Nokomis Beach Pavilion · Photo: National Park Service · Public domainOn FEMA’s figures, Nokomis faces more hazard damage per building than 93% of U.S. towns, mostly from hurricanes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Nokomis gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 93% of U.S. towns, #517 of 638 in Florida. Most of that expected damage is hurricanes (63%), then river and rain flooding (27%). Flood insurance has paid 212 claims here since 1981.
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 Nokomis’ natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Nokomis 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
Coastal 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 Nokomis’ grade
Hurricanes are 63% of the building damage FEMA expects in Nokomis, and Nokomis’ rate of hurricanes damage is in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 8%, at a rate in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
D #517 of 638 in Florida; higher expected damage per building than 93% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Nokomis’ residents live in 2 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, Nokomis has more expected damage per building than 81% of Florida towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.0M a year in losses across Nokomis: $1.8M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Nokomis flood? Yes: 212 flood claims since 1981
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Nokomis, from FEMA’s records: 100.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 96% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Helene121 claims · $14.0M
- Hurricane Milton46 claims · $2.2M
- Hurricane Ian6 claims · $203K
Nokomis isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Sarasota County.10 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Nokomis
Disasters that paid out in Nokomis itself (aid to households or repair grants to Nokomis), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Hurricane Milton3,156 households applied for aid$6.0M aid approved46 flood claims paid for it, $2.2M
- 2024Hurricane Helene912 households applied for aid$4.7M aid approved121 flood claims paid for it, $14.0M
- 2024Hurricane Debby200 households applied for aid$300K aid approved
- 2023Hurricane Idalia58 households applied for aid$90K aid approved
- 2022Hurricane Ian2,512 households applied for aid$3.8M aid approved6 flood claims paid for it, $203K
- 2017Hurricane Irma1,333 households applied for aid$458K aid approved2 flood claims paid for it, $6K
Show all 10
- 2012Tropical Storm Debby15 households applied for aid$6K aid approved
- 2004Hurricane Jeanne19 households applied for aid$33K aid approved
- 2004Hurricane Frances12 households applied for aid$11K aid approved
- 2004Tropical Storm Bonnie and Hurricane Charley10 households applied for aid$4K aid approved
Sarasota 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 3 FEMA wildfire suppression grants (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Sarasota County, 1999–2001.
Old photos of Nokomis after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Nokomis archive →Nokomis and its neighbors
Nokomis is 3rd 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 Nokomis 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.
- Know your evacuation zone and the way off the coast.
- Storm surge comes fast: leave when you’re told, not when the water arrives.
- Move cars to high ground before king tides and nor’easters.
- 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.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Nokomis
Is Nokomis at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Nokomis has higher expected damage per building than 93% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #517 of 638 in Florida. Most of the expected damage is hurricanes (63%) and river and rain flooding (27%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Nokomis flood?
Flood insurance has paid 212 claims in Nokomis since 1981, $16.7M in all, or 100.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 96% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Hurricane Helene (121).
Is Nokomis 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 Sarasota County, 42% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 18.0% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Nokomis?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Nokomis’ 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 Nokomis?
By FEMA money that reached Nokomis, Hurricane Milton (2024): 3,156 households applied for aid, $6.0M approved. By flood claims, Hurricane Helene: 121 paid, $14.0M.
Is Nokomis at risk from hurricanes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (63%), and Nokomis’ rate for it is in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Nokomis.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Nokomis’ 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.