coastal landfalls. However, the area's relatively low elevation can contribute to an elevated flood risk from heavy rainfall, especially with tropical storm systems that move slowly and drop substantial amounts of rain over an extended period of time. Large hurricanes can often produce significant rainfall across the peninsula, leading to flooding issues even far from the immediate coastline. Over the past 30 years, there have been several major hurricane events in Florida that have tangentially impacted Fruitland Park. Hurricanes such as Andrew (1992), Charley (2004), Frances (2004), and Irma (2017) caused significant statewide impact, with Fruitland Park experiencing lesser but still notable effects such as power outages, downed trees, property damage, and localized flooding. These hurricanes demonstrate the cumulative exposure of inland Florida to peripheral hurricane impacts - namely heavy rainfall and associated flooding. It is critical that the residents remain prepared for these potential indirect impacts, and never underestimate the power and reach of a landfalling hurricane, even if it seems far away from direct coastal impact.