West Samoset, Florida, located near the Gulf coast, is susceptible to the typical threats posed by hurricanes, most notably high winds, heavy rainfall, storm surges, and subsequent flooding. As a relatively low-lying coastal community, it can expect potential flooding from heavy rain, particularly from tropical storms or hurricanes, but also importantly from storm surge. Storm surge is influenced by the slope of the continental shelf and the depth of the water along the coast; shallow, flat shelf areas like those found along the Gulf coast can expect higher storm surges. Further impacts could include damage to structures due to high winds, or infrastructural problems like power outages and blocked roads. Historically, West Samoset has dealt with multiple hurricane threats. In the last 30 years, known major hurricane impacts include Hurricane Andrew in 1992, which caused significant damage, and Hurricane Charley in 2004, which caused extensive damage to the region. More recently, in 2017, Hurricane Irma affected the area with powerful winds and heavy flooding. On a smaller scale, minor floods caused by seasonal rainfall and tropical depressions are a recurring issue that the community has to be prepared for. The combined historical and geographic factors show that West Samoset must contend with a relatively high hurricane risk.