Inundation and storm surge are not the same thing, nor are flood zones and evacuation zones, more than 100 residents learned Dec. 10 at a special conference organized by the Burnt Store Corridor Coalition.

They also learned one of the biggest problems Charlotte County faces during impending storms is the lack of sensors in Charlotte Harbor.The sensors would provide information about storm surge duration, times of arrival and retreat and maximum depths expected when a hurricane or severe storm approaches.

In a slide presentation, WINK News Chief Meteorologist Matt Devitt showed surrounding coastal counties have the sensors that are installed and monitored by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Devitt said the lack of sensors in Charlotte Harbor “is unacceptable,” adding that he has contacted elected officials and others, urging them to cover Charlotte County. Each sensor costs $400,000 and annual maintenance runs $30,000 per station.

But in terms of public safety, “You can’t put a price on that,” Devitt said.

Burnt Store Corridor Coalition leaders Mary Ellen Kiss and John Fleming presided over the event as county stormwater engineer Jason Thomas and Logan Norris, of the engineering firm Kimley-Horn, outlined a hydrology study currently underway.

The BSCC has been urging county commissioners to conduct a hydrology study, but the county did not pick up the tab. Instead, South Charlotte County Stormwater MSBU paid for it at a cost of less than $400,000, Thomas said.

The 18-month study will measure and collect data on areas that could be prone to flooding.

Fleming said the meeting was called to address one of the top priorities of residents — flooding and how it’s impacted by new development.

In a statement, Fleming expressed anger over the BSCC communities, served by the South County Stormwater MSBU, having to pay for the study.

“The established communities are being forced to pay $400,000 to measure the causes. At the same time, developers continue to get a free pass when it comes to paying for hardening our infrastructure,” he said.

Several attendees at the special conference taking place at Burnt Store Presbyterian Church recounted to Devitt their experiences during hurricanes at a question-and-answer portion of the meeting.

Some had flooding, others wind damage and many said they experienced fear.

Devitt said a hurricane’s impact depends on its angle of approach, water temperature, wind direction, speed, the lunar cycle and tide. A storm making landfall at high tide would create the worst scenario versus low tide, for instance.

The Gulf of Mexico is particularly vulnerable to surge as its continental shelf with the shallow, gently sloping area of the ocean floor extending from the coastline, is only 100 feet deep 30 miles offshore.

A wide, shallow continental shelf can lead to a much larger storm surge.

But on the Atlantic Ocean side of Florida, its continental shelf 30 miles offshore is 2,500 feet deep.

Recounting past hurricanes’ storm surges that impacted Charlotte, Lee and Collier counties, Hurricane Ian’s surge at 15 feet at Fort Myers Beach was the biggest.

Inundation refers to the act of water covering normally dry land, as was the case in parts of Charlotte County during recent hurricanes’ heavy rainfall.

Devitt stressed the importance of knowing one’s evacuation zone — areas the county will order residents to evacuate, as well as one’s flood zone, which the Federal Emergency Management Agency defines as areas prone to flood risk.

The meteorologist expressed optimism that Charlotte County might receive sensors prior to the 2025 hurricane season, as Florida’s legislators from both political parties are working together on the objective