Nelson and Company Historic District · Photo: Ebyabe · CC BY 2.5FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Oviedo as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Oviedo gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 57% of U.S. towns, #67 of 638 in Florida. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (62%), then hurricanes (23%). Flood insurance has paid 83 claims here since 1982.
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 Oviedo’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Oviedo 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 Oviedo’s grade
River and rain flooding is 62% of the building damage FEMA expects in Oviedo, and Oviedo’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 54% of U.S. census tracts. Wildfire adds 5%, at a rate in the top 8% of U.S. census tracts.
C+ #67 of 638 in Florida; higher expected damage per building than 57% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Oviedo’s residents live in 14 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, Oviedo has less expected damage per building than 90% of Florida towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $10.5M a year in losses across Oviedo: $8.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Oviedo flood? Sometimes: 83 flood claims since 1982
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Oviedo, from FEMA’s records: 5.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 64% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Ian57 claims · $7.5M
- Tropical Storm Fay7 claims · $48K
- Hurricane Frances4 claims · $12K
Oviedo is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 5) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Seminole County.14 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Oviedo
Disasters that paid out in Oviedo itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Oviedo), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Hurricane Milton982 households applied for aid$231K aid approved$503K to the City of Oviedo for repairs3 flood claims paid for it, $11K
- 2024Hurricane Debby$5K to the City of Oviedo for repairs
- 2023Hurricane Idalia1 households applied for aid$32K to the City of Oviedo for repairs
- 2022Hurricane Nicole$50K to the City of Oviedo for repairs
- 2022Hurricane Ian5,852 households applied for aid$2.7M aid approved$2.5M to the City of Oviedo for repairs57 flood claims paid for it, $7.5M
- 2019Hurricane Dorian$88K to the City of Oviedo for repairs
Show all 14
- 2017Hurricane Irma4,883 households applied for aid$1.2M aid approved$1.1M to the City of Oviedo for repairs4 flood claims paid for it, $26K
- 2016Hurricane Matthew67 households applied for aid$6K aid approved$124K to the City of Oviedo for repairs
- 2008Tropical Storm Fay76 households applied for aid$114K aid approved7 flood claims paid for it, $48K
- 2004Hurricane Jeanne807 households applied for aid$424K aid approved$203K to the City of Oviedo for repairs
- 2004Hurricane Ivan23 households applied for aid$1K aid approved
- 2004Hurricane Frances1,419 households applied for aid$914K aid approved$88K to the City of Oviedo for repairs4 flood claims paid for it, $12K
- 2004Tropical Storm Bonnie and Hurricane Charley4,425 households applied for aid$1.8M aid approved$4.0M to the City of Oviedo for repairs
- 1999Tropical Storm Irene - Florida$2K to the City of Oviedo 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 Oviedo after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Oviedo archive →Oviedo and its neighbors
Oviedo has the lowest expected damage per building of the 4 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oviedo | C+more damage than 57% | river and rain flooding | 83 |
| Chuluota | C+more damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Black Hammock | Cmore damage than 72% | river and rain flooding | 47 |
| 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 Oviedo 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.
- Oviedo residents get 25% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Oviedo
Is Oviedo at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Oviedo has higher expected damage per building than 57% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #67 of 638 in Florida. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (62%) and hurricanes (23%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Oviedo flood?
Flood insurance has paid 83 claims in Oviedo since 1982, $7.6M in all, or 5.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 64% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 2 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Ian (57).
Is Oviedo 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 Oviedo?
Oviedo is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 5), which takes 25% 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 Oviedo?
By FEMA money that reached Oviedo, Tropical Storm Bonnie and Hurricane Charley (2004): 4,425 households applied for aid, $1.8M approved, and $4.0M to the City of Oviedo for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Ian: 57 paid, $7.5M.
Is Oviedo at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (62%), and Oviedo’s rate for it is higher than 54% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Oviedo.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Oviedo’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.