Each year, hurricanes are a major threat for people living near the coast. These storms bring strong winds, heavy rain, and storm surges that often lead to serious flooding. Homes, businesses, and roads can be destroyed in just hours.
But inland communities are also at risk — even if they’re far from the coast. Hurricanes can travel deep inland, causing major damage long after landfall. That’s why it’s important for inland property owners to know the risks.
Understanding these threats helps residents and business owners prepare for damage and protect their property.
Hurricane Damage Reaches Far Beyond the Coast
As hurricane season approaches each year, many property owners prepare for the risk of storm damage. Most people think of hurricanes as coastal disasters, but many storms continue to cause destruction further inland. Hurricane-force winds, flooding, and power outages can stretch hundreds of miles from where the storm hits.
Residents in places like Texas, Louisiana, and Florida are familiar with these threats. But as hurricanes grow stronger and more frequent, inland communities in other states are facing new and unexpected risks. People who own property away from the coast must be aware of how far these storms can reach.
Hurricanes can travel 100 to 200 miles inland, even after making landfall. While they may weaken without warm ocean water, they can still bring heavy rain that causes dangerous and widespread flooding. This has become more common in recent years.
Recent Hurricanes
In 2017, Hurricane Harvey hit the Texas coast and quickly moved inland. Much of the worst flooding occurred around Houston, where it rained for several days. Even now, many homeowners and business owners are still trying to rebuild from that damage.
In 2021, Hurricane Ida made landfall in Grand Isle, Louisiana, with 150 mph winds and a 14-foot storm surge. But Ida didn’t stop there — it rained more than 15 inches in Louisiana and Alabama. Then it moved north and flooded cities like New York and parts of Pennsylvania. The heavy rain caused sudden floods that filled subways and homes with water.
Hurricane Ian struck Florida in 2022 with wind speeds up to 155 mph. After hammering the coast, Ian pushed inland and dropped nearly 20 inches of rain. Areas more than 150 miles inland suffered extreme flooding, with sewage and drainage systems unable to keep up.
In 2024, Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida as a Category Four storm. It moved slowly inland, hitting North Carolina, East Tennessee, and parts of Virginia with days of heavy rain. Hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses were damaged across multiple inland states.
Hurricanes can travel 100 to 200 miles inland, bringing heavy rain that causes dangerous and widespread flooding—even far from the coast.
A Hurricane vs. A Derecho
As hurricanes grow in strength over the years, so do other major weather events. Derechos in particular are described as “inland hurricanes.” According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), a derecho is a big, fast windstorm that lasts for hours and happens with strong thunderstorms.
In 2024, the Houston area experienced a derecho that brought horrific destruction. It crippled infrastructure and left residents without power for weeks due to winds exceeding 100 mph.
These hurricane-strength winds can stretch for many miles and last for hours. Despite being compared to hurricanes, derechos are relatively rare weather events. This is because they tend to occur only once every four years in parts of the eastern two-thirds of the nation.
Top Hurricane Dangers for Inland Communities
When a hurricane hits land and moves inland, it can cause serious damage—not just along the coast, but also far away from it. Homes, businesses, and communities miles from the shoreline can still face major risks. Some of the biggest dangers from hurricanes include storm surge, strong winds, and tornadoes.
Storm Surge
A storm surge is a sudden rise in ocean water during a hurricane or tropical storm. It is measured by how high the water gets above the normal tide level. The water can rise as high as a two-story building and may flood areas several miles inland. Strong hurricane winds push this water inland, and it often carries trash, sewage, and even electricity from fallen power lines.
Hurricane Force Winds
One of the main features of a hurricane is its powerful winds. These strong winds can move far inland after the storm hits land, causing major damage and knocking out power. The strongest winds are usually found in the wall around the eye of the storm and in the area to the right of the eye, called the right-front quadrant. Places hit by this part of the storm often see the worst damage, since the winds can stay strong even over land.
Tornadoes
Hurricanes and tropical storms can cause tornadoes. These weather events add to the damage a hurricane can bring. Like the strong winds in a hurricane, tornadoes usually form in the right-front part of the storm. Tornadoes from hurricanes are usually not as strong as those in Tornado Alley, but they can still cause a lot of damage to people and things in their way.
Hurricanes don’t just impact the coast — they can cause serious damage to homes and businesses far inland, bringing storm surge, strong winds, and even tornadoes.
Get the Compensation You Deserve
Running a business is hard on its own, but it can be almost impossible after a hurricane causes damage to the building. Even if business owners inland think they won’t be affected, they need to prepare for the worst ahead of time.
Insurance companies often try to deny or pay less on claims to avoid paying what they owe. But a skilled commercial property damage lawyer can help you get the money you deserve from your insurance.
At Raizner Slania, we’ve handled thousands of tough insurance cases and will fight to get you the coverage you need. If your claim was denied or underpaid, we’re ready to help you.