FL

Storm restoration across Hillsborough County

Hillsborough County sits at the head of Tampa Bay and faces a compounded storm-damage profile: hurricane-force winds and tropical storm gusts peel roofing, shatter windows, and down trees, while storm surge from direct or near-miss Gulf landfalls can push 7 or more feet of saltwater inland along coastal and river corridors. The 2024 season delivered a one-two punch - Hurricane Helene's record surge caused $1.8 billion in residential damage countywide, followed two weeks later by Hurricane Milton's 16-18 inches of rainfall that drove the Hillsborough River to an all-time record crest of 38 feet, flooding neighborhoods that had never flooded before. Inland areas including Plant City face rapid-onset riverine and stormwater flooding from tropical rain events, while the entire county sits within NOAA-designated surge evacuation zones that were expanded after 2024 to reflect the compounding risk of simultaneous wind, surge, and inland flooding.