Tampa Bay regional planning officials have been diligently preparing for the potential impact of a catastrophic hurricane for the past 15 years. Now, Hurricane Milton is on track to make landfall, bearing striking similarities to the fictional storm model simulation known as 'Hurricane Phoenix' that was introduced by the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council in 2009 and updated in 2020.
The purpose of the simulation was to assist local officials and emergency responders in readying themselves for the potential effects of a Category 5 storm. Additionally, the model aimed to aid small businesses in formulating recovery plans in the event of such a disaster.
