County: Hillsborough
ZIP Codes: 33598, 33503
Balm, Florida stands at a relatively safe distance from the coastline, providing a protective buffer from the initial impact of hurricanes and the dangerous storm surges typically associated with them. However, this distance from the coast does not render the town immune to the other severe effects of hurricanes such as violent winds and torrential rainfall. Given that the elevation of Balm is around 51 feet, it has a moderate susceptibility to flooding from excessive rainfall which is often seen with tropical storm systems. In terms of hurricane history, the area was significantly impacted by Hurricane Irma in 2017, causing power outages and localized flooding. There was also moderate damage from Hurricane Charley in 2004. Although Balm does not possess a large history of flooding compared to other regions, it is important to recognize that potential hurricane impacts may escalate with climate change, potentially increasing rainfall and hurricane intensity. Future precautions should embrace adequate infrastructural provisions to handle possible flooding and robust emergency response protocols to mitigate the potential destructive effects of hurricanes.