Louisville and Nashville Depot · Photo: Ebyabe · CC BY-SA 3.0More hazard damage per building is expected in Milton than in 93% of U.S. towns, mostly from hurricanes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Milton gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 93% of U.S. towns, #532 of 638 in Florida. Most of that expected damage is hurricanes (62%), then river and rain flooding (33%). Flood insurance has paid 108 claims here since 1978.
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 Milton’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Milton 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 Milton’s grade
Hurricanes are 62% of the building damage FEMA expects in Milton, and Milton’s rate of hurricanes damage is in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 2%, at a rate in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
D #532 of 638 in Florida; higher expected damage per building than 93% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Milton’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, Milton has more expected damage per building than 83% of Florida towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $6.5M a year in losses across Milton: $5.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Milton flood? Yes: 108 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Milton, from FEMA’s records: 20.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 84% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Ivan42 claims · $2.7M
- Hurricane Sally11 claims · $450K
- Hurricane Opal4 claims · $121K
Milton is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 6) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Santa Rosa County.7 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Milton
Disasters that paid out in Milton itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Milton), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2020Hurricane Sally2,141 households applied for aid$2.4M aid approved$791K to the City of Milton for repairs11 flood claims paid for it, $450K
- 2014Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding724 households applied for aid$1.3M aid approved$66K to the City of Milton for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
- 2012Hurricane Isaac$3K to the City of Milton for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2009Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Straight-line Winds45 households applied for aid$75K aid approved$33K to the City of Milton for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2005Hurricane Katrina$70K to the City of Milton for repairs
- 2005Hurricane Dennis7,361 households applied for aid$4.7M aid approved$1.3M to the City of Milton for repairs3 flood claims paid for it, $44K
Show all 7
- 2004Hurricane Ivan13,308 households applied for aid$23.7M aid approved$1.8M to the City of Milton for repairs42 flood claims paid for it, $2.7M
Santa Rosa 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 1 FEMA wildfire suppression grant (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Santa Rosa County, 2020–2020.
Old photos of Milton after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Milton archive →Milton and its neighbors
Milton 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Milton | Dmore damage than 92% | hurricanes | 538 |
| Milton | Dmore damage than 93% | hurricanes | 108 |
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 Milton 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.
- Milton 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 Milton
Is Milton at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Milton has higher expected damage per building than 93% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #532 of 638 in Florida. Most of the expected damage is hurricanes (62%) and river and rain flooding (33%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Milton flood?
Flood insurance has paid 108 claims in Milton since 1978, $3.8M in all, or 20.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 84% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 9 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Ivan (42).
Is Milton 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 Santa Rosa County, 67% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 14.0% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Milton?
Milton 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 Milton?
By FEMA money that reached Milton, Hurricane Ivan (2004): 13,308 households applied for aid, $23.7M approved, and $1.8M to the City of Milton for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Ivan: 42 paid, $2.7M.
Is Milton at risk from hurricanes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (62%), and Milton’s rate for it is in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Milton.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Milton’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.