Photo: Connor J Williams · CC BY 2.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Longwood as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Longwood gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 57% of U.S. towns, #22 of 638 in Florida. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (60%), then hurricanes (27%). Flood insurance has paid 14 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 stands out about Longwood’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Longwood 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 Longwood’s grade
River and rain flooding is 60% of the building damage FEMA expects in Longwood, and Longwood’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 60% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 27% (higher than 86% of U.S. census tracts).
B #22 of 638 in Florida; lower expected damage per building than 57% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Longwood’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, Longwood has less expected damage per building than 97% of Florida towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $4.3M a year in losses across Longwood: $3.6M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Longwood flood? Sometimes: 14 flood claims since 1992
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Longwood, from FEMA’s records: 2.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 61% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Ian4 claims · $92K
- Hurricane Frances1 claim · $5K
- Hurricane Jeanne1 claim · $4K
Longwood is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Seminole County.10 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Longwood
Disasters that paid out in Longwood itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Longwood), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Hurricane Milton1,926 households applied for aid$305K aid approved$543K to the City of Longwood for repairs
- 2022Hurricane Ian2,219 households applied for aid$999K aid approved$825K to the City of Longwood for repairs4 flood claims paid for it, $92K
- 2019Hurricane Dorian$99K to the City of Longwood for repairs
- 2017Hurricane Irma5,734 households applied for aid$1.7M aid approved$890K to the City of Longwood for repairs
- 2016Hurricane Matthew53 households applied for aid$2K aid approved$62K to the City of Longwood for repairs
- 2008Tropical Storm Fay65 households applied for aid$95K aid approved1 flood claim paid for it, $113K
Show all 10
- 2004Hurricane Jeanne926 households applied for aid$346K aid approved$46K to the City of Longwood for repairs1 flood claim paid for it, $4K
- 2004Hurricane Ivan19 households applied for aid$1K aid approved
- 2004Hurricane Frances1,154 households applied for aid$609K aid approved$164K to the City of Longwood for repairs1 flood claim paid for it, $5K
- 2004Tropical Storm Bonnie and Hurricane Charley1,207 households applied for aid$624K aid approved$1.5M to the City of Longwood 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 Longwood after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Longwood archive →Longwood and its neighbors
Longwood 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Longwood | Bless damage than 57% | river and rain flooding | 14 |
| Casselberry | C+more damage than 57% | river and rain flooding | 30 |
| Winter Springs | Cmore damage than 73% | river and rain flooding | 82 |
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 Longwood 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.
- Longwood residents get 15% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Longwood
Is Longwood at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Longwood has lower expected damage per building than 57% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #22 of 638 in Florida. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (60%) and hurricanes (27%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Longwood flood?
Flood insurance has paid 14 claims in Longwood since 1992, $253K in all, or 2.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 61% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Hurricane Ian (4).
Is Longwood 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 Longwood?
Longwood is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7), which takes 15% 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 Longwood?
By FEMA money that reached Longwood, Hurricane Irma (2017): 5,734 households applied for aid, $1.7M approved, and $890K to the City of Longwood for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Ian: 4 paid, $92K.
Is Longwood at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (60%), and Longwood’s rate for it is lower than 60% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Longwood.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Longwood’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.