Southgate, Florida, being in Sarasota County, lies less than ten miles away from coastal lines, which puts it at a risk for high storm surge and flooding during a hurricane, especially as it lies fairly flat, with a very low elevation. The proximity to the coastline makes it vulnerable to wind damage due to the forceful speed of hurricane winds that carry debris and cause destruction to properties. Additionally, hurricanes inducing heavy torrential rains could lead to considerable inland flooding. Essential public utilities like power and communication lines could also be disturbed, leading to outages that sometimes last for several days. In the past 30 years, Sarasota County has experienced several powerful storms and hurricanes. The most notable ones include Hurricane Charley in 2004, which although a Category 4 storm, did not make a direct hit on Southgate but still caused widespread wind damage. More recently, in 2017, Hurricane Irma also caused notable damage, especially due to local flooding. Moreover, Southgate is nestled in a county that experiences a significant amount of rainfall annually, which is always a concern during hurricane season when heavy downpours can lead to flash flooding. Therefore, it is important for residents to have effective evacuation and preparedness plans in place to mitigate potential impacts and ensure safety during hurricane events.