Photo: Wikisteveb4 · CC BY 4.0Less hazard damage per building is expected in Lake Mary than in 60% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Lake Mary gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns, #15 of 638 in Florida. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (58%), then hurricanes (28%). Flood insurance has paid 6 claims here since 1995.
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 Lake Mary’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Lake Mary 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
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 Lake Mary’s grade
River and rain flooding is 58% of the building damage FEMA expects in Lake Mary, and Lake Mary’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 65% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 28% (higher than 86% of U.S. census tracts).
B #15 of 638 in Florida; lower expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Lake Mary’s residents live in 8 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, Lake Mary has less expected damage per building than 98% of Florida towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $5.6M a year in losses across Lake Mary: $4.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Lake Mary flood? Rarely: 6 flood claims since 1995
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Lake Mary, from FEMA’s records: 0.8 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 82% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Ian3 claims · $81K
Lake Mary is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 5) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Seminole County.10 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Lake Mary
Disasters that paid out in Lake Mary itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Lake Mary), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Hurricane Milton772 households applied for aid$105K aid approved
- 2022Hurricane Ian1,622 households applied for aid$572K aid approved3 flood claims paid for it, $81K
- 2019Hurricane Dorian$21K to the City of Lake Mary for repairs
- 2017Hurricane Irma3,082 households applied for aid$716K aid approved$773K to the City of Lake Mary for repairs
- 2016Hurricane Matthew46 households applied for aid$126K to the City of Lake Mary for repairs
- 2008Tropical Storm Fay64 households applied for aid$25K aid approved
Show all 10
- 2004Hurricane Jeanne455 households applied for aid$179K aid approved$45K to the City of Lake Mary for repairs
- 2004Hurricane Ivan6 households applied for aid$1K aid approved
- 2004Hurricane Frances641 households applied for aid$334K aid approved$106K to the City of Lake Mary for repairs
- 2004Tropical Storm Bonnie and Hurricane Charley622 households applied for aid$270K aid approved$2.0M to the City of Lake Mary for repairs
Seminole County has had 25 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 2 FEMA wildfire suppression grants (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Seminole County, 1999–2007.
Old photos of Lake Mary after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Lake Mary archive →Lake Mary and its neighbors
Lake Mary is 2nd of the 3 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.
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 Lake Mary 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.
- 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.
- Lake Mary residents get 25% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Lake Mary
Is Lake Mary at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Lake Mary has lower expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #15 of 638 in Florida. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (58%) and hurricanes (28%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Lake Mary flood?
Flood insurance has paid 6 claims in Lake Mary since 1995, $339K in all, or 0.8 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 82% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Hurricane Ian (3).
Is Lake Mary 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 Seminole County, 47% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 4.0% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Lake Mary?
Lake Mary is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 5), which takes 25% 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 Lake Mary?
By FEMA money that reached Lake Mary, Tropical Storm Bonnie and Hurricane Charley (2004): 622 households applied for aid, $270K approved, and $2.0M to the City of Lake Mary for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Ian: 3 paid, $81K.
Is Lake Mary at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (58%), and Lake Mary’s rate for it is lower than 65% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Lake Mary.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Lake Mary’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.