A 2023 study found that nearly half of all deaths from hurricanes that made landfall in the United States between 1963 and 2012 were due to storm surge. These include hurricanes such as Camille in 1969 and Katrina in 2005.

Geographical location exacerbates coastal flooding

Several factors determine the severity of a storm surge. The size, intensity and duration of the storm play a role, as do geographical considerations such as the shape of the coastline and the type of terrain near the coast.

Florida’s west coast is a mix of marshy terrain, bays and bays that can allow a massive storm surge to rush ashore when a storm makes landfall.

Tampa Bay is extremely vulnerable due to its location, shape and the region’s high population density.

A direct attack on Tampa Bay could send a massive tidal wave directly into the bay, causing several feet of water to inundate downtown Tampa and densely populated neighborhoods throughout the region. In the worst case, thousands of apartments would be uninhabitable.

Charlotte Harbor, just over 60 miles south of Tampa Bay, has a similar shape that can channel and amplify a storm surge. Cape Coral and Fort Myers are also exposed to storm surges along the Caloosahatchee River.