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Hull-Hawkins HouseHull-Hawkins House · Photo: Ebyabe · CC BY-SA 3.0
DHazard risk
Natural hazards in Live Oak · FEMA

FEMA puts Live Oak’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 89% of U.S. towns, mostly from hurricanes

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Live Oak gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 89% of U.S. towns, #434 of 638 in Florida. Most of that expected damage is hurricanes (62%), then river and rain flooding (34%). Flood insurance has paid 91 claims here since 1980.

Hurricanes 62%River and rain flooding 34%Tornadoes 2%

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

more than 89%of U.S. townsLess damageMoreExpected yearly damage per dollar of building, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade#434 of 638 in Florida
Hazard risk
D#434 of 638
in Florida · higher than 89% of U.S. towns
Main hazard
Hurricanes
62% of expected building damage
Flood claims
91
paid since 1980 · $2.2M
Flooded more than once
9
properties
Disasters paid out here
10
of 26 declared for Suwannee County

What stands out about Live Oak’s natural hazards

From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.

Made safer with FEMA grants2 buildings retrofitted against wind; 1 storm safe room built; 1 home raised above flood level with FEMA grants.Remembers 201241 flood claims were paid for 2012 alone, the most of any year.
By hazard

What Live Oak faces

Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.

Hurricanes

62%of expected building damage
Well above average · in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about once every 4 years in the area

River and rain flooding

34%of expected building damage
About average · higher than 58% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about once every 2 years in the area
Smaller shares here
 Tornadoes Wildfire Earthquakes Strong wind Lightning Hail Winter storms Cold waves Heat waves Landslides
FEMA models no building damage here
Coastal floodingIce stormsAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity

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.

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.
Hazard risk grade

What’s behind Live Oak’s grade

Hurricanes are 62% of the building damage FEMA expects in Live Oak, and Live Oak’s rate of hurricanes damage is in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts. Next is river and rain flooding at 34% (higher than 58% of U.S. census tracts).

Where Live Oak sits
Live Oak
Least damageMiddleMost damage

D #434 of 638 in Florida; higher expected damage per building than 89% of U.S. towns (21,298).

Live Oak’s residents live in 4 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.

What drives the damage to buildings
Hurricanes62%River and rain flooding34%Everything else5%

The typical Florida town has higher expected damage than 79% of U.S. towns; within the state, Live Oak has more expected damage per building than 68% of Florida towns.

In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.7M a year in losses across Live Oak: $3.0M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.

Recent disaster.FEMA’s model looks at expected damage to the buildings standing today. After Hurricane Idalia in 2023, FEMA took 7,083 aid registrations from Live Oak addresses (the town has 2,810 homes).
A small-area figure. Live Oak covers 4 census tracts, combined by where residents live. FEMA’s model is an average year for today’s buildings, not a record: the claims and disasters below are the record.

How TownRatings grades hazard risk →

Flood insurance claims

Does Live Oak flood? Sometimes: 91 flood claims since 1980

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Live Oak, from FEMA’s records: 32.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 89% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.

Paid flood claims, by year
1980: 2 claims1981: 0 claims1982: 0 claims1983: 0 claims1984: 1 claim1985: 0 claims1986: 1 claim1987: 0 claims1988: 0 claims1989: 0 claims1990: 0 claims1991: 2 claims1992: 0 claims1993: 0 claims1994: 0 claims1995: 0 claims1996: 2 claims1997: 0 claims1998: 9 claims1999: 0 claims2000: 0 claims2001: 0 claims2002: 0 claims2003: 4 claims2004: 7 claims2005: 0 claims2006: 0 claims2007: 0 claims2008: 1 claim2009: 0 claims2010: 0 claims2011: 0 claims2012: 41 claims2013: 0 claims2014: 0 claims2015: 0 claims2016: 1 claim2017: 0 claims2018: 0 claims2019: 0 claims2020: 1 claim2021: 0 claims2022: 0 claims2023: 0 claims2024: 19 claims2025: 0 claims2026: 0 claims199820122024
19802026
Biggest named events
  • Tropical Storm Debby41 claims · $1.5M
  • Hurricane Debby19 claims · $465K
  • Hurricane Jeanne7 claims · $53K
91
paid claims since 1980
$2.2M
paid to owners
9
homes flooded more than once
$24K
average claim
Homes that flooded again and again
FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (0)Flooded 2+ times
of homes in flood zones are insured
of all homes are insured
No community discount

Live Oak isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: Suwannee County.
What’s been done with FEMA grants
2buildings retrofitted against wind
1storm safe room built
1home raised above flood level
Disasters

10 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Live Oak

Disasters that paid out in Live Oak itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Live Oak), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.

  1. 2024Hurricane Helene3,811 households applied for aid$7.9M aid approved$78K to the City of Live Oak for repairs
  2. 2024Hurricane Debby1,895 households applied for aid$4.2M aid approved$104K to the City of Live Oak for repairs41 flood claims paid for it, $1.5M
  3. 2023Hurricane Idalia7,083 households applied for aid$7.1M aid approved$508K to the City of Live Oak for repairs
  4. 2017Hurricane Irma3,469 households applied for aid$1.1M aid approved$228K to the City of Live Oak for repairs
  5. 2016Hurricane Hermine$35K to the City of Live Oak for repairs1 flood claim paid for it, $10K
  6. 2012Tropical Storm Debby1,673 households applied for aid$4.7M aid approved$1.5M to the City of Live Oak for repairs41 flood claims paid for it, $1.5M
Show all 10
  1. 2009Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Straight-line Winds85 households applied for aid$154K aid approved
  2. 2008Tropical Storm Fay$48K to the City of Live Oak for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
  3. 2004Hurricane Jeanne549 households applied for aid$681K aid approved$54K to the City of Live Oak for repairs7 flood claims paid for it, $53K
  4. 2004Hurricane Frances323 households applied for aid$418K aid approved$47K to the City of Live Oak for repairs
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in Live OakSuwannee County only

Suwannee County has had 26 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 Suwannee County, 2000–2007.

Were you here?

Old photos of Live Oak after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.

Add to the Live Oak archive →
Be ready

Get ready for what Live Oak faces

A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.

Hurricane season
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
When the river rises
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Before you buy or rent
  • 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.
When a storm is coming
Forecast and alertsWeather →911, the nearest ERSafety →

Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.

Questions about natural hazards in Live Oak

Is Live Oak at risk for natural disasters?

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Live Oak has higher expected damage per building than 89% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #434 of 638 in Florida. Most of the expected damage is hurricanes (62%) and river and rain flooding (34%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.

Does Live Oak flood?

Flood insurance has paid 91 claims in Live Oak since 1980, $2.2M in all, or 32.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 89% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 9 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Debby (41).

Is Live Oak 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 Suwannee County, 20% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 2.1% of all homes do.

How much is flood insurance in Live Oak?

FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Live Oak’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 Live Oak?

By FEMA money that reached Live Oak, Hurricane Helene (2024): 3,811 households applied for aid, $7.9M approved, and $78K to the City of Live Oak for repairs. By flood claims, Tropical Storm Debby: 41 paid, $1.5M.

Is Live Oak at risk from hurricanes?

It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (62%), and Live Oak’s rate for it is in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Live Oak.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Live Oak’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.