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Downtown Tampa, FloridaPhoto: Clément Bardot · CC BY-SA 4.0
CHazard risk
Natural hazards in Tampa · FEMA

FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Tampa than in 67% of U.S. towns; 7,067 flood claims have been paid there

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Tampa gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 67% of U.S. towns, #146 of 638 in Florida. Most of that expected damage is hurricanes (51%), then river and rain flooding (37%). Flood insurance has paid 7,067 claims here since 1979.

Hurricanes 51%River and rain flooding 37%Tornadoes 7%

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 67%of U.S. townsLess damageMoreExpected yearly damage per dollar of building, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade#146 of 638 in Florida
Hazard risk
C#146 of 638
in Florida · higher than 67% of U.S. towns
Main hazard
Hurricanes
51% of expected building damage
Flood claims
7,067
paid since 1979 · $588M
Flooded more than once
522
properties · 153 “severe repetitive loss”
Flood insurance
25% off
Community discount (class 5)

What stands out about Tampa’s natural hazards

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

7,067 paid flood claims since 1979$588M in all; 522 properties flooded more than once. More per home than 91% of U.S. towns.25% off flood insuranceFlood-proofing work earns Tampa residents a discount through FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 5).Made safer with FEMA grants55 homes raised above flood level; 29 buildings retrofitted against wind; 15 flood-prone properties bought out and cleared; 2 storm safe rooms built with FEMA grants.Remembers 20244,170 flood claims were paid for 2024 alone, the most of any year.
By hazard

What Tampa faces

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

Hurricanes

51%of expected building damage
Well above average · in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about once every 4 years in the area

River and rain flooding

37%of expected building damage
Below average · lower than 68% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Tornadoes

7%of expected building damage
Above average · higher than 70% of U.S. census tracts
Smaller shares here
 Coastal flooding top 4% Hail Wildfire Strong wind Earthquakes Cold waves Lightning Heat waves Landslides
FEMA models no building damage here
Winter stormsIce stormsAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity
People, not buildings.Counting harm to people as well as buildings, FEMA’s model puts cold waves at 10% of Tampa’s expected losses. Cold waves do little damage to buildings (0.1%), so they aren’t part of the grade.

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 Tampa’s grade

Hurricanes are 51% of the building damage FEMA expects in Tampa, and Tampa’s rate of hurricanes damage is in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 3%, at a rate in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.

Where Tampa sits
Tampa
Least damageMiddleMost damage

C #146 of 638 in Florida; higher expected damage per building than 67% of U.S. towns (21,298).

Tampa’s residents live in 119 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.

What drives the damage to buildings
Hurricanes51%River and rain flooding37%Tornadoes7%Everything else6%

The typical Florida town has higher expected damage than 79% of U.S. towns; within the state, Tampa has less expected damage per building than 77% of Florida towns.

Among the 400 U.S. cities of 100,000 or more, Tampa has higher expected damage per building than 60% (#241 of 400). Because it is so big, its total expected yearly loss, $134M, is the 75th largest of those 400.

Recent disaster.FEMA’s model looks at expected damage to the buildings standing today. After Hurricane Milton in 2024, FEMA took 136,872 aid registrations from Tampa addresses (the town has 182,425 homes) and flood insurance paid 639 claims for $55.6M.
Model and record.Most of Tampa’s paid flood claims (3,484 of 7,067) came from Hurricane Helene (2024), a coastal storm. FEMA’s model spreads coastal flood damage over all of the city’s buildings, most of them far from the water, so coastal flooding is 3.3% of the citywide figure.
A firm figure. It combines 119 census tracts by where Tampa’s 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 Tampa flood? Yes: 7,067 flood claims since 1979

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Tampa, from FEMA’s records: 38.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 91% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.

Paid flood claims, by year
1979: 137 claims1980: 1 claim1981: 8 claims1982: 167 claims1983: 2 claims1984: 0 claims1985: 676 claims1986: 2 claims1987: 6 claims1988: 131 claims1989: 6 claims1990: 0 claims1991: 11 claims1992: 1 claim1993: 106 claims1994: 4 claims1995: 17 claims1996: 393 claims1997: 81 claims1998: 34 claims1999: 3 claims2000: 16 claims2001: 21 claims2002: 15 claims2003: 10 claims2004: 297 claims2005: 2 claims2006: 31 claims2007: 4 claims2008: 3 claims2009: 18 claims2010: 5 claims2011: 13 claims2012: 47 claims2013: 4 claims2014: 16 claims2015: 295 claims2016: 12 claims2017: 41 claims2018: 3 claims2019: 5 claims2020: 82 claims2021: 6 claims2022: 5 claims2023: 156 claims2024: 4,170 claims2025: 2 claims2026: 2 claims198519962024
19792026
Biggest named events
  • Hurricane Helene3,484 claims · $469M
  • Hurricane Elena670 claims · $9.7M
  • Hurricane Milton639 claims · $55.6M
7,067
paid claims since 1979
$588M
paid to owners
522
homes flooded more than once
$83K
average claim
Homes that flooded again and again
Each house = 9 homesFEMA “severe repetitive loss” (153)Flooded 2+ times
of homes in flood zones are insured
of all homes are insured
Community discount25% off flood insurance

Tampa is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 5) for its flood-proofing work.

Insurance rates: Hillsborough County.
What’s been done with FEMA grants
55homes raised above flood level
29buildings retrofitted against wind
15flood-prone properties bought out and cleared
2storm safe rooms built
Disasters

13 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Tampa

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

  1. 2024Hurricane Milton136,872 households applied for aid$95.5M aid approved$34.5M to the City of Tampa for repairs639 flood claims paid for it, $55.6M
  2. 2024Hurricane Helene45,843 households applied for aid$90.5M aid approved$1.5M to the City of Tampa for repairs3,484 flood claims paid for it, $469M
  3. 2024Hurricane Debby3,748 households applied for aid$2.4M aid approved
  4. 2023Hurricane Idalia4,702 households applied for aid$1.7M aid approved$3.1M to the City of Tampa for repairs152 flood claims paid for it, $13.7M
  5. 2022Hurricane Ian58,777 households applied for aid$20.1M aid approved$9.3M to the City of Tampa for repairs5 flood claims paid that year
  6. 2017Hurricane Irma84,916 households applied for aid$24.8M aid approved$13.4M to the City of Tampa for repairs41 flood claims paid that year
Show all 13
  1. 2016Hurricane Hermine104 households applied for aid$60K aid approved12 flood claims paid that year
  2. 2012Tropical Storm Debby320 households applied for aid$350K aid approved47 flood claims paid that year
  3. 2008Tropical Storm Fay$73K to the City of Tampa for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
  4. 2004Hurricane Jeanne3,503 households applied for aid$3.5M aid approved$3.5M to the City of Tampa for repairs
  5. 2004Hurricane Frances2,739 households applied for aid$3.1M aid approved$3.8M to the City of Tampa for repairs234 flood claims paid for it, $5.3M
  6. 2004Tropical Storm Bonnie and Hurricane Charley$580K to the City of Tampa for repairs
  7. 2000Snow$4K to the City of Tampa for repairs16 flood claims paid that year
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in TampaHillsborough County only

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.

Were you here?

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

Add to the Tampa archive →
Next door

Tampa and its neighbors

Tampa is 5th of the 11 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.

Lutz: hazard risk CPalm River-Clair Mel: hazard risk C+Town 'n' Country: hazard risk CEast Lake-Orient Park: hazard risk CEgypt Lake-Leto: hazard risk C+Lake Magdalene: hazard risk CTemple Terrace: hazard risk C−Carrollwood: hazard risk CPebble Creek: hazard risk C−University: hazard risk C+LutzPalm River-Clair MelTown 'n' CountryEast Lake-Orient ParkEgypt Lake-LetoLake MagdaleneTemple TerraceCarrollwoodPebble CreekUniversityTampa
Lowest fifthSecondMiddleFourthHighest fifth
TownHazard riskMostly (buildings)Flood claims
Egypt Lake-LetoC+more damage than 60%hurricanes128
Palm River-Clair MelC+more damage than 65%hurricanes257
UniversityC+more damage than 65%hurricanes87
Lake MagdaleneCmore damage than 66%hurricanes134
TampaCmore damage than 67%hurricanes7,067
Town 'n' CountryCmore damage than 68%hurricanes2,203
East Lake-Orient ParkCmore damage than 68%hurricanes22
CarrollwoodCmore damage than 70%hurricanes90
LutzCmore damage than 71%hurricanes72
Pebble CreekC−more damage than 78%river and rain flooding1
Temple TerraceC−more damage than 79%river and rain flooding38

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.

Be ready

Get ready for what Tampa 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 ↗
Tornado warnings
  • 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.
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.
  • Tampa residents get 25% off flood insurance.
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 Tampa

Is Tampa at risk for natural disasters?

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Tampa has higher expected damage per building than 67% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #146 of 638 in Florida. Most of the expected damage is hurricanes (51%) and river and rain flooding (37%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.

Does Tampa flood?

Flood insurance has paid 7,067 claims in Tampa since 1979, $588M in all, or 38.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 91% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 522 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Helene (3,484).

Is Tampa 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 Tampa?

Tampa 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 Tampa?

By FEMA money that reached Tampa, Hurricane Milton (2024): 136,872 households applied for aid, $95.5M approved, and $34.5M to the City of Tampa for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Helene: 3,484 paid, $469M.

Is Tampa at risk from hurricanes?

It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (51%), and Tampa’s rate for it is in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Tampa.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

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