No Landfall Hurricane in Florida for Nine Years — Not Since Hurricane Wilma

Friday, October 24, 2014 marks nine years since Hurricane Wilma made landfall in southwest Florida. The stretch without a landfall hurricane is the longest stretch on record dating back to 1851.

Hurricane Wilma was the most intense hurricane ever recorded in the Atlantic basin, and part of a record-breaking Atlantic hurricane season in 2005. Three of the six most intense Atlantic hurricanes ever observed occurred during the 2005 season — Hurricane Rita, Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Wilma.

Experts warn that about 1 million people have moved to Florida since 2005, which means the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and local governments have their work cut out for them to educate people about how to be prepared for hurricanes and warn people that more hurricanes will return eventually.