Tampa In 30 Years: FL Town At Extreme Risk For Floods, Analysis Shows

TAMPA, FL — In the next 30 years, Tampa homes could be at major risk for flooding, one analysis says.

Data from First Street nonprofit Risk Factor shows 45 percent of all Tampa properties have at least a 26 percent risk of flooding in the next three decades.

Hillsborough County could see an 11 percent increased flood risk, Axios Tampa Bay reported Monday.

Factors that could prompt flooding in Tampa include thunderstorms and tropical storms that force localized flooding, city officials said. The topography of Tampa complicates the ability to rapidly drain flooding waters, officials said.

Furthermore, tidal flooding and storm surges from tropical weather could be concerns and trigger widespread damage, officials said.

A breakdown of years-long flood risks in Tampa is as follows, per Risk Factor:

• Residential: Extreme Risk; 45,111 out of 100,536 homes at risk
• Critical Infrastructure: Severe Risk; 56 out of 296 facilities at risk
• Roads: Severe Risk; 1,263 out of 2,255 miles at risk
• Commercial: Extreme Risk; 3,755 out of 7,565 properties at risk
• Social Facilities: Major Risk; 188 out of 446 facilities at risk

For comparison, Axios Tampa Bay reported Sarasota could have the highest leap for flood risk in the Tampa Bay region and the second highest rise at 34 percent throughout Florida.

Volusia County may be the most at risk for flooding with a 41 percent chance, while Pasco and Manatee counties have 14 percent and 11 percent projections respectively, the outlet reported.

Polk County's chances of flooding could take a dive with a projected 2 percent decrease in risks, Axios reported.

While Tampa could be impacted by a changing environment, Risk Factor said modern-day storms could conjure severe flooding that affect 35,146 properties in Tampa.

"This type of event has a 26% chance of occurring at least once over the life of a 30 year mortgage. (Thirty) years from now, an event of this same likelihood would affect 40,049 properties due to a changing environment," Risk Factor reported.

Residents can find their flood zones and their flood factors via Realtor's online tool.