Hurricane Paths and Predicted Surge Zones
Tropical storms and hurricanes are common on both the Atlantic and Gulf coast. No where is safe however some areas appear to have less strikes than others. Records only go back about 150 years which is not a very long time when weather patterns are concerned. Just because one area has not had a direct hit in the last fifty years does not mean it will not have two strikes next year.
This image shows the hurricane paths from the last 100 years. Always remember that the line on the map is only where the eye wall crossed. Damage can occur hundreds of miles from where the eye wall crosses.
A storm eye wall does not have to directly cross an area to have devastating effects. The extent of coastal flooding greatly depends on the forward speed of a storm. The Northeast Gulf of Mexico is even more susceptible to coastal flooding due to the shape of the land mass which tends to trap the surge and force it more up onto the land. This was very true on March 13th 1993 when the "No Name Storm of the Century" had a direct hit on the Dekle Beach area. This was not a hurricane however there was flooding of more than 8 feet above the mean high water line and several people lost their lives. Typically there is significant flooding from a storm at least once a year in this area.
This image depicts an approximation of what to expect from a hurricane regarding storm surges. Again remember the forward speed of the storm and status of the tide can drastically change what is shown here.
This website is currently being developed to spark interest in protecting Florida's vital and fragile natural environment. Boggy Bay is part of the Big Bend Seagrasses Aquatic Preserve and is currently threatened to be developed. This website has been created to inform readers of the natural features that currently exist in this area and will be lost forever if the area is allowed to be developed. All information contained within this site is believed to be correct and accurate by the author. If you have any information, questions, and/or comments, please e-mail them to biernack@nettally.com.
Updated Last: 1/29/2007