FL

Storm restoration across Escambia County

Escambia County is among the most hurricane-exposed counties in Florida, sitting on the Gulf Coast at the western tip of the Florida Panhandle. Direct landfalls and near-misses have delivered catastrophic storm surge, particularly along Pensacola Bay and the Gulf-facing shoreline - Hurricane Ivan (2004) drove a 10-15 foot surge that destroyed over 6,000 homes, and Hurricane Sally (2020) caused nearly $312 million in damage from surge flooding through Pensacola Pass into downtown Pensacola. Inland areas face compounding hazards from extreme wind gusts and prolonged rainfall-driven flooding, as flat terrain and limited drainage allow storm water to persist well after landfall. The county's history also includes Hurricane Opal (1995) and Hurricane Frederic (1979), reflecting a recurrent pattern of major storm impacts that makes wind, surge, and inland flood restoration a persistent local need.