Broward and Palm Beach: Florida’s most at-risk counties in upcoming hurricane season
Broward County, Florida – The hurricane season commenced on June 1, yet historically, its peak activity is observed during August and September.
Recent predictions suggest an increase in cyclone intensity this year, attributed to record-high ocean temperatures. As per the data released by the US NOAA last Friday, the Atlantic Ocean temperatures reached these elevated levels notably earlier than their typical annual zenith.
This data holds particular significance for Florida, especially given that two of its counties—Broward and Palm Beach—are identified as the most susceptible to hurricanes in the nation, based on research from Gutter Gnome, a home services company.
To ascertain the vulnerability of these counties, the company amalgamated hurricane risk evaluations from the National Center for Disaster Preparedness (NCDP) with a decade’s worth of historical storm data, coupled with financial impact forecasts from official sources.
It is noteworthy that a tenth of the most at-risk counties predominantly lie in three states: Florida, South Carolina, and North Carolina. The economic repercussions have been profound for Florida counties, with eight out of the top 10 counties in terms of projected annual financial losses due to hurricanes located in this state. The cumulative losses for these eight counties surpass $4.3 billion, as the study indicates. Furthermore, between 2013 and 2022, Florida ranks among the quartet of states—alongside Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina—that have endured or been influenced by four Category 5 hurricanes.
For the impending 2023 season, the counties facing the highest vulnerability to hurricanes, based on overall scores, are as follows:
- Broward County, FL – 72.70
- Palm Beach County, FL – 72.0
- Charleston County, SC – 68.17
- Horry County, SC – 66.3
- Miami-Dade County, FL – 65.10.
