FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Cypress Quarters than in 91% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Cypress Quarters gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 91% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (59%), then hurricanes (34%). Flood insurance has paid 3 claims here since 2004.
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 Cypress Quarters 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
Hurricanes
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 Cypress Quarters’ grade
River and rain flooding is 59% of the building damage FEMA expects in Cypress Quarters, and Cypress Quarters’ rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 90% of U.S. census tracts. Hurricanes add 34%, at a rate in the top 7% of U.S. census tracts.
D higher expected damage per building than 91% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Cypress Quarters’ residents live in 2 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $733K a year in losses across Cypress Quarters: $681K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Cypress Quarters flood? Rarely: 3 flood claims since 2004
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Cypress Quarters, from FEMA’s records: 6.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 65% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Wilma1 claim · $4K
- Tropical Storm Fay1 claim · $330
- Hurricane Frances1 claim · $4K
Cypress Quarters isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Okeechobee County.The storms Cypress Quarters remembers
None of the 23 disasters declared for Okeechobee County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Cypress Quarters itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 20041 flood claims paidThe year of Hurricane Jeanne, declared for Okeechobee County
- 20051 flood claims paidThe year of Hurricane Wilma, declared for Okeechobee County
- 20081 flood claims paidThe year of Tropical Storm Fay, declared for Okeechobee County
Okeechobee County has had 23 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.
Also 3 FEMA wildfire suppression grants (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Okeechobee County, 1999–2007.
Old photos of Cypress Quarters after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Cypress Quarters archive →Cypress Quarters and its neighbors
Cypress Quarters has the lowest expected damage per building of the 3 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cypress Quarters | Dmore damage than 91% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Okeechobee | Dmore damage than 93% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
| Taylor Creek | D−more damage than 97% | river and rain flooding | 17 |
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 Cypress Quarters 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.
- 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.
- 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 Cypress Quarters
Is Cypress Quarters at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Cypress Quarters has higher expected damage per building than 91% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (59%) and hurricanes (34%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Cypress Quarters flood?
Flood insurance has paid 3 claims in Cypress Quarters since 2004, $8K in all, or 6.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 65% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Hurricane Wilma (1).
Is Cypress Quarters 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 Okeechobee County, 22% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 6.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Cypress Quarters?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Cypress Quarters’ 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 Cypress Quarters?
By flood claims, Hurricane Wilma: 1 paid, $4K.
Is Cypress Quarters at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (59%), and Cypress Quarters’ rate for it is higher than 90% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Cypress Quarters.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Cypress Quarters’ 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.