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casualties in Indian River County has increased over the last <br /> several decades primarily because of the rapid growth this <br /> County has experienced since 1970, particularly along the <br /> vulnerable coastline areas. <br /> From 1871 - 2013, 57 storms of hurricane intensity have <br /> passed within 125 miles of Indian River County. This <br /> represents an average of one hurricane every 2.49 years. The <br /> number of direct hits on the southeastern Florida coastline <br /> between 1871 and 2013 has been as follows <br /> ( tt :flwww.hurricanecit .com/city/vero.htm): <br /> Probability. <br /> • Tropical Storm (winds 39 to 73 mph) = 27 storms (19% <br /> annual probability); <br /> • Category 1 Storms (winds 74 to 95 mph) = 12 storms (8% <br /> annual probability); <br /> • Category 2 Storms (winds 96 to 110 mph) = 5 storms (4% <br /> annual probability); <br /> • Category 3 Storms (winds 111 to 129 mph) = 5 storms (4% <br /> annual probability); <br /> • Category 4 Storms (winds 130 to 156 mph) = 2 storms (1% <br /> annual probability); and <br /> • Category 5 Storms (winds 157 mph >) = 0 storm (1% <br /> annual probability) <br /> Extent. While it is possible for Indian River County to be <br /> impacted by a category 4 or 5 hurricane, according to the <br /> statistics above it is very unlikely. Indian River County has a <br /> history of impacts from tropical storms and category 1-3 <br /> hurricanes as defined by the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind <br /> Scale. Impacts from these storms can cause major structure <br /> damage, trees to be uprooted, and near total power loss for <br /> several days to weeks after the storm passes. <br /> Hurricane of September 1928. This hurricane made <br /> Florida landfall near the City of Palm Beach as a strong <br /> Category 4 hurricane with one of the lowest barometric <br /> pressures ever recorded in this area (928.9 millibars [27.43 <br /> inches]). It reached Lake Okeechobee with very little decrease <br /> in intensity. In all, 1,836 people were killed and another <br /> 1,870 injured during this storm's passage. Nearly all the loss <br /> of life was in the Okeechobee area and was caused by <br /> Indian River County Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan Basic Page 18 <br />