County: Polk
ZIP Codes: 33898, 33838, 33844
Dundee, Florida is situated approximately 60 miles from both the East and West coasts of Florida, which means although it is somewhat sheltered from initial hurricane landfall, it's still susceptible to the impacts of a hurricane. The town's elevation is significantly low, almost about 124 feet above sea level, which predisposes it to high risks of flooding during heavy rainfall, especially during hurricanes. Historical flood risk factors indicate Dundee among areas in Florida that are prone to severe flooding from storm surge, overflowing bodies of water, or torrential rains, all common impacts from hurricanes. Over the past three decades, Dundee has experienced numerous hurricanes and tropical storms but the most notable ones would be Hurricane Charley in 2004 and Hurricane Irma in 2017. Hurricane Charley, a category 4 storm, passed directly over the town causing significant wind damage. While Hurricane Irma led to severe flooding in the area because of the persistent heavy rains. Both hurricanes led to significant structural and infrastructural damage accompanied by power outages and disruptions in everyday life. Therefore, future hurricane threat assessments for Dundee must not only focus on the weather-related elements but also draw heavily from the town's past experiences with these major hurricanes.