Why Ocala Is a Safe Haven From Hurricanes – WSJ Feature
Ocala is at less risk from coastal flooding than other parts of the state, according to a new analysis, making it a popular option for storm-weary home buyers.
Not all parts of Florida are equally at risk of natural disasters. The Wall Street Journal asked Climate Alpha-a company that uses AI to build forecasting models based on data from the Federal Emergency Management Agency related to past events, predictions of future weather, an analysis of local government disaster policies, and infrastructure, including hospital beds-to come up with a list of areas in Florida with the least combined risk from hurricanes, flooding and strong winds.
The winner for lowest risk of coastal flooding: Ocala, located in the center of the state, 82 miles from Orlando and 97 miles from Tampa. According to Climate Alpha, when accounting for a combination of high winds, drought and inland flooding, Ocala comes in third in the state, behind Lake City and Tallahassee. In fact, Ocala’s risk for inland flooding is lower than that of Lake City and Tallahassee.
