Photo: Trish Hartmann · CC BY 2.0More hazard damage per building is expected in Osprey than in 91% of U.S. towns, mostly from hurricanes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Osprey gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 91% of U.S. towns, #488 of 638 in Florida. Most of that expected damage is hurricanes (68%), then river and rain flooding (27%). Flood insurance has paid 51 claims here since 2020.
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 Osprey 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 Osprey’s grade
Hurricanes are 68% of the building damage FEMA expects in Osprey, and Osprey’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 3% of U.S. census tracts.
D #488 of 638 in Florida; higher expected damage per building than 91% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Osprey’s 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, Osprey has more expected damage per building than 76% of Florida towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $5.2M a year in losses across Osprey: $4.9M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Osprey flood? Sometimes: 51 flood claims since 2020
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Osprey, from FEMA’s records: 13.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 79% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Helene33 claims · $2.6M
- Hurricane Milton13 claims · $1.3M
- Hurricane Debby4 claims · $81K
Osprey 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.9 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Osprey
Disasters that paid out in Osprey itself (aid to households or repair grants to Osprey), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Hurricane Milton776 households applied for aid$1.1M aid approved13 flood claims paid for it, $1.3M
- 2024Hurricane Helene127 households applied for aid$280K aid approved33 flood claims paid for it, $2.6M
- 2024Hurricane Debby62 households applied for aid$55K aid approved4 flood claims paid for it, $81K
- 2023Hurricane Idalia12 households applied for aid$3K aid approved
- 2022Hurricane Ian434 households applied for aid$275K aid approved
- 2017Hurricane Irma286 households applied for aid$74K aid approved
Show all 9
- 2004Hurricane Jeanne4 households applied for aid$9K aid approved
- 2004Hurricane Frances5 households applied for aid$4K aid approved
- 2004Tropical Storm Bonnie and Hurricane Charley2 households applied for aid$757 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 Osprey after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Osprey archive →Osprey and its neighbors
Osprey is 3rd of the 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vamo | Dmore damage than 90% | hurricanes | — |
| Palmer Ranch | Dmore damage than 91% | hurricanes | 9 |
| Osprey | Dmore damage than 91% | hurricanes | 51 |
| Laurel | Dmore damage than 92% | hurricanes | 46 |
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 Osprey 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.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Osprey
Is Osprey at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Osprey has higher expected damage per building than 91% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #488 of 638 in Florida. Most of the expected damage is hurricanes (68%) and river and rain flooding (27%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Osprey flood?
Flood insurance has paid 51 claims in Osprey since 2020, $3.9M in all, or 13.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 79% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Hurricane Helene (33).
Is Osprey 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 Osprey?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Osprey’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 Osprey?
By FEMA money that reached Osprey, Hurricane Milton (2024): 776 households applied for aid, $1.1M approved. By flood claims, Hurricane Helene: 33 paid, $2.6M.
Is Osprey at risk from hurricanes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (68%), and Osprey’s rate for it is in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Osprey.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Osprey’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.