FL

Storm restoration across Orange County

Orange County is approximately 40 miles inland, so direct storm surge is not a meaningful threat to most homes; the primary hazards are hurricane-force winds, tornado spin-ups, and - most critically - inland flooding from rainfall. Major storms have delivered 10-15 inches of rain in 12-16 hours (Hurricane Ian, 2022) and wind gusts exceeding 100 mph (Hurricane Charley, 2004; 91 mph gusts from Irma in 2017), overwhelming drainage systems and causing widespread residential flooding across low-lying communities. The county's karst limestone geology adds a secondary risk: heavy rainfall saturation can trigger sinkhole formation, a hazard largely absent in coastal counties. Flooding severity tracks storm forward speed rather than storm category, meaning even a weakening tropical storm can cause catastrophic property damage if it stalls over the region.