Photo: Darkshark0159 at English Wikipedia · Public domainFEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Winter Park than in 71% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Winter Park gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 71% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (78%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 1983.
Graded on FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value (NRI v1.20, December 2025), weighted by where residents live; flood claims are shown, not graded. How hazard risk is graded
What Winter Park faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
River and rain flooding
Hail
Tornadoes
Shares are of FEMA’s expected building damage, the measure the grade uses; ranks compare each hazard’s building-damage rate with all 85,154 U.S. census tracts. In FEMA’s terms, river and rain flooding is FEMA’s “Inland Flooding” (rivers and streams overflowing their banks, or rain overwhelming drainage). FEMA defines coastal flooding as high or rising tides and storm surge, so surge damage is counted there. Drought isn’t listed: FEMA counts its losses in crops only.
What’s behind Winter Park’s grade
River and rain flooding is 78% of the building damage FEMA expects in Winter Park, and Winter Park’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 78% of U.S. census tracts. Hail adds 9%, at a rate in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts.
C higher expected damage per building than 71% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Winter Park’s residents live in 2 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.7M a year in losses across Winter Park: $955K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Winter Park flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 1983
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Winter Park, from FEMA’s records: 0.4 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 93% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Winter Park isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Grand County.1 federal disaster brought FEMA money to Winter Park
Disasters that paid out in Winter Park itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Winter Park), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2003Snow$10K to the Town of Winter Park for repairs
Grand County has had 4 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then winter storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Also 1 FEMA wildfire suppression grant (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Grand County, 2020–2020.
Old photos of Winter Park after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Winter Park archive →Winter Park and its neighbors
Winter Park has the lowest expected damage per building of the 2 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter Park | Cmore damage than 71% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Fraser | Cmore damage than 71% | river and rain flooding | — |
Hazard risk = FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade; the map is shaded by fifths of the same scale. Flood claims = paid federal flood insurance claims on record.
Get ready for what Winter Park faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- Turn around at flooded roads: a foot of moving water can carry off a car.
- Flood insurance usually takes 30 days to start, so buy it before the forecast.
- Keep papers and medicines up high, in a grab-and-go bag.
- Park in a garage or under cover when storms are forecast.
- Stay away from windows while it falls.
- Photograph roof and car damage for your insurer.
- Pick your spot now: the lowest floor, an inside room, no windows.
- A watch means be ready; a warning means take cover now.
- Keep shoes and a flashlight by the bed.
- Look up the address on FEMA’s flood map.
- Ask the seller or landlord whether it has ever flooded, and what flood insurance costs there.
- Get a flood insurance quote early: policies usually start 30 days after you buy.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Winter Park
Is Winter Park at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Winter Park has higher expected damage per building than 71% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (78%) and hail (9%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Winter Park flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Winter Park since 1983, $6K in all, or 0.4 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 93% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Winter Park in a flood zone?
Flood zones are drawn street by street, so the answer depends on the address: look it up on FEMA’s flood map. In Grand County, 10% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Winter Park?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Winter Park’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Winter Park?
By FEMA money that reached Winter Park, Snow (2003): $10K to the Town of Winter Park for repairs.
Is Winter Park at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (78%), and Winter Park’s rate for it is higher than 78% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Winter Park.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Winter Park’s residents lived in the 2020 census; OpenFEMA: NFIP redacted claims, multiple-loss properties, community status book and residential penetration rates, housing assistance (owners and renters), public assistance funded projects, hazard mitigation properties and disaster declarations. Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. Preparedness tips: Ready.gov. FEMA’s model is an average of expected damage, not a forecast. How hazard risk is graded.