Florida floods all the time. Anyone who has ever lived somewhere else and now lives in the Sunshine State probably notices Florida seems to suffer flooding more than virtually anywhere in the United States. Statistically speaking, that is indeed correct. Florida actually is more likely to flood than any other state in the United States.
There are several factors that cause this. First, virtually all of Florida is in a naturally low-lying area. Most of the state is barely more than a few feet above sea level. Florida also has a higher groundwater level than other parts of the United States, meaning it takes only a little rainfall to raise the state’s groundwater levels to a point where the ground can no longer hold any more water. As a result, flooding occurs. Lastly, Florida’s rainfall patterns also worsens its natural flooding problems.
Natural Features That Cause Florida to Flood So Often
Natural Florida’s Naturally Low-Lying Elevation
The first reason Florida floods so often is that most of Florida is at or near sea level. Even the highest elevation in Florida, Britton Hill in Walton County in the Florida Panhandle, is only 345 feet above sea level. It is the lowest high point of any state in the 50 states.
What does this mean? It means that, to the extent there is storm surge during a hurricane, not only the coastal areas of Florida, but also the inland portions of the state can easily flood.
Florida Has Higher Groundwater Levels than Other Places
Notwithstanding its low-lying elevation, Florida also has another problem that contributes to its constant flooding: higher groundwater levels than other states. The large amounts of rain that Florida receives during its wet season means it takes only a bit of extra water (in the form of rain) to overwhelm the system during Florida’s rainy season. When combined with the copious rainfall the state receives during the wet season, flooding can result not only from major rainstorms, but even from smaller rain showers if there was not enough time for the groundwater levels to drop in between rainfalls.
Its Rainfall Patterns
Florida also experiences more rainfall than almost every other state. It is the fifth wettest state in the country, with only four other states ahead of it in annual rainfall.
Florida also experiences most of its rainfall during a specific wet season from May-October, whereas other states have their rainfall distributed more uniformly throughout the year.
Contact the Florida Flood Lawyer
If your home or business has flooded or you have have suffered property damage caused by flooding in Florida, contact me via e-mail. I have experience representing business owners and homeowners who have been negatively affected by flooding, whether caused by the weather or any other cause.
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