County: Pinellas
ZIP Codes: 33707
South Pasadena, Florida, being only a few miles inland from the Gulf of Mexico and at a low elevation, is highly susceptible to the impacts of hurricanes and tropical storms. Flooding, both from heavy rain and storm surge, poses a significant risk, as do high winds, which can cause damage to buildings, trees, and power infrastructure. Given South Pasadena's peninsular geographical setup on Florida's west coast, it has an added vulnerability to storm threats coming from both the Gulf and the Atlantic region. Bearing such factors in mind, hurricane preparedness including evacuation plans, flood mitigation measures, and resilient building design are imperative for this location. As far as historical context goes, two recent impactful hurricanes include Hurricane Irma in 2017 and Hurricane Charley in 2004. Hurricane Irma, in particular, caused widespread flooding and power outages in South Pasadena and the greater Pinellas County region, consequently stressing the importance of flood management and power infrastructure resilience. South Pasadena also experienced flooding from so-called ‘no-name storms,’ including the notable 1993 Storm of the Century, a phenomenon that underscores the need to be prepared for a wide range of possible hurricane and flood scenarios. With the potential for increasingly frequent and severe weather events due to climate change, this risk assessment may need continual adjustment to ensure South Pasadena's residents are entirely ready for future threats.