Photo: Skye Marthaler · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Niceville than in 91% of U.S. towns, mostly from hurricanes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Niceville gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 91% of U.S. towns, #490 of 638 in Florida. Most of that expected damage is hurricanes (76%), then river and rain flooding (20%). Flood insurance has paid 67 claims here since 1991.
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 Niceville’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Niceville 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 Niceville’s grade
Hurricanes are 76% of the building damage FEMA expects in Niceville, and Niceville’s rate of hurricanes damage is in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts. Next is river and rain flooding at 20% (lower than 69% of U.S. census tracts).
D #490 of 638 in Florida; higher expected damage per building than 91% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Niceville’s residents live in 5 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, Niceville has more expected damage per building than 77% of Florida towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $10.7M a year in losses across Niceville: $8.8M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Niceville flood? Sometimes: 67 flood claims since 1991
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Niceville, from FEMA’s records: 9.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 74% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Opal25 claims · $270K
- Hurricane Ivan19 claims · $1.2M
- Hurricane Sally7 claims · $367K
Niceville is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 6) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Okaloosa County.6 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Niceville
Disasters that paid out in Niceville itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Niceville), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2020Hurricane Sally123 households applied for aid$114K aid approved$240K to the City of Niceville for repairs7 flood claims paid for it, $367K
- 2018Hurricane Michael1 households applied for aid$22K to the City of Niceville for repairs
- 2017Hurricane Irma3 households applied for aid$500 aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
- 2014Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding74 households applied for aid$94K aid approved3 flood claims paid that year
- 2005Hurricane Dennis332 households applied for aid$163K aid approved$95K to the City of Niceville for repairs1 flood claim paid for it, $46K
- 2004Hurricane Ivan1,295 households applied for aid$762K aid approved$853K to the City of Niceville for repairs19 flood claims paid for it, $1.2M
Okaloosa County has had 32 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.
Old photos of Niceville after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Niceville archive →Niceville and its neighbors
Niceville 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Valparaiso | Dmore damage than 90% | hurricanes | 67 |
| Niceville | Dmore damage than 91% | hurricanes | 67 |
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 Niceville 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.
- Niceville 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 Niceville
Is Niceville at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Niceville has higher expected damage per building than 91% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #490 of 638 in Florida. Most of the expected damage is hurricanes (76%) and river and rain flooding (20%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Niceville flood?
Flood insurance has paid 67 claims in Niceville since 1991, $1.9M in all, or 9.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 74% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 16 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Opal (25).
Is Niceville 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 Okaloosa County, 74% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 10.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Niceville?
Niceville 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 Niceville?
By FEMA money that reached Niceville, Hurricane Ivan (2004): 1,295 households applied for aid, $762K approved, and $853K to the City of Niceville for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Opal: 25 paid, $270K.
Is Niceville at risk from hurricanes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (76%), and Niceville’s rate for it is in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Niceville.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Niceville’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.