Palm Harbor, Florida, is situated on the state's west coast, in very close proximity to the Gulf of Mexico. This coastal location means that it is at high risk for storm surge, particularly in the event of a major hurricane. Flooding due to storm surge or heavy rain is probably the greatest hurricane-related threat to Palm Harbor. As a relatively low-lying region, large parts of the town are less than 20 feet above sea level and are hence more likely to flood. In addition, a hurricane approaching from the Gulf could produce significant rainfall on top of the surge, further increasing flood risks. Also, hurricanes threaten to produce high winds that can damage infrastructure and cause power outages in this region. Historically, major hurricanes have directly impacted Palm Harbor and neighboring regions. For instance, in 1985, Hurricane Elena veered eastward in Gulf and inflicted significant losses on Palm Harbor. Similarly, the region was also affected by several storms in the early 2000s, including Hurricane Frances and Jeanne in 2004. While these hurricanes did not make direct landfall nearby, their rain bands resulted in flooding, and the strong winds caused power outages and damage to buildings. Thus, the history of hurricane and flooding incidents in Palm Harbor over the past three decades should be significant considerations when assessing storm risk for this region.