Port Saint Lucie and storm surge (Port St. Lucie, Sebastian: insurance, house, subdivisions)

[Mt.Hope]

Since Irma almost hit here last year I'm wondering what would happen storm surge wise had it hit here as they originally thought. Obviously it would hit the barrier island. Does the river water after the barrier island also do a surge? Or does it hit Hutchinson and stop there? According to Psl we don't live in a flood zone, but look at Houston recently with a storm parked on top of it. The people in my area from the w storms that went through in 04 said it was ok. But linearly we are only 5 miles inland. I figure someone would know. Thanks in advance.

[Maverick81]

The storms of 2004 didn't cause storm surge accept on barrier island. Every storm is different and beaches have eroded since than. Flooding I know is worse on the east side of the city due to poor drainage since that is the oldest part of the city. Have never heard of the st lucie river overflowing and flooding the city.

[Rabflmom]

Originally Posted by Mt.Hope

Since Irma almost hit here last year I'm wondering what would happen storm surge wise had it hit here as they originally thought. Obviously it would hit the barrier island. Does the river water after the barrier island also do a surge? Or does it hit Hutchinson and stop there? According to Psl we don't live in a flood zone, but look at Houston recently with a storm parked on top of it. The people in my area from the w storms that went through in 04 said it was ok. But linearly we are only 5 miles inland. I figure someone would know. Thanks in advance.

Yes, even the river gets a surge. Low lying areas are evacuated because of it. Many areas have a drop down to the regular water height but in the areas where the bank is low to the water it can come up and over. Damage has been done to US1 during some of the storms. A bridge in Sebastian was damaged in one of the hurricanes.

5 miles in on the mainland you probably won't get storm surge, but even the retention ponds(lakes) in subdivisions could get surge as the winds go over them. Also usually hurricanes bring in rain. Sometimes it is after the winds are pretty much gone from the area. Usually it can be 5-15+ inches of rain accompanying the hurricane so roads that don't flood in general rain storms may after a hurricane. The good thing is. Usually just the roads get water on them because we build our homes on fill dirt above the level of the roads.
We also have the canal systems to take the water away quickly. You need to keep the ditches and swales clear for the water to move to the deep canals. If you live on a shallow canal, yards may flood if the canal can't handle the water. After a hurricane there usually will be a 24 hour curfew for day or two to let the water go down , check on stability of roads and bridges, and to get boats and debris out of the streets.

[FlaLadyB]

Back in 2004-5 when we had two hurricanes that sat on us I lived in Jensen Beach... and yes.. we were called by the police to evacuate as that area is low.

I don't recall any storm surge at all, just a lot of damage from the hurricane itself. Plenty of flooded streets especially right along the river.

I know that even in later years when I lived further inland like now, the lakes filled and overflowed. I kept watching to see how close the water was getting to my house. Streets still get flooded even west of I95. Too much rain in a short period of time and nowhere to go fast enough.

[MyITGuy]

Originally Posted by Mt.Hope

According to Psl we don't live in a flood zone

While you may not be in a high risk area, flooding absolutly can still occur. From their own brochure on the issue:

Just in the past decade, damaging floods have impacted
Port St. Lucie:
• Sept. 14–17, 2001 (Tropical Storm Gabrielle)
• Aug. 3–Sept. 14, 2004 (Hurricanes Charley, Frances, Ivan and Jeanne)
• Oct. 24, 2005 (Hurricane Wilma)
• Aug. 20, 2008 (Tropical Storm Fay)

Floodplain Information | Port St. Lucie
http://www.cityofpsl.com/home/showdocument?id=2570

[FlaLadyB]

You might not be in a Flood Zone per the Flood Maps, but that is for insurance purposes. You can have flooded streets because the water can't escape fast enough, and yes that does happen.

One of the reasons your house is built on a building pad that is higher than street level is so water will flow away from your house instead of in it. A lot of much older homes were not.

Because areas around water (close to the river) are usually where building began way back when are low lying areas. Just the natural way the land is. That's also the most likely to flood areas.

If you're worried may I suggest you look into sewer back up insurance with hurricane insurance

[Mt.Hope]

Thank you guys for all the advice. We're 5 miles inland linear from Hutchinson. So probably from the river 3 miles. Just west of US1.

[parker1ray]

A good indicator of potential storm surge damage to one's property is the FEMA map and the flood zone indicator. My home does not even require flood insurance and is 50' above sea level.

[FlaLadyB]

parker1ray obviously you have already move to PSL but you're "new" here on City-Date -- Welcome to the Forum.

You are, however, making replies to posts that are over a year old in case you didn't see the last post date on each.

Why not introduce yourself and say HI! to everyone !