Natural

Disasters SC.6.E.7.7 Investigate

how natural disasters
have affected human life

in Florida
in Florida.

Severe
Thunderstorms
While the typical afternoon
thunderstorm in Florida may not appear
to be a natural disaster, the heavy
rainfall and frequent lightning strikes
that accompany these storms can
impact people and their daily activities.
Florida has almost three times more
lightning strikes annually than any other
state. Additionally, approximately half of
the deaths due to severe weather in Florida are attributed
to lightning strikes. As a result, outdoor activities often
are postponed during afternoon thunderstorms and
people are encouraged to seek shelter.

Hurricanes
Stronger and more severe than thunderstorms,
hurricanes are a common occurrence in Florida.
The state’s coastlines suffer the greatest
amount of damage from hurricanes because
most of this land is at or near sea level. There
are few natural barriers to hold back rising
water or to block the strong winds.

Satellite image of Hurricane

Hugo as it approaches the
east coast of Florida.

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 Damage from Hurricane Andrew in
Miami-Dade County, Florida

Florida’s Hurricane History

From 1851 to 2010, more than 1,200 tropical storms and hurricanes
made landfall in Florida. Thirty-seven of these storms ranked as
category 3 hurricanes and above on the Saffir Simpson Scale. The
1935 Florida Keys Labor Day hurricane ranked as a category 5 storm
and remains the strongest hurricane ever recorded in the United
States. Hurricane Donna made landfall in 1960 and ranked as a
category 4 storm. Donna spanned the entire length of the eastern
seaboard with sustained wind speeds of more than 325 km/h. In
1992, Hurricane Andrew became one of the costliest and most
destructive hurricanes to date as it traveled across Florida and into
the Gulf of Mexico. Combined, the estimated economic damage from
hurricanes in the state of Florida exceeds $115 billion.

High Winds and Rain

Hurricanes with high sustained wind speeds usually cause the greatest
amount of damage. The damage is caused not only by the strong winds
but also by the materials that the wind carries, which includes dust and
debris, pieces of damaged buildings, and other materials swept up by
the storm. Along with strong winds, hurricanes are also associated with
heavy rains and storm surges, which can lead to flooding.

MAJOR Florida Hurricanes

Hurricane Year Category Florida Landfall Estimated Damage
Galveston 1900 1 Florida Keys $30 million in US
Okeechobee 1928 4 Palm Beach $25 million
Labor Day 1935 5, 2 Florida Keys, Cedar Key $6 million
Donna 1960 4 Florida Keys $387 million in US
Agnes 1972 1 Florida panhandle $2.1 billion in US
Andrew 1992 4 southern Florida $25 billion
Charley 2004 4 Captiva Island $15 billion in US
Katrina 2005 1 Miami-Dade County $75 billion in US

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Storm Surges and Flooding
A storm surge is water that has blown outward from the center of a hurricane,
eventually sweeping up onto the coastline as a large wave. The storm surge can
extend beyond a radius 80−160 km outside of the hurricane, is typically 2−3 m
high, and causes flooding onshore.
With over 60 percent of Florida’s population living within 8 km of the coast, floods
from a storm surge can threaten human life and property in Florida. Florida has a
flat landscape with most coastal areas only 2−3 m above sea level, enabling the
storm surge to travel inland more than 2 km. Water that flows into these low-
lying areas can remain there for weeks. Beach homes, restaurants, hotels, and
other structures that line the Florida coastline are damaged; boats docked in the
ocean are thrust inland; and cars can be tossed out to sea. The currents created
by the tide, the weight of the water, and the action of the waves can destroy
beaches and coastal highways. Even a large building designed to withstand a
hurricane’s wind can be destroyed when water weakens its foundation.
Another effect of hurricanes and storm surge is significant beach erosion. While
Florida’s beaches are the first line of defense in protecting low-lying areas, a
storm surge can easily remove and relocate sand dunes. Because 2,000 km of
Florida’s coastlines lie in the main path of many hurricanes, few years pass
without a hurricane or tropical storm
affecting Floridians and their property.
This makes storm-related beach erosion
a serious issue for the state. Federal and
local governments spend billions of
dollars every year restoring beaches
along Florida’s coastline.

Erosion from storm

damage at Vero Beach

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Tornadoes
When a hurricane hits land, it can spawn tornadoes. Tornadoes also can
occur during thunderstorms. Because Florida experiences tornadoes
with both thunderstorms and hurricanes, the state has the highest
overall tornado average per square mile in the nation.
Tornadoes can cause tremendous amounts of damage when they touch
down on land. Seven tornadoes with wind speeds between 255−332
km/h touched down during the Central Florida Tornado Outbreak in
Melbourne County in 1995. The outbreak killed 42 people, and more
than 260 others were injured. More than 3,000 structures were
damaged and 700 destroyed, leading to property damage in excess of
$100 million.
Tornadoes that form over warm water are called waterspouts.
Waterspouts are common along the Gulf Coast, particularly around
Florida. On occasion, they travel inland and cause damage and injuries.
However, this is rare because waterspouts usually dissipate over land.

Droughts and Wildfires

Drought is also common in Florida. Water conservation
practices are encouraged during times of drought. For
example, during droughtlike conditions, communities issue
water restrictions that designate certain days for washing cars
and watering lawns.
A wildfire threatens these
When a rainy season is Florida homes.
followed by severe drought
conditions, wildfires can
result. The rainy season can
yield a lush covering of
understory brush, which is
vulnerable to burning when
drought conditions follow.
Lightning strikes, which are
abundant in Florida, can
start wildfires.
In May 2008, nearly 40,000
acres of park land burned in Everglades National Park.
Every year, thousands of acres of wilderness and many
homes are destroyed by fire. In addition to these immediate
damages, wildfires can continue to impact an area’s
ecosystems once the fire is out. These aftereffects include
risks of floods, extensive soil erosion, landslides, and
reduced water quality.

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Sinkholes
Another natural disaster Florida experiences more than any other state is
sinkhole formation. A sinkhole forms when areas underlain by limestone and
dolomite dissolve due to the presence of acid rainwater. This can occur in
normal precipitation conditions, but especially after periods of drought or
heavy rainfall. The overlying rock and soil then collapse and form a depression.
Sinkholes are particularly problematic in densely populated areas where they
can harm people and damage property. However, they also impact Florida’s
population when they occur in less-populated areas. For example, in 1999,
Lake Jackson began to disappear when an 8-ft sinkhole opened in the bottom
of the lake. After a few days, the large lake, well-known for its fishing, was
drained of its water, fish, and alligators. This lake drains approximately every
25 years into various sinkholes.

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