Photo: Connor J. Williams · CC BY 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Wildwood faces more hazard damage per building than 70% of U.S. towns, led by hurricanes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Wildwood gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 70% of U.S. towns, #176 of 638 in Florida. Most of that expected damage is hurricanes (47%), then river and rain flooding (41%). Flood insurance has paid 12 claims here since 1998.
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 Wildwood 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
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 Wildwood’s grade
Hurricanes are 47% of the building damage FEMA expects in Wildwood, and Wildwood’s rate of hurricanes damage is in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts. Wildfire adds 4%, at a rate in the top 8% of U.S. census tracts.
C #176 of 638 in Florida; higher expected damage per building than 70% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Wildwood’s 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, Wildwood has less expected damage per building than 73% of Florida towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $5.0M a year in losses across Wildwood: $4.0M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Wildwood flood? Sometimes: 12 flood claims since 1998
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Wildwood, from FEMA’s records: 1.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 76% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Milton10 claims · $88K
Wildwood isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Sumter County.9 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Wildwood
Disasters that paid out in Wildwood itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Wildwood), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Hurricane Milton884 households applied for aid$1.2M aid approved$348K to the City of Wildwood for repairs10 flood claims paid for it, $88K
- 2024Hurricane Helene$104K to the City of Wildwood for repairs
- 2024Hurricane Debby$54K to the City of Wildwood for repairs
- 2023Hurricane Idalia$32K to the City of Wildwood for repairs
- 2022Hurricane Ian$69K to the City of Wildwood for repairs
- 2017Hurricane Irma1,833 households applied for aid$727K aid approved$164K to the City of Wildwood for repairs
Show all 9
- 2007Severe Storms and Tornadoes30 households applied for aid$93K aid approved
- 2004Hurricane Jeanne505 households applied for aid$770K aid approved$62K to the City of Wildwood for repairs
- 2004Hurricane Frances446 households applied for aid$643K aid approved$117K to the City of Wildwood for repairs
Sumter County has had 23 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 Sumter County, 2000–2000.
Old photos of Wildwood after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Wildwood archive →Wildwood and its neighbors
Wildwood is 2nd of the 3 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leesburg | Bless damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
| Wildwood | Cmore damage than 70% | hurricanes | 12 |
| The Villages | Cmore damage than 75% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Coleman | — | 705 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 Wildwood 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.
- 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.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Wildwood
Is Wildwood at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Wildwood has higher expected damage per building than 70% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #176 of 638 in Florida. Most of the expected damage is hurricanes (47%) and river and rain flooding (41%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Wildwood flood?
Flood insurance has paid 12 claims in Wildwood since 1998, $110K in all, or 1.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 76% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Hurricane Milton (10).
Is Wildwood 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 Sumter County, 39% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 4.1% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Wildwood?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Wildwood’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 Wildwood?
By FEMA money that reached Wildwood, Hurricane Milton (2024): 884 households applied for aid, $1.2M approved, and $348K to the City of Wildwood for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Milton: 10 paid, $88K.
Is Wildwood at risk from hurricanes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (47%), and Wildwood’s rate for it is in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Wildwood.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Wildwood’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.