Turkey Creek High School, Historic · Photo: Ebyabe · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Plant City faces more hazard damage per building than 73% of U.S. towns, led by hurricanes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Plant City gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 73% of U.S. towns, #224 of 638 in Florida. Most of that expected damage is hurricanes (47%), then river and rain flooding (44%). Flood insurance has paid 130 claims here since 1994.
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 Plant City’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Plant City 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
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 Plant City’s grade
Hurricanes are 47% of the building damage FEMA expects in Plant City, and Plant City’s rate of hurricanes damage is in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts. Next is river and rain flooding at 44% (lower than 54% of U.S. census tracts).
C #224 of 638 in Florida; higher expected damage per building than 73% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Plant City’s residents live in 16 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, Plant City has less expected damage per building than 65% of Florida towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $14.6M a year in losses across Plant City: $10.0M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Plant City flood? Yes: 130 flood claims since 1994
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Plant City, from FEMA’s records: 8.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 71% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Milton114 claims · $12.4M
- Hurricane Irma4 claims · $40K
- Hurricane Frances2 claims · $22K
Plant City is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 6) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Hillsborough County.14 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Plant City
Disasters that paid out in Plant City itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Plant City), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Hurricane Milton13,092 households applied for aid$18.1M aid approved$4.0M to the City of Plant City for repairs114 flood claims paid for it, $12.4M
- 2024Hurricane Helene1,788 households applied for aid$1.3M aid approved$380K to the City of Plant City for repairs
- 2024Hurricane Debby199 households applied for aid$259K aid approved1 flood claim paid for it, $3K
- 2023Hurricane Idalia171 households applied for aid$77K aid approved$74K to the City of Plant City for repairs
- 2022Hurricane Nicole$37K to the City of Plant City for repairs
- 2022Hurricane Ian5,860 households applied for aid$3.3M aid approved$1.4M to the City of Plant City for repairs
Show all 14
- 2017Hurricane Irma7,994 households applied for aid$3.3M aid approved$1.4M to the City of Plant City for repairs4 flood claims paid for it, $40K
- 2016Hurricane Hermine30 households applied for aid$10K aid approved
- 2012Tropical Storm Debby33 households applied for aid$58K aid approved1 flood claim paid for it, $3K
- 2008Tropical Storm Fay$28K to the City of Plant City for repairs
- 2004Hurricane Jeanne2,689 households applied for aid$3.2M aid approved$439K to the City of Plant City for repairs1 flood claim paid for it, $2K
- 2004Hurricane Frances742 households applied for aid$818K aid approved$913K to the City of Plant City for repairs2 flood claims paid for it, $22K
- 2004Tropical Storm Bonnie and Hurricane Charley1 households applied for aid$870 aid approved$74K to the City of Plant City for repairs
- 92 households applied for aid$700 aid approved
Hillsborough 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 Hillsborough County, 1999–2001.
Old photos of Plant City after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Plant City archive →Plant City and its neighbors
Plant City is 2nd of the 2 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lakeland | Cmore damage than 68% | hurricanes | 85 |
| Plant City | Cmore damage than 73% | hurricanes | 130 |
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 Plant City 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.
- 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.
- Plant City residents get 20% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Plant City
Is Plant City at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Plant City has higher expected damage per building than 73% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #224 of 638 in Florida. Most of the expected damage is hurricanes (47%) and river and rain flooding (44%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Plant City flood?
Flood insurance has paid 130 claims in Plant City since 1994, $12.9M in all, or 8.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 71% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 6 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Milton (114).
Is Plant City 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 Hillsborough County, 61% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 12.1% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Plant City?
Plant City is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 6), which takes 20% 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 Plant City?
By FEMA money that reached Plant City, Hurricane Milton (2024): 13,092 households applied for aid, $18.1M approved, and $4.0M to the City of Plant City for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Milton: 114 paid, $12.4M.
Is Plant City at risk from hurricanes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (47%), and Plant City’s rate for it is in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Plant City.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Plant City’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.