While Kissimmee is significantly safer from the immediate, catastrophic impacts of a hurricane compared to coastal cities like Miami or Tampa, it is not entirely immune to storm damage. Because Kissimmee is located in Central Florida (inland), hurricanes typically lose a great deal of their wind intensity and "storm surge" potential by the time they travel across the land. However, the city can still experience tropical-storm-force or even Category 1–2 hurricane-force winds, which can lead to downed trees, power outages, and roof damage. The primary threat in Kissimmee is often flooding rather than wind; heavy, slow-moving storms can dump massive amounts of rain into the Kissimmee River basin and local lakes, causing significant rising water levels. For travelers, Kissimmee is often used as a "shelter" location for those evacuating the coasts, as the modern infrastructure and inland position offer a much higher level of safety for residents and tourists alike.