Dade City Woman's Club · Photo: Ebyabe · CC BY 2.5FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Dade City than in 72% of U.S. towns, led by hurricanes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Dade City gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 72% of U.S. towns, #215 of 638 in Florida. Most of that expected damage is hurricanes (46%), then river and rain flooding (44%). Flood insurance has paid 29 claims here since 1979.
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 Dade City’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Dade City 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
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 Dade City’s grade
Hurricanes are 46% of the building damage FEMA expects in Dade City, and Dade City’s rate of hurricanes damage is in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts. Wildfire adds 3%, at a rate in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts.
C #215 of 638 in Florida; higher expected damage per building than 72% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Dade City’s residents live in 4 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, Dade City has less expected damage per building than 66% of Florida towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.2M a year in losses across Dade City: $2.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Dade City flood? Sometimes: 29 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Dade City, from FEMA’s records: 8.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 71% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Irene5 claims · $35K
- Hurricane Elena3 claims · $8K
- The Blizzard of 19932 claims · $46K
Dade City isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Pasco County.13 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Dade City
Disasters that paid out in Dade City itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Dade City), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Hurricane Milton6,733 households applied for aid$10.7M aid approved$265K to the City of Dade City for repairs
- 2024Hurricane Helene822 households applied for aid$1.1M aid approved$12K to the City of Dade City for repairs
- 2024Hurricane Debby$6K to the City of Dade City for repairs1 flood claim paid for it, $3K
- 2023Hurricane Idalia335 households applied for aid$184K aid approved
- 2022Hurricane Ian740 households applied for aid$334K aid approved
- 2017Hurricane Irma4,592 households applied for aid$2.8M aid approved$152K to the City of Dade City for repairs
Show all 13
- 2016Hurricane Hermine18 households applied for aid$13K aid approved
- 2012Tropical Storm Debby88 households applied for aid$126K aid approved$3K to the City of Dade City for repairs1 flood claim paid for it, $3K
- 2004Hurricane Jeanne1,033 households applied for aid$1.5M aid approved$203K to the City of Dade City for repairs1 flood claim paid for it, $17K
- 2004Hurricane Ivan41 households applied for aid$7K aid approved
- 2004Hurricane Frances665 households applied for aid$957K aid approved$196K to the City of Dade City for repairs
- 2004Tropical Storm Bonnie and Hurricane Charley76 households applied for aid$135K aid approved$7K to the City of Dade City for repairs
- 2003Severe Storms and Flooding$15K to the City of Dade City for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
Pasco County has had 33 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 1 FEMA wildfire suppression grant (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Pasco County, 2000–2000.
Old photos of Dade City after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Dade City archive →Dade City and its neighbors
Dade City 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dade City | Cmore damage than 72% | hurricanes | 29 |
| Dade City North | C−more damage than 75% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Pasadena Hills | C−more damage than 78% | river and rain flooding | 22 |
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 Dade City 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.
- 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 Dade City
Is Dade City at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Dade City has higher expected damage per building than 72% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #215 of 638 in Florida. Most of the expected damage is hurricanes (46%) and river and rain flooding (44%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Dade City flood?
Flood insurance has paid 29 claims in Dade City since 1979, $522K in all, or 8.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 71% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 3 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Irene (5).
Is Dade City 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 Pasco County, 47% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 10.3% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Dade City?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Dade City’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 Dade City?
By FEMA money that reached Dade City, Hurricane Milton (2024): 6,733 households applied for aid, $10.7M approved, and $265K to the City of Dade City for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Irene: 5 paid, $35K.
Is Dade City at risk from hurricanes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (46%), and Dade City’s rate for it is in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Dade City.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Dade City’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.