Palmetto Armory · Photo: McGhiever · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Palmetto than in 90% of U.S. towns, mostly from hurricanes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Palmetto gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 90% of U.S. towns, #449 of 638 in Florida. Most of that expected damage is hurricanes (73%), then river and rain flooding (14%). Flood insurance has paid 332 claims here since 1979.
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 Palmetto’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Palmetto 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 Palmetto’s grade
Hurricanes are 73% of the building damage FEMA expects in Palmetto, and Palmetto’s rate of hurricanes damage is in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 9%, at a rate in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
D #449 of 638 in Florida; higher expected damage per building than 90% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Palmetto’s residents live in 7 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, Palmetto has more expected damage per building than 70% of Florida towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $7.6M a year in losses across Palmetto: $6.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Palmetto flood? Yes: 332 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Palmetto, from FEMA’s records: 46.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 92% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Helene202 claims · $15.7M
- Hurricane Milton13 claims · $246K
- The Torrential rain11 claims · $75K
Palmetto is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 8) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Manatee County.16 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Palmetto
Disasters that paid out in Palmetto itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Palmetto), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Hurricane Milton12,454 households applied for aid$16.4M aid approved$173K to the City of Palmetto for repairs13 flood claims paid for it, $246K
- 2024Hurricane Helene2,866 households applied for aid$8.4M aid approved$130K to the City of Palmetto for repairs202 flood claims paid for it, $15.7M
- 2024Hurricane Debby640 households applied for aid$504K aid approved3 flood claims paid for it, $51K
- 2023Hurricane Idalia194 households applied for aid$213K aid approved$19K to the City of Palmetto for repairs
- 2022Hurricane Ian3,721 households applied for aid$2.9M aid approved$544K to the City of Palmetto for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2017Hurricane Irma4,020 households applied for aid$1.4M aid approved$408K to the City of Palmetto for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
Show all 16
- 2016Hurricane Hermine45 households applied for aid$55K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
- 2012Tropical Storm Debby173 households applied for aid$129K aid approved3 flood claims paid for it, $51K
- 2008Tropical Storm Fay$14K to the City of Palmetto for repairs
- 2004Hurricane Jeanne596 households applied for aid$776K aid approved$29K to the City of Palmetto for repairs3 flood claims paid for it, $42K
- 2004Hurricane Ivan24 households applied for aid$500 aid approved
- 2004Hurricane Frances254 households applied for aid$330K aid approved$22K to the City of Palmetto for repairs
- 2004Tropical Storm Bonnie and Hurricane Charley101 households applied for aid$115K aid approved$25K to the City of Palmetto for repairs
- 2003Severe Storms and Flooding$10K to the City of Palmetto for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
- 2001Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding Associated with Tropical Storm Gabrielle$179K to the City of Palmetto for repairs12 flood claims paid that year
- 43 households applied for aid$33K aid approved
Manatee County has had 37 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 Manatee County, 1999–2001.
Old photos of Palmetto after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Palmetto archive →Palmetto and its neighbors
Palmetto is 2nd 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 Palmetto 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.
- Palmetto residents get 10% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Palmetto
Is Palmetto at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Palmetto has higher expected damage per building than 90% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #449 of 638 in Florida. Most of the expected damage is hurricanes (73%) and river and rain flooding (14%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Palmetto flood?
Flood insurance has paid 332 claims in Palmetto since 1979, $16.6M in all, or 46.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 92% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 8 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Helene (202).
Is Palmetto 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 Manatee County, 43% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 17.3% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Palmetto?
Palmetto is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 8), which takes 10% 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 Palmetto?
By FEMA money that reached Palmetto, Hurricane Milton (2024): 12,454 households applied for aid, $16.4M approved, and $173K to the City of Palmetto for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Helene: 202 paid, $15.7M.
Is Palmetto at risk from hurricanes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (73%), and Palmetto’s rate for it is in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Palmetto.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Palmetto’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.