Photo: AbeEzekowitz at English Wikipedia · CC BY 2.5More hazard damage per building is expected in Tarpon Springs than in 68% of U.S. towns, led by hurricanes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Tarpon Springs gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns, #160 of 638 in Florida. Most of that expected damage is hurricanes (46%), then river and rain flooding (31%). Flood insurance has paid 1,116 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 Tarpon Springs’ natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Tarpon Springs 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
Coastal 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 Tarpon Springs’ grade
Hurricanes are 46% of the building damage FEMA expects in Tarpon Springs, and Tarpon Springs’ rate of hurricanes damage is in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 17%, at a rate in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
C #160 of 638 in Florida; higher expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Tarpon Springs’ residents live in 8 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, Tarpon Springs has less expected damage per building than 75% of Florida towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $9.4M a year in losses across Tarpon Springs: $7.2M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Tarpon Springs flood? Yes: 1,116 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Tarpon Springs, from FEMA’s records: 83.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 95% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Helene581 claims · $44.3M
- The Blizzard of 1993184 claims · $3.4M
- Hurricane Josephine79 claims · $1.1M
Tarpon Springs is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 5) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Pinellas County.11 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Tarpon Springs
Disasters that paid out in Tarpon Springs itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Tarpon Springs), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Hurricane Milton2,463 households applied for aid$1.3M aid approved$2.5M to the City of Tarpon Springs for repairs
- 2024Hurricane Helene2,105 households applied for aid$9.4M aid approved$522K to the City of Tarpon Springs for repairs581 flood claims paid for it, $44.3M
- 2024Hurricane Debby96 households applied for aid$68K aid approved42 flood claims paid for it, $875K
- 2023Hurricane Idalia370 households applied for aid$681K aid approved$167K to the City of Tarpon Springs for repairs68 flood claims paid for it, $4.7M
- 2022Hurricane Ian696 households applied for aid$152K aid approved$269K to the City of Tarpon Springs for repairs
- 2017Hurricane Irma4,043 households applied for aid$1.1M aid approved$1.8M to the City of Tarpon Springs for repairs6 flood claims paid that year
Show all 11
- 2016Hurricane Hermine27 households applied for aid$28K aid approved$21K to the City of Tarpon Springs for repairs16 flood claims paid that year
- 2012Tropical Storm Debby86 households applied for aid$170K aid approved$14K to the City of Tarpon Springs for repairs42 flood claims paid for it, $875K
- 2004Hurricane Jeanne185 households applied for aid$94K aid approved$259K to the City of Tarpon Springs for repairs
- 2004Hurricane Frances80 households applied for aid$86K aid approved$681K to the City of Tarpon Springs for repairs
- 2004Tropical Storm Bonnie and Hurricane Charley$46K to the City of Tarpon Springs for repairs
Pinellas County has had 32 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 Pinellas County, 1999–2001.
Old photos of Tarpon Springs after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Tarpon Springs archive →Tarpon Springs and its neighbors
Tarpon Springs has the lowest expected damage per building of the 4 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tarpon Springs | Cmore damage than 68% | hurricanes | 1,116 |
| Palm Harbor | Cmore damage than 69% | hurricanes | 1,678 |
| Holiday | Cmore damage than 71% | river and rain flooding | 351 |
| East Lake | C−more damage than 79% | river and rain flooding | 52 |
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 Tarpon Springs 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.
- Know your evacuation zone and the way off the coast.
- Storm surge comes fast: leave when you’re told, not when the water arrives.
- Move cars to high ground before king tides and nor’easters.
- 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.
- Tarpon Springs 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 Tarpon Springs
Is Tarpon Springs at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Tarpon Springs has higher expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #160 of 638 in Florida. Most of the expected damage is hurricanes (46%) and river and rain flooding (31%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Tarpon Springs flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1,116 claims in Tarpon Springs since 1979, $56.3M in all, or 83.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 95% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 126 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Helene (581).
Is Tarpon Springs 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 Pinellas County, 19.4% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Tarpon Springs?
Tarpon Springs 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 Tarpon Springs?
By FEMA money that reached Tarpon Springs, Hurricane Helene (2024): 2,105 households applied for aid, $9.4M approved, and $522K to the City of Tarpon Springs for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Helene: 581 paid, $44.3M.
Is Tarpon Springs at risk from hurricanes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (46%), and Tarpon Springs’ rate for it is in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Tarpon Springs.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Tarpon Springs’ 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.