Flood protection across Tampa Bay and the Gulf Coast

The city sits on a peninsula, so storm surge can come from more than one side.

Clearwater Beach, Island Estates and Sand Key sit on barrier islands directly facing the Gulf.

A narrow barrier island with water on both sides, so surge can arrive from the Gulf and the bay.

Barrier island homes and businesses face Gulf surge and bay flooding at the same time.

Low barrier-island ground with Gulf surge on one side and bay water on the other.

A thin barrier island where homes face the Gulf or the Intracoastal, with little high ground in between.

Belleair Beach and Belleair Shore are barrier-island communities facing the Gulf.

Waterfront homes and the downtown marina area sit low along St. Joseph Sound.

The waterfront district and nearby streets sit low on Boca Ciega Bay.

Tampa sits at the head of Tampa Bay, where surge funnels into a narrowing bay and piles up.

Canal-front homes on the east shore of Tampa Bay sit close to sea level.

Barrier islands take Gulf surge first, and bayfront mainland homes see water pushed up Sarasota Bay.

A barrier island that takes Gulf surge first, with canal homes on the bay side.

Venice Island is surrounded by the Gulf and the Intracoastal Waterway.

Riverfront and bayfront homes flood from surge pushed up the Manatee River.

Holmes Beach, Bradenton Beach and the City of Anna Maria are low barrier-island communities.

A long barrier island where surge comes from both the Gulf and Sarasota Bay.