Photo: Urbantallahassee · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA puts Tallahassee’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 79% of U.S. towns, led by river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Tallahassee gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 79% of U.S. towns, #319 of 638 in Florida. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (48%), then hurricanes (45%). Flood insurance has paid 458 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 Tallahassee’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Tallahassee faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
River and rain flooding
Hurricanes
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 Tallahassee’s grade
River and rain flooding is 48% of the building damage FEMA expects in Tallahassee, and Tallahassee’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 62% of U.S. census tracts. Hurricanes add 45%, at a rate in the top 8% of U.S. census tracts.
C− #319 of 638 in Florida; higher expected damage per building than 79% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Tallahassee’s residents live in 67 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, Tallahassee has less expected damage per building than 50% of Florida towns.
Among the 400 U.S. cities of 100,000 or more, Tallahassee has higher expected damage per building than 71% (#286 of 400). Because it is so big, its total expected yearly loss, $95.5M, is the 122th largest of those 400.
Does Tallahassee flood? Yes: 458 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Tallahassee, from FEMA’s records: 4.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 59% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Allison91 claims · $1.6M
- Tropical Storm Fay29 claims · $810K
- Tropical Storm Barry9 claims · $64K
Tallahassee is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 5) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Leon County.18 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Tallahassee
Disasters that paid out in Tallahassee itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Tallahassee), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Hurricane Helene4,755 households applied for aid$4.1M aid approved$3.7M to the City of Tallahassee for repairs
- 2024Hurricane Debby$126K to the City of Tallahassee for repairs
- 2024Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Tornadoes8,386 households applied for aid$9.7M aid approved$12.4M to the City of Tallahassee for repairs
- 2023Hurricane Idalia$3.1M to the City of Tallahassee for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2022Hurricane Ian10 households applied for aid$1K aid approved$21K to the City of Tallahassee for repairs
- 2018Hurricane Michael6,971 households applied for aid$924K aid approved$26.4M to the City of Tallahassee for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
Show all 18
- 2017Hurricane Irma19 households applied for aid$969 aid approved$4.1M to the City of Tallahassee for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2016Hurricane Hermine1,386 households applied for aid$498K aid approved$11.8M to the City of Tallahassee for repairs
- 2009Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Straight-line Winds49 households applied for aid$109K aid approved$403K to the City of Tallahassee for repairs9 flood claims paid that year
- 2008Tropical Storm Fay563 households applied for aid$764K aid approved$6.5M to the City of Tallahassee for repairs29 flood claims paid for it, $810K
- 2005Hurricane Rita1 households applied for aid$2K aid approved
- 2005Hurricane Dennis3 households applied for aid$2K aid approved$600K to the City of Tallahassee for repairs
- 2004Hurricane Jeanne$232K to the City of Tallahassee for repairs
- 2004Hurricane Ivan239 households applied for aid$319K aid approved$629K to the City of Tallahassee for repairs
- 2004Hurricane Frances$641K to the City of Tallahassee for repairs
- 2004Tropical Storm Bonnie and Hurricane Charley$6K to the City of Tallahassee for repairs
- 2001Tropical Storm Allison$1.1M to the City of Tallahassee for repairs91 flood claims paid for it, $1.6M
- 2000Tropical Storm Helene$3.5M to the City of Tallahassee for repairs27 flood claims paid that year
Leon County has had 25 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 1 FEMA wildfire suppression grant (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Leon County, 1999–1999.
Old photos of Tallahassee after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Tallahassee archive →Tallahassee and its neighbors
Tallahassee has the lowest expected damage per building of the 2 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tallahassee | C−more damage than 79% | river and rain flooding | 458 |
| Bradfordville | Dmore damage than 85% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Chaires | — | 588 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
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 Tallahassee faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Tallahassee 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 Tallahassee
Is Tallahassee at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Tallahassee has higher expected damage per building than 79% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk, #319 of 638 in Florida. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (48%) and hurricanes (45%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Tallahassee flood?
Flood insurance has paid 458 claims in Tallahassee since 1979, $7.4M in all, or 4.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 59% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 49 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Allison (91).
Is Tallahassee 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 Leon County, 40% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 2.7% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Tallahassee?
Tallahassee 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 Tallahassee?
By FEMA money that reached Tallahassee, Hurricane Michael (2018): 6,971 households applied for aid, $924K approved, and $26.4M to the City of Tallahassee for repairs. By flood claims, Tropical Storm Allison: 91 paid, $1.6M.
Is Tallahassee at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (48%), and Tallahassee’s rate for it is higher than 62% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Tallahassee.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Tallahassee’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.