Suwannee County in north-central Florida along the Suwannee River faces moderate tornado and hurricane risk. The Suwannee River — immortalized in Stephen Foster's song — has repeatedly flooded Live Oak and surrounding communities. Tropical Storm Debby in 2012 caused catastrophic flooding as the storm stalled over Florida dropping enormous rainfall. The county serves as a regional hub for north-central Florida emergency coordination.
// Preparedness Recommendations
- Evacuation routes inland should be identified in advance.
- Store at least 72 hours of food and water.
- Elevate critical belongings above flood level.
- Have backup power ready in case of grid failure.
// Recommended Supplies
Essential gear for power outages, severe weather, and emergency situations in your area.
- Emergency Food Supplies
- Water Filtration & Storage
- Backup Generator
- Solar Backup Power
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// Risk Intelligence
| Threat Score | 5 / 10 Moderate Risk |
| Primary Hazard | Tornado / Flash Flooding |
| Secondary Hazard | Hurricane |
| FEMA Flood Zone | Moderate |
| Federally Declared Disasters | 6 |
| Last Major Event | Debby 2012 |
| Event Frequency | Annual |
// Emergency Operations
| Emergency Mgmt Phone | (386) 364-3400 |
| Emergency Shelters | 4 designated facilities |
| Evacuation Routes | I-10 US-129 FL-247 FL-51 |
// County Profile
| County | Suwannee County FL |
| State | Florida (FL) |
| Population | 45 |
| Area | 689 sq miles |
| FEMA Region | Moderate |