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When it comes to flooding from hurricanes and tropical storms, Tampa Bay is one of the country’s most at-risk regions. As sea levels rise, the danger grows every year.
That risk can be hard to pinpoint — and even harder to understand. But it affects decisions people make every day.
If you’re a homeowner, you might want to have some idea about the odds of a storm hitting over the course of a standard 30-year mortgage.
So let’s play a game.
You may have heard about a “100-year” flood — an amount of water expected once a century on average. (In Tampa Bay, research suggests that’s about 10 feet of storm surge.) But the term doesn’t mean it can’t happen more often. No one knows when it will.
This simulation shows how often it could happen.
So first, choose a storm type. Pick either a common 30-year-storm or rarer 100-year storm:
We spent the better part of two years reporting about the threat. You can read our project here.
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2021 Tampa Bay Times hurricane guide
IT’S STORM SEASON: Get ready and stay informed at tampabay.com/hurricane
THE TRUTH IS OUT THERE: Seven hurricane myths that need to go away
BACK-UP YOUR DATA: Protect your data, documents and photos
BUILD YOUR HURRICANE KIT: Gear up — and mask up — before the storm hits
PROTECT YOUR PETS: Here’s how to keep your pets as safe as you
NEED TO KNOW: Click here to find your evacuation zone and shelter