County: St. Lucie
ZIP Codes: 34986, 34984, 34983, 34987, 34952, 34953, 34985
Port St. Lucie, located in southeastern Florida, faces notable hurricane risk due to its coastal proximity. The town is extremely vulnerable to storm surge flooding, as it lies largely at sea level with some areas below sea level. Storm surge, combined with torrential rainfall, can result in significant flooding damage, considering the history of the region. Moreover, hurricanes can cause severe wind damage to structures and vegetation, with extensive power outages and destruction from flying debris common occurrences during major storm events. Reviewing the town鈥檚 historical data reveals instances of significant hurricane impacts. For example, in 2004, Hurricanes Frances and Jeanne caused heavy destruction with considerable flooding and wind damage. In 2005, Hurricane Wilma also swept through the region, further underscoring the seasonal hurricane threat. In more recent times, Hurricane Irma in 2017 resulted in major power outages and flooding. The frequency of such high impact hurricanes, often leading to heavy loss of property and sometimes life, underlines the high-risk zone designation of Port St. Lucie, necessitating constant vigil and adherence to hurricane safety measures.