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Brick building along commercial strip - Welaka, FloridaPhoto: Unknown authorUnknown author · Public domain
–Not graded
Natural hazards in Welaka · FEMA

Storms, floods and disasters in Welaka

Welaka isn’t graded for hazard risk: FEMA’s tract figures aren’t matched to Welaka yet. Flood insurance has paid 13 claims here since 2004.

Flood claims
13
paid since 2004 · $356K
Disasters paid out here
11
of 26 declared for Putnam County
By hazard

What Welaka 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

58%of expected building damage
Well above average · higher than 87% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about once every 2 years in the area

Hurricanes

30%of expected building damage
Well above average · in the top 8% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about once every 4 years in the area
Smaller shares here
 Coastal flooding top 2% Wildfire Tornadoes Strong wind Earthquakes Lightning Hail Cold waves Heat waves Landslides
FEMA models no building damage here
Winter stormsIce 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.
Flood insurance claims

Does Welaka flood? Sometimes: 13 flood claims since 2004

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Welaka, from FEMA’s records.

Paid flood claims, by year
2004: 1 claim2005: 0 claims2006: 0 claims2007: 0 claims2008: 0 claims2009: 0 claims2010: 0 claims2011: 0 claims2012: 0 claims2013: 0 claims2014: 0 claims2015: 0 claims2016: 0 claims2017: 11 claims2018: 0 claims2019: 0 claims2020: 0 claims2021: 0 claims2022: 0 claims2023: 0 claims2024: 1 claim2025: 0 claims2026: 0 claims200420172024
20042026
Biggest named events
  • Hurricane Irma11 claims · $332K
  • Hurricane Milton1 claim · $14K
  • Hurricane Jeanne1 claim · $10K
13
paid claims since 2004
$356K
paid to owners
0
homes flooded more than once
$27K
average claim
of homes in flood zones are insured
of all homes are insured
No community discount

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

Insurance rates: Putnam County.
Disasters

11 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Welaka

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

  1. 2024Hurricane Milton62 households applied for aid$129K aid approved1 flood claim paid for it, $14K
  2. 2024Hurricane Helene19 households applied for aid$12K aid approved
  3. 2022Hurricane Nicole11 households applied for aid$8K aid approved
  4. 2022Hurricane Ian91 households applied for aid$40K aid approved$99K to the Town of Welaka for repairs
  5. 2017Hurricane Irma229 households applied for aid$222K aid approved$70K to the Town of Welaka for repairs11 flood claims paid for it, $332K
  6. 2016Hurricane Matthew18 households applied for aid$11K aid approved$14K to the Town of Welaka for repairs
Show all 11
  1. 2009Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Straight-line Winds$25K to the Town of Welaka for repairs
  2. 2008Tropical Storm Fay$4K to the Town of Welaka for repairs
  3. 2004Hurricane Jeanne97 households applied for aid$122K aid approved$40K to the Town of Welaka for repairs1 flood claim paid for it, $10K
  4. 2004Hurricane Frances127 households applied for aid$139K aid approved$351K to the Town of Welaka for repairs
  5. 2001Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding Associated with Tropical Storm Gabrielle$64K to the Town of Welaka for repairs
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in WelakaPutnam County only

Putnam County has had 26 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 Putnam County, 1999–2026.

Were you here?

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

Add to the Welaka archive →
Be ready

Get ready for what Welaka faces

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

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 ↗
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 ↗
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 Welaka

Does Welaka flood?

Flood insurance has paid 13 claims in Welaka since 2004, $356K in all. The most claims came from Hurricane Irma (11).

Is Welaka 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 Putnam County, 20% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 2.6% of all homes do.

How much is flood insurance in Welaka?

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

By FEMA money that reached Welaka, Hurricane Frances (2004): 127 households applied for aid, $139K approved, and $351K to the Town of Welaka for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Irma: 11 paid, $332K.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Welaka.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

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