Photo: Michael Rivera · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA puts Carrabelle’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 91% of U.S. towns, mostly from hurricanes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Carrabelle gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 91% of U.S. towns, #475 of 638 in Florida. Most of that expected damage is hurricanes (70%), then river and rain flooding (17%). Flood insurance has paid 60 claims here since 1985.
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 stands out about Carrabelle’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Carrabelle faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
Hurricanes
River and rain flooding
Coastal flooding
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 Carrabelle’s grade
Hurricanes are 70% of the building damage FEMA expects in Carrabelle, and Carrabelle’s rate of hurricanes damage is in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 9%, at a rate in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts.
D #475 of 638 in Florida; higher expected damage per building than 91% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Carrabelle’s residents live in 3 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical Florida town has higher expected damage than 79% of U.S. towns; within the state, Carrabelle has more expected damage per building than 74% of Florida towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.3M a year in losses across Carrabelle: $1.0M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Carrabelle flood? Sometimes: 60 flood claims since 1985
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Carrabelle, from FEMA’s records: 78.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 95% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Dennis25 claims · $704K
- Hurricane Kate10 claims · $178K
- Hurricane Elena9 claims · $118K
Carrabelle isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Franklin County.5 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Carrabelle
Disasters that paid out in Carrabelle itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Carrabelle), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Hurricane Helene94 households applied for aid$101K aid approved
- 2018Hurricane Michael423 households applied for aid$530K aid approved$188K to the City of Carrabelle for repairs4 flood claims paid for it, $87K
- 2012Tropical Storm Debby104 households applied for aid$69K aid approved
- 2005Hurricane Dennis256 households applied for aid$201K aid approved$5K to the City of Carrabelle for repairs25 flood claims paid for it, $704K
- 2004Hurricane Ivan4 households applied for aid$3K aid approved
Franklin County has had 36 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often hurricanes and tropical storms, then severe storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Carrabelle after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Carrabelle archive →Get ready for what Carrabelle faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- The season runs June through November and peaks from mid-August to mid-October.
- Bring in porch furniture and anything the wind can throw.
- Fill the gas tank and charge phones before the storm arrives.
- 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.
- Know your evacuation zone and the way off the coast.
- Storm surge comes fast: leave when you’re told, not when the water arrives.
- Move cars to high ground before king tides and nor’easters.
- 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 Carrabelle
Is Carrabelle at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Carrabelle has higher expected damage per building than 91% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #475 of 638 in Florida. Most of the expected damage is hurricanes (70%) and river and rain flooding (17%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Carrabelle flood?
Flood insurance has paid 60 claims in Carrabelle since 1985, $1.2M in all, or 78.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 95% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 6 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Dennis (25).
Is Carrabelle 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 Franklin County, 43% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 25.1% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Carrabelle?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Carrabelle’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 Carrabelle?
By FEMA money that reached Carrabelle, Hurricane Michael (2018): 423 households applied for aid, $530K approved, and $188K to the City of Carrabelle for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Dennis: 25 paid, $704K.
Is Carrabelle at risk from hurricanes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (70%), and Carrabelle’s rate for it is in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Carrabelle.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Carrabelle’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.