County: Brevard
ZIP Codes: 32950
Malabar, Florida is at a significant risk for hurricanes due to its geographical location on the east coast of Florida. It is positioned directly on the shore of the Atlantic Ocean, which means it is first in line to face the brunt of Atlantic hurricanes. The town's low elevation, with a mean sea level of less than 10 feet, makes it susceptible to storm surges and flooding, especially during high tide. Over the years, hurricanes have frequently caused extensive wind, rain, and flood damage in Malabar due to these factors. In recent history, Hurricane Jeanne in 2004 and Hurricane Irma in 2017 were particularly devastating for this region. In the last three decades, several major hurricanes have impacted Malabar. Aside from Jeanne and Irma, Hurricane Frances in 2004 and most recently, Hurricane Dorian in 2019 managed to cause considerable damage to the community. It's worth noting that these weather events didn't just wreak havoc on the physical structures within the town but also significantly disrupted infrastructure and resources, leading to prolonged blackouts and population displacement. Any disaster planning for Malabar, Florida, should take into account not just the immediate impact of the storm, but also the likely substantial flooding and the resulting longer term issues of infrastructural damage and resource shortage.