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AndrewsCenterPhoto: StarkeDCD · CC BY-SA 4.0
C−Hazard risk
Natural hazards in Starke · FEMA

On FEMA’s figures, Starke faces more hazard damage per building than 84% of U.S. towns, mostly from hurricanes

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Starke gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 84% of U.S. towns, #366 of 638 in Florida. Most of that expected damage is hurricanes (58%), then river and rain flooding (36%). Flood insurance has paid 22 claims here since 1980.

Hurricanes 58%River and rain flooding 36%Tornadoes 3%

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

more than 84%of U.S. townsLess damageMoreExpected yearly damage per dollar of building, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade#366 of 638 in Florida
Hazard risk
C−#366 of 638
in Florida · higher than 84% of U.S. towns
Main hazard
Hurricanes
58% of expected building damage
Flood claims
22
paid since 1980 · $854K
Flooded more than once
3
properties
Disasters paid out here
9
of 20 declared for Bradford County

What stands out about Starke’s natural hazards

From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.

Made safer with FEMA grants4 buildings retrofitted against wind; 2 homes raised above flood level; 1 storm safe room built with FEMA grants.Remembers 20177 flood claims were paid for 2017 alone, the most of any year.
By hazard

What Starke faces

Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.

Hurricanes

58%of expected building damage
Well above average · in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about once every 5 years in the area

River and rain flooding

36%of expected building damage
About average · lower than 55% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about once every 2 years in the area
Smaller shares here
 Tornadoes Wildfire Earthquakes Strong wind Lightning Hail Winter storms Cold waves Heat waves Landslides
FEMA models no building damage here
Coastal floodingIce stormsAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity

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.

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.
Hazard risk grade

What’s behind Starke’s grade

Hurricanes are 58% of the building damage FEMA expects in Starke, and Starke’s rate of hurricanes damage is in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts. Wildfire adds 2%, at a rate in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts.

Where Starke sits
Starke
Least damageMiddleMost damage

C− #366 of 638 in Florida; higher expected damage per building than 84% of U.S. towns (21,298).

Starke’s residents live in 3 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.

What drives the damage to buildings
Hurricanes58%River and rain flooding36%Tornadoes3%Everything else3%

The typical Florida town has higher expected damage than 79% of U.S. towns; within the state, Starke has more expected damage per building than 57% of Florida towns.

In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.3M a year in losses across Starke: $1.9M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.

Recent disaster.FEMA’s model looks at expected damage to the buildings standing today. After Hurricane Irma in 2017, FEMA took 2,359 aid registrations from Starke addresses (the town has 2,583 homes) and flood insurance paid 7 claims for $644K.
A small-area figure. Starke covers 3 census tracts, combined by where residents live. FEMA’s model is an average year for today’s buildings, not a record: the claims and disasters below are the record.

How TownRatings grades hazard risk →

Flood insurance claims

Does Starke flood? Sometimes: 22 flood claims since 1980

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Starke, from FEMA’s records: 8.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 71% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.

Paid flood claims, by year
1980: 1 claim1981: 0 claims1982: 1 claim1983: 0 claims1984: 0 claims1985: 0 claims1986: 0 claims1987: 0 claims1988: 0 claims1989: 0 claims1990: 0 claims1991: 0 claims1992: 0 claims1993: 0 claims1994: 0 claims1995: 0 claims1996: 0 claims1997: 0 claims1998: 2 claims1999: 0 claims2000: 0 claims2001: 0 claims2002: 0 claims2003: 0 claims2004: 0 claims2005: 0 claims2006: 0 claims2007: 0 claims2008: 0 claims2009: 0 claims2010: 0 claims2011: 0 claims2012: 5 claims2013: 3 claims2014: 0 claims2015: 1 claim2016: 1 claim2017: 7 claims2018: 0 claims2019: 0 claims2020: 0 claims2021: 0 claims2022: 0 claims2023: 0 claims2024: 1 claim2025: 0 claims2026: 0 claims201220132017
19802026
Biggest named events
  • Hurricane Irma7 claims · $644K
  • Tropical Storm Debby4 claims · $68K
  • Hurricane Debby1 claim · $33K
22
paid claims since 1980
$854K
paid to owners
3
homes flooded more than once
$39K
average claim
Homes that flooded again and again
FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (0)Flooded 2+ times
of homes in flood zones are insured
of all homes are insured
No community discount

Starke isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: Bradford County.
What’s been done with FEMA grants
4buildings retrofitted against wind
2homes raised above flood level
1storm safe room built
Disasters

9 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Starke

Disasters that paid out in Starke itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Starke), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.

  1. 2024Hurricane Helene617 households applied for aid$1.4M aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
  2. 2022Hurricane Ian$38K to the City of Starke for repairs
  3. 2017Hurricane Irma2,359 households applied for aid$1.9M aid approved$449K to the City of Starke for repairs7 flood claims paid for it, $644K
  4. 2016Hurricane Matthew$50K to the City of Starke for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
  5. 2012Tropical Storm Debby467 households applied for aid$616K aid approved$28K to the City of Starke for repairs4 flood claims paid for it, $68K
  6. 2008Tropical Storm Fay180 households applied for aid$24K aid approved$53K to the City of Starke for repairs
Show all 9
  1. 2004Hurricane Jeanne916 households applied for aid$1.5M aid approved$96K to the City of Starke for repairs
  2. 2004Hurricane Frances805 households applied for aid$1.4M aid approved$49K to the City of Starke for repairs
  3. 2004Tropical Storm Bonnie and Hurricane Charley1 households applied for aid$4K to the City of Starke for repairs
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in StarkeBradford County only

Bradford County has had 20 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 Bradford County, 1999–2007.

Were you here?

Old photos of Starke after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.

Add to the Starke archive →
Be ready

Get ready for what Starke faces

A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.

Hurricane season
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
When the river rises
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Before you buy or rent
  • 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.
When a storm is coming
Forecast and alertsWeather →911, the nearest ERSafety →

Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.

Questions about natural hazards in Starke

Is Starke at risk for natural disasters?

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Starke has higher expected damage per building than 84% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk, #366 of 638 in Florida. Most of the expected damage is hurricanes (58%) and river and rain flooding (36%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.

Does Starke flood?

Flood insurance has paid 22 claims in Starke since 1980, $854K in all, or 8.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 71% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 3 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Irma (7).

Is Starke 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 Bradford County, 27% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 4.0% of all homes do.

How much is flood insurance in Starke?

FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Starke’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 Starke?

By FEMA money that reached Starke, Hurricane Irma (2017): 2,359 households applied for aid, $1.9M approved, and $449K to the City of Starke for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Irma: 7 paid, $644K.

Is Starke at risk from hurricanes?

It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (58%), and Starke’s rate for it is in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Starke.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Starke’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.