Halstead and Emily Lindsley House · Photo: Pietro · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Rotonda faces more hazard damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns, mostly from hurricanes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Rotonda gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns, #512 of 638 in Florida. Most of that expected damage is hurricanes (82%), then river and rain flooding (15%). Flood insurance has paid 149 claims here since 2022.
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 Rotonda’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Rotonda 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 Rotonda’s grade
Hurricanes are 82% of the building damage FEMA expects in Rotonda, and Rotonda’s rate of hurricanes damage is in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 1%, at a rate in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
D #512 of 638 in Florida; higher expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Rotonda’s residents live in 4 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, Rotonda has more expected damage per building than 80% of Florida towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $6.0M a year in losses across Rotonda: $5.5M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Rotonda flood? Yes: 149 flood claims since 2022
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Rotonda, from FEMA’s records: 18.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 83% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Ian112 claims · $8.9M
- Hurricane Milton27 claims · $920K
- Hurricane Helene5 claims · $89K
Rotonda isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Charlotte County.2 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Rotonda
Disasters that paid out in Rotonda itself (aid to households or repair grants to Rotonda), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2022Hurricane Ian3 households applied for aid$300 aid approved112 flood claims paid for it, $8.9M
- 2017Hurricane Irma14 households applied for aid$2K aid approved
Charlotte County has had 29 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 Charlotte County, 1999–2001.
Old photos of Rotonda after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Rotonda archive →Get ready for what Rotonda 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 Rotonda
Is Rotonda at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Rotonda has higher expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #512 of 638 in Florida. Most of the expected damage is hurricanes (82%) and river and rain flooding (15%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Rotonda flood?
Flood insurance has paid 149 claims in Rotonda since 2022, $10.1M in all, or 18.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 83% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Hurricane Ian (112).
Is Rotonda 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 Charlotte County, 58% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 32.0% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Rotonda?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Rotonda’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 Rotonda?
By FEMA money that reached Rotonda, Hurricane Irma (2017): 14 households applied for aid, $2K approved. By flood claims, Hurricane Ian: 112 paid, $8.9M.
Is Rotonda at risk from hurricanes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (82%), and Rotonda’s rate for it is in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Rotonda.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Rotonda’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.