February 10, 2009

Economic Analysis of a Hurricane Event in Hillsborough County, Florida: Category 3 and 5 Hurricane Events



This report was created by the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council to present the results of an economic impact analysis of a simulated catastrophic event(s) in Hillsborough County, Florida. Four scenarios were analyzed and modeled for this study: Category 5 Hurricane with Normal Recovery Rates, Category 5 Hurricane with Accelerated Recovery Rates, Category 3 Hurricane with Normal Recovery Rates, and Category 3 Hurricane with Accelerated Recovery Rates. The REMI Policy Insight model was used in this study to analyze and estimate the economic impacts of each of the four scenarios on the county. The Category 5 scenarios resulted in net impacts from employment losses and spending gains peaking at 240,000 jobs in year 3 under normal recovery and 277,000 jobs under accelerated recovery. The Category 3 scenarios generated net impacts of 2,000 jobs under normal circumstances and 43,000 at an accelerated recovery rate.

Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council – Economic Analysis of a Hurricane Event in Hillsborough County, Florida [full PDF]