County: Lee
ZIP Codes: 33919
Whiskey Creek, being a coastal community in Florida, inherently carries a significant risk of hurricanes, storm surge, flooding, and tropical storms. The community's proximity to the coast and low elevation make it particularly vulnerable to storm-surge flooding. High winds and heavy rainfall are additional considerations, posing threats for property damage and electricity disruption due to downed power lines and uprooted trees. There's also potential damage to structures from flying debris. Inundation can be quite severe, reaching several feet in depth during major hurricanes, and even minor storms can lead to flooding due to the relatively flat terrain and inadequate drainage. Looking at the history of storm impacts in Whiskey Creek over the last three decades, Hurricane Charley in 2004 and Hurricane Irma in 2017 were particularly devastating. Hurricane Charley was a category 4 storm that led to widespread wind damage, while Hurricane Irma, also a category 4 at landfall, resulted in both wind damage and significant storm-surge flooding. During these hurricanes, low-elevation residences were particularly vulnerable to storm surge, with flooding intruding miles inland. As climate change continues to produce more intense and frequent storms, the risk of hurricane impacts and flooding in Whiskey Creek can be expected to increase in the future.