Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, Florida, is a town situated on a narrow barrier island on the southeastern coast of the state. It is particularly vulnerable to hurricanes due to its proximity to the Atlantic Ocean, with the entire town located just a stone’s throw away from the coast. Considering its flat terrain and maximum elevation of about 16 feet above sea level, the town is also exposed to the risk of storm surge flooding during hurricanes. High winds associated with hurricanes can also result in structural damage to homes and buildings, as well as power outages and interruptions in utility services. The past 30 years have seen a number of powerful hurricanes impacting Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, with storms such as Hurricane Andrew in 1992, Hurricane Wilma in 2005, and more recently, Hurricane Irma in 2017 causing significant damage. Andrew, a Category 5 storm, caused widespread destruction across South Florida, and while Lauderdale-by-the-Sea escaped the worst of the storm's wrath, it still suffered damage due to tropical-storm-force winds and beach erosion. Hurricane Wilma, on the other hand, caused significant flooding in parts of the town, while Irma resulted in significant wind damage and power outages. This historical storm activity highlights the serious threat that hurricanes pose to the town, necessitating the need for effective planning and preparedness measures.