Gulfport Casino · Photo: Jennywest1600 · CC BY-SA 3.0For coastal flooding, Gulfport’s building-damage rate is in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Gulfport gets a B− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 52% of U.S. towns, #45 of 638 in Florida. Most of that expected damage is hurricanes (50%), then river and rain flooding (28%). Flood insurance has paid 629 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 Gulfport’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Gulfport 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 Gulfport’s grade
Hurricanes are 50% of the building damage FEMA expects in Gulfport, and Gulfport’s rate of hurricanes damage is in the top 10% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 16%, at a rate in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts.
B− #45 of 638 in Florida; higher expected damage per building than 52% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Gulfport’s residents live in 5 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, Gulfport has less expected damage per building than 93% of Florida towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.1M a year in losses across Gulfport: $2.2M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Gulfport flood? Yes: 629 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Gulfport, from FEMA’s records: 79.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 95% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Helene400 claims · $71.3M
- Hurricane Elena70 claims · $351K
- Hurricane Josephine38 claims · $395K
Gulfport is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 6) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Pinellas County.11 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Gulfport
Disasters that paid out in Gulfport itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Gulfport), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Hurricane Milton2,221 households applied for aid$2.0M aid approved$1.3M to the City of Gulfport for repairs17 flood claims paid for it, $716K
- 2024Hurricane Helene1,602 households applied for aid$6.2M aid approved$4.0M to the City of Gulfport for repairs400 flood claims paid for it, $71.3M
- 2024Hurricane Debby86 households applied for aid$362K aid approved$123K to the City of Gulfport for repairs
- 2023Hurricane Idalia108 households applied for aid$247K aid approved$89K to the City of Gulfport for repairs12 flood claims paid that year
- 2022Hurricane Ian277 households applied for aid$94K aid approved$309K to the City of Gulfport for repairs
- 2017Hurricane Irma1,788 households applied for aid$554K aid approved$506K to the City of Gulfport for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
Show all 11
- 2016Hurricane Hermine6 households applied for aid$3K aid approved$272K to the City of Gulfport for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
- 2012Tropical Storm Debby27 households applied for aid$3K aid approved$22K to the City of Gulfport for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2004Hurricane Jeanne91 households applied for aid$57K aid approved$20K to the City of Gulfport for repairs
- 2004Hurricane Frances40 households applied for aid$35K aid approved$96K to the City of Gulfport for repairs
- 2004Tropical Storm Bonnie and Hurricane Charley$8K to the City of Gulfport for repairs
Pinellas County has had 32 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 Pinellas County, 1999–2001.
Old photos of Gulfport after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Gulfport archive →Gulfport and its neighbors
Gulfport 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gulfport | B−more damage than 52% | hurricanes | 629 |
| Bear Creek | C+more damage than 56% | hurricanes | — |
| St. Petersburg | C+more damage than 61% | hurricanes | 13,766 |
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 Gulfport 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.
- Gulfport residents get 20% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Gulfport
Is Gulfport at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Gulfport has higher expected damage per building than 52% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #45 of 638 in Florida. Most of the expected damage is hurricanes (50%) and river and rain flooding (28%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Gulfport flood?
Flood insurance has paid 629 claims in Gulfport since 1979, $74.6M in all, or 79.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 95% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 34 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Helene (400).
Is Gulfport 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 Pinellas County, 19.4% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Gulfport?
Gulfport is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 6), which takes 20% off federal flood insurance policies for its flood-proofing work. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Gulfport?
By FEMA money that reached Gulfport, Hurricane Helene (2024): 1,602 households applied for aid, $6.2M approved, and $4.0M to the City of Gulfport for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Helene: 400 paid, $71.3M.
Is Gulfport at risk from hurricanes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (50%), and Gulfport’s rate for it is in the top 10% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Gulfport.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Gulfport’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.