Bay County was catastrophically devastated by Hurricane Michael, which made landfall on October 10, 2018 as a Category 5 — the first Category 5 to strike the continental US since Andrew in 1992. Mexico Beach was nearly completely destroyed. Panama City sustained extreme wind damage. The county is still recovering years later from one of the most powerful storms ever to strike the US mainland.
// Risk Intelligence
| Threat Score | 9 / 10 Critical Risk |
| Primary Hazard | Hurricane / Storm Surge |
| Secondary Hazard | Flooding |
| FEMA Flood Zone | Zone VE (Critical Risk) |
| Federally Declared Disasters | 60 |
| Last Major Event | Hurricane Michael (2018) |
| Event Frequency | Major event every 4–6 years |
// Emergency Operations
| Emergency Mgmt Phone | (850) 248-6040 |
| Emergency Shelters | 14 designated facilities |
| Evacuation Routes | US-231 North, US-98 East, SR-20 North, I-10 West |
// Recommended Preparedness Gear
Based on Bay County FL's primary hazard profile (Hurricane / Storm Surge), the following gear is recommended for a Critical risk area.
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// County Profile
| County | Bay County FL |
| State | Florida (FL) |
| Population | 174705 |
| Area | 764 sq miles |
| FEMA Region | Zone VE (Critical Risk) |
// Other Florida Counties
Pinellas County FL
Hurricane / Storm Surge
9/10
Critical
Flagler County FL
Hurricane / Storm Surge
7/10
High
Lee County FL
Hurricane / Storm Surge
9/10
Critical
Hernando County FL
Hurricane / Storm Surge
7/10
High
Escambia County FL
Hurricane / Storm Surge
8/10
High
Monroe County FL
Hurricane / Storm Surge
10/10
Critical