Hurricane Storm Water Surge?

Question

I live in Jacksonville, FL and wanted to know if anyone knows how far a 30ft surge of water would travel inland where the land is basically flat. I am approximately 8 miles from the east coast Atlantic ocean and I don't have flood insurance. I'm sure it is possible that my house could flood, but I wondered if anyone knows how likely that would be.

No need to tell me to get flood insurance because at this time I cannot afford it. The last hurricane to hit here was in 1964 so it's about time for one.

Answer 1

30 foot surge would require a very low pressure (intense storm) moving relatively slowly. The gradient of the slope from the coast to inland (in the form of friction) would help save you.

Here is South Mississippi where Katrina came in, it was almost 30 feet on the coast at the eye, but the surge only reached to elevations of about 15 feet above sea level 5-6 miles inland. If it would have stalled and maintained the surge, water would theoretically continue filling until equilibrium was met at 30 feet.

Ouch!

Answer 2

Florida is the flattest state in the Union. I bet a 30 foot storm surge would go a block or two inland.

Answer 3

Your local emergency management authority has maps and diagrams that will show in detail exactly how much damage a storm of a given intensity will cause. A 30-foot storm surge will leave JAX pretty well hosed.

Your local government probably has information about this on the internet. If they don't, you can call them.

Answer 4

Have you seen those rainbow pipes all around town? Well they are labeled I believe for how high a flood will be or something with the wind. I'm pretty sure it's the flood level. Anyways, they are throughout town!

Answer 5

I would be so scared to live in Florida something is bound to happen sometime. I know that's not what you asked just thought i'd share my 2 cents.