One of the biggest fears people have about buying property in Florida is the fact that Florida has hurricanes.
Hurricane Ian hit Southwest Florida hard on Sept 28, 2022. Click here to visit our Hurricane Ian Resource Page for information on recovery efforts.
Yes, it’s true, Florida has hurricanes, some of which can destroy an area. It’s important to realize that most areas in the U.S. are subject to some major natural disaster, whether it be hurricanes, tornados, earthquakes, wildfires, flash floods, or blizzards.
Personally, I choose the chance of hurricanes, since meteorologists seem to have improved technology that allows enough warning and opportunity to evacuate before a major storm makes landfall. That’s the choice we’ve made for our family, knowing we may have to evacuate for a storm with the tradeoff of living in paradise every day.
History of Hurricanes in SWFL
The Atlantic Hurricane Season runs from June 1st through November 30th. For the Gulf Coast of Florida, the hurricane season doesn’t usually heat up until the second half: late August-November. “Peak season” on Sanibel Island is September 10th.
Is it true that a big one comes every 10 years?
I wouldn’t get too wrapped in that old wives’ tale. The “big ones” that hit near SWFL were Donna 1960, Charley 2004, Wilma 2005, Irma 2017, and Ian 2022, which automatically debunks the “every ten years” myth.
Hurricane Resources
My intention is not to downplay the threat of hurricanes on Sanibel Island. As residents of Florida, you should familiarize yourself with the basics of what makes a hurricane dangerous, along with the protections your community and your home have for withstanding storm winds, tidal surges, flooding, and power outages.
Living on a barrier island, of course, adds a special level of knowledge when it comes to keeping yourself and your property protected during storms. And I must say, the City of Sanibel knows this fact and has done an amazing job at communicating with residents and visitors before, during, and after a storm.
Click here for more about the City of Sanibel hurricane resources.
Click here to see how we handled hurricane Irma in 2017.
We encourage you to reach out with any questions about hurricanes and how we’ve handled them as a business and a family. We’re here to help you decide if Buying a Home in Sanibel is right for you, and hurricanes are certainly a consideration for any coastal community in the U.S. So don’t hesitate to reach out!
