Men så er sjangsen for naturkatastrofer også betydelig høyere!
While known as the Sunshine State, Florida isn’t all heat and sun. It has one of the most unpredictable weather and is home to several natural disasters. Florida regularly gets hit by the following disasters:
- Tropical storms
Tropical storms and depressions regularly hit Florida. In fact, it is the state with the highest rainfall in the United States.
The biggest reason why Florida is prone to tropical storms and other natural disasters is its geography . It is a peninsula that is between the Gulf of Mexico, the Strait of Florida, and the Atlantic Ocean. Usually, hurricanes originate in the Atlantic and naturally make their way up to the coast of the United States.
- Hurricanes
40% of all the hurricanes that will occur in the United States will hit Florida. That’s how prone the state is for this particular disaster. But why?
The Sunshine State has the longest coastline among all the states in the continental U.S. and it is often in the path of severe storms. It is also surrounded by warm waters, which hurricanes form on. Hurricanes can bring storm surge flooding, heavy rainfall, and strong winds, which can lead to inland floods, rip currents, and tornadoes. It’s one of the most dangerous and costly Florida disasters.
- Tornadoes
Usually, tornadoes are the strongest from February to May. However, like other natural disasters, it can occur at any time of the year. Tornadoes can come with tropical thunderstorms and hurricanes, or they can form on their own.
- Wildfires
Wildfires are common in Florida as well. Every year, acres of wildland and houses are destroyed due to fire from debris burning and arson. Florida’s frequent lightning storms - which earned it the title Lighting Capital of the United States- can also be a reason.
While fires can happen any time, the chances of it are higher under the intense heat of summer. When there’s a drought, even the tiniest spark can quickly turn into a massive wildfire.
- Floods
Flooding is one of the most common natural disasters in Florida. This is because the state is surrounded by large bodies of water and so much of it is mostly sea level. On top of that, tropical storms, hurricanes, and storm surges bring in massive amounts of water, which then further puts the state at risk.
Flooding can cause millions of dollars worth in damages to homes and businesses in the state. For example, during Tropical Storm Debby, cities across West Central Florida were closed for a week and several communities in Pasco county reported “head deep” flooding. The incident was reported to have caused over $40 million of damages across Florida
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