On FEMA’s figures, Pinellas Park faces more hazard damage per building than 66% of U.S. towns, led by hurricanes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Pinellas Park gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 66% of U.S. towns, #136 of 638 in Florida. Most of that expected damage is hurricanes (48%), then river and rain flooding (45%). Flood insurance has paid 651 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 Pinellas Park’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Pinellas Park 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 Pinellas Park’s grade
Hurricanes are 48% of the building damage FEMA expects in Pinellas Park, and Pinellas Park’s rate of hurricanes damage is in the top 10% of U.S. census tracts. Next is river and rain flooding at 45% (lower than 51% of U.S. census tracts).
C #136 of 638 in Florida; higher expected damage per building than 66% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Pinellas Park’s residents live in 19 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, Pinellas Park has less expected damage per building than 79% of Florida towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $17.6M a year in losses across Pinellas Park: $13.6M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Pinellas Park flood? Yes: 651 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Pinellas Park, from FEMA’s records: 25.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 87% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Milton156 claims · $12.3M
- Hurricane Debby17 claims · $533K
- Tropical Storm Debby12 claims · $196K
Pinellas Park is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 5) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Pinellas County.12 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Pinellas Park
Disasters that paid out in Pinellas Park itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Pinellas Park), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Hurricane Milton12,021 households applied for aid$10.2M aid approved$693K to the City of Pinellas Park for repairs156 flood claims paid for it, $12.3M
- 2024Hurricane Helene4,940 households applied for aid$2.6M aid approved$468K to the City of Pinellas Park for repairs
- 2024Hurricane Debby451 households applied for aid$232K aid approved$152K to the City of Pinellas Park for repairs17 flood claims paid for it, $533K
- 2023Hurricane Idalia754 households applied for aid$224K aid approved
- 2022Hurricane Ian2,642 households applied for aid$786K aid approved$512K to the City of Pinellas Park for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2017Hurricane Irma7,769 households applied for aid$2.6M aid approved$2.0M to the City of Pinellas Park for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
Show all 12
- 2016Hurricane Hermine18 households applied for aid$4K aid approved$35K to the City of Pinellas Park for repairs6 flood claims paid that year
- 2012Tropical Storm Debby65 households applied for aid$20K aid approved$10K to the City of Pinellas Park for repairs17 flood claims paid for it, $533K
- 2008Tropical Storm Fay$6K to the City of Pinellas Park for repairs
- 2004Hurricane Jeanne185 households applied for aid$145K aid approved$71K to the City of Pinellas Park for repairs
- 2004Hurricane Frances86 households applied for aid$70K aid approved$47K to the City of Pinellas Park for repairs
- 2004Tropical Storm Bonnie and Hurricane Charley$44K to the City of Pinellas Park for repairs
Pinellas 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.
Also 3 FEMA wildfire suppression grants (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Pinellas County, 1999–2001.
Old photos of Pinellas Park after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Pinellas Park archive →Pinellas Park and its neighbors
Pinellas Park is 3rd of the 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Largo | C+more damage than 61% | river and rain flooding | 645 |
| St. Petersburg | C+more damage than 61% | hurricanes | 13,766 |
| Pinellas Park | Cmore damage than 66% | hurricanes | 651 |
| Lealman | Cmore damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | 61 |
| Bardmoor | C−more damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | 50 |
| Kenneth City | Dmore damage than 91% | river and rain flooding | 16 |
| West Lealman | Dmore damage than 91% | river and rain flooding | 290 |
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 Pinellas Park 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.
- Pinellas Park 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 Pinellas Park
Is Pinellas Park at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Pinellas Park has higher expected damage per building than 66% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #136 of 638 in Florida. Most of the expected damage is hurricanes (48%) and river and rain flooding (45%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Pinellas Park flood?
Flood insurance has paid 651 claims in Pinellas Park since 1979, $15.9M in all, or 25.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 87% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 21 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Milton (156).
Is Pinellas Park 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 Pinellas County, 19.4% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Pinellas Park?
Pinellas Park 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 Pinellas Park?
By FEMA money that reached Pinellas Park, Hurricane Milton (2024): 12,021 households applied for aid, $10.2M approved, and $693K to the City of Pinellas Park for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Milton: 156 paid, $12.3M.
Is Pinellas Park at risk from hurricanes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (48%), and Pinellas Park’s rate for it is in the top 10% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Pinellas Park.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Pinellas Park’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.