FEMA puts Kensington Park’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 92% of U.S. towns, mostly from hurricanes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Kensington Park gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns, #492 of 638 in Florida. Most of that expected damage is hurricanes (67%), then river and rain flooding (31%). Flood insurance has paid 13 claims here since 1992.
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 Kensington Park 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
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 Kensington Park’s grade
Hurricanes are 67% of the building damage FEMA expects in Kensington Park, and Kensington Park’s rate of hurricanes damage is in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts. Next is river and rain flooding at 31% (higher than 59% of U.S. census tracts).
D #492 of 638 in Florida; higher expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Kensington Park’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
The typical Florida town has higher expected damage than 79% of U.S. towns; within the state, Kensington Park has more expected damage per building than 77% of Florida towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.3M a year in losses across Kensington Park: $1.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Kensington Park flood? Sometimes: 13 flood claims since 1992
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Kensington Park, from FEMA’s records: 8.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 71% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Debby8 claims · $851K
- Hurricane Irma1 claim · $4K
Kensington 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: Sarasota County.The storms Kensington Park remembers
None of the 34 disasters declared for Sarasota County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Kensington Park itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 20248 flood claims paidThe year of Hurricane Milton, declared for Sarasota County
- 19921 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms and Flooding, declared for Sarasota County
- 20031 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms and Flooding, declared for Sarasota County
Sarasota County has had 34 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 Sarasota County, 1999–2001.
Old photos of Kensington Park after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Kensington Park archive →Kensington Park and its neighbors
Kensington Park is 2nd of the 2 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Meadows | Dmore damage than 90% | hurricanes | 6 |
| Kensington Park | Dmore damage than 92% | hurricanes | 13 |
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 Kensington 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.
- 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.
- 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 Kensington Park
Is Kensington Park at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Kensington Park has higher expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #492 of 638 in Florida. Most of the expected damage is hurricanes (67%) and river and rain flooding (31%). The figures are for the one census tract the town shares with its neighbors. This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Kensington Park flood?
Flood insurance has paid 13 claims in Kensington Park since 1992, $863K in all, or 8.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 71% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Hurricane Debby (8).
Is Kensington 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 Sarasota County, 42% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 18.0% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Kensington Park?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Kensington 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 Kensington Park?
By flood claims, Hurricane Debby: 8 paid, $851K.
Is Kensington Park at risk from hurricanes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (67%), and Kensington Park’s rate for it is in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Kensington Park.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Kensington 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.