Potential Impacts
In Brevard County, freezing temperatures can have a great impact on the citrus industry. If temperatures reach freezing levels for extended periods of time, combined with other climatic factors, then crop or landscape damage may occur. This would have
a significant impact on Brevard’s economy and employment base.
Additionally, consumer demand of electricity during periods of extreme cold weather may require the electric utility to implement rolling blackouts to selected areas in order to avert a total electrical grid overload, which can have a significant impact
on electrically-dependent critical facilities and persons.
The locations most vulnerable to severe winter weather in Brevard County would be agricultural lands. Because Brevard lies on the cusp of
the Semi Tropical and Tropical climate zones, it is conducive growing a wide variety of fruits and vegetables. However, the climate that supports such unique vegetative diversity also makes it susceptible to extreme temperature changes. When extremely
cold, the effects the county can be seen in areas that grow more tropical fruits. Nurseries and growers in northern parts of the county in Scottsmoor, Titusville, and Mims would be most susceptible. Many residents also have tropical fruit trees and
backyard gardens; therefore, all of the county would experience some level of vulnerability to this hazard.