St. James City, Florida, is positioned directly on the Gulf Coast on Pine Island, thereby making it very vulnerable to hurricane threats and flooding. Being an island community, there's practically no terrain elevation to act as a natural barrier to storm surge. Although the island itself is surrounded by mangroves that can, to some degree, mitigate wave action, a serious hurricane could still lead to severe inundation. Over the past decades, hurricane-caused flooding has become a serious issue due to sea level rise and the community's flat, low-lying nature. Historically, St. James City has had a number of encounters with major hurricanes. Hurricane Charley in 2004 passed directly over Pine Island, bringing unprecedented damage to the community. More recently, Hurricane Irma in 2017, while not making a direct hit, triggered significant flooding in St. James City. Due to these risks, storm preparations and evacuation plans are critically important for residents. This history suggests a high probability for extreme weather events in the future. Heavy rain, strong winds, and especially storm surge pose significant risks to property and infrastructure, and could cause displacement of residents. Another key consideration is potential isolation post-storm, as causeway and bridge damage may disrupt access to the island.