Residential Real Estate News
25,000 Florida Homes at Risk of Storm Surge Damage from Hurricane Helene
As Hurricane Helene nears Florida's Gulf Coast, property data firm CoreLogic estimates approximately 25,000 homes are at risk of flooding due to storm surge.
Helene, the eighth named storm of this hurricane season, is currently heading toward Apalachee Bay in Florida's Big Bend region. According to the National Hurricane Center's (NHC) advisory, Helene is expected to make landfall as a Category 3 or 4 storm on the evening of Thursday, September 26. The NHC forecast indicates landfall will occur over the western part of Apalachee Bay, with the storm continuing its path north through Tallahassee, Florida, and eventually reaching Atlanta, Georgia.
With sustained wind speeds exceeding 125 mph and even higher gusts possible, any hurricane making landfall along the Gulf Coast presents a serious risk of coastal flooding from storm surge, which can endanger both life and property. The extent of storm surge depends on various factors, such as the storm's size, speed, intensity (e.g., wind speed), and the tidal phase (high or low tide) at the time of impact. The NHC has predicted storm surge heights of 15 to 20 feet above ground level from the western edge of Apalachee Bay to Chassahowitzka, with potential surge levels of 8 to 10 feet in the Tampa Bay/St. Petersburg area.
CoreLogic estimates that the total reconstruction cost value (RCV) for the 25,000 homes in the storm's path is $5.6 billion. This projection assumes Helene will make landfall as a strong Category 3 hurricane and follow its current predicted track.
