County: Santa Rosa
ZIP Codes: 32563
Tiger Point, Florida, is a coastal town that is highly vulnerable to the impacts of hurricanes given its proximity to the Gulf of Mexico. This coastal position many times translates into significant storm surge flooding when a hurricane makes landfall. Elevation throughout most of Tiger Point is relatively low, which can exacerbate flooding issues during severe weather events. The region's predisposition to hurricanes also elevates the risk of damaging winds that can lead to property damage and large swaths of power outages, with trees and power lines succumbing to the strength of the winds. Intense rainfall associated with the hurricanes can cause inland flooding too, creating an additional potential hazard for the town. Taking a look at historical hurricane events, Tiger Point was greatly impacted in 2004 and 2005 by Hurricanes Ivan and Dennis respectively - two of the most damaging hurricanes in Florida's history. Ivan, a Category 3 hurricane at landfall, brought strong winds over 120 mph and storm surge that reached up to 14 feet. The following year, Dennis made landfall as a Category 3 as well, again bringing considerable wind damage and flooding to the area. The town also endured significant indirect impacts more recently from Hurricane Michael in 2018, which was a Category 5 at landfall to the northwest. These events serve as a reminder of the significant hurricane risk for Tiger Point and emphasize the importance of comprehensive preparedness measures.