County: Hernando
ZIP Codes: 34604, 34601, 34605
South Brooksville, Florida, is particularly vulnerable to the impacts of hurricanes, due to its close proximity to the Gulf of Mexico and relatively low elevation. Coastal towns like South Brooksville often face severe damage from storm surge, high winds, and heavy rainfall associated with major storms. Despite being a few miles inland, it must be noted that the storm surge potential is dependent on the specific track and size of each hurricane, which puts South Brooksville at a considerable risk. Historically, the town has been plagued with floods caused by excessive rainfall during tropical storms or hurricanes. Based on these considerations, residents of South Brooksville should be aware of the risk of flooding, high winds, and potential loss of utilities or essential services during hurricane season. In reviewing the last 30 years of weather events, two of the major hurricanes that have impacted South Brooksville include Hurricanes Elena and Hermine. Hurricane Elena in 1985 caused severe flooding and wind damage in the area while Hurricane Hermine in 2016 also brought substantial storm surge and heavy rainfall, leading to devastating flooding and power outages. Both of these historic hurricanes have led to significant property damage, demonstrating the serious hurricane threat facing the community. With climate patterns suggesting more intensified storms in future, it's critical that the residents be prepared, and that mitigation strategies to reduce flood risk and other hurricane impacts are evaluated and implemented in the region.