FEMA puts Williston Highlands’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 78% of U.S. towns, led by hurricanes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Williston Highlands gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 78% of U.S. towns, #292 of 638 in Florida. Most of that expected damage is hurricanes (48%), then river and rain flooding (42%). FEMA’s files show no paid flood insurance claims here.
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 Williston Highlands 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
Wildfire
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 Williston Highlands’ grade
Hurricanes are 48% of the building damage FEMA expects in Williston Highlands, and Williston Highlands’ rate of hurricanes damage is in the top 8% of U.S. census tracts. Wildfire adds 6%, at a rate in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts.
C− #292 of 638 in Florida; higher expected damage per building than 78% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Williston Highlands’ residents live in 2 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, Williston Highlands has less expected damage per building than 54% of Florida towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $785K a year in losses across Williston Highlands: $414K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Williston Highlands flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Williston Highlands. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Williston Highlands isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Levy County.The storms Williston Highlands remembers
None of the 31 disasters declared for Levy County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Williston Highlands itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
Levy County has had 31 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 Levy County, 1999–2026.
Get ready for what Williston Highlands 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.
- Clear dead leaves and brush within 5 feet of the house.
- Sign up for local alerts and know two ways out.
- Keep N95 masks for smoky days.
- 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 Williston Highlands
Is Williston Highlands at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Williston Highlands has higher expected damage per building than 78% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk, #292 of 638 in Florida. Most of the expected damage is hurricanes (48%) and river and rain flooding (42%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Williston Highlands 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 Levy County, 29% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 4.3% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Williston Highlands?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Williston Highlands’ flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Williston Highlands at risk from hurricanes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (48%), and Williston Highlands’ rate for it is in the top 8% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Williston Highlands.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Williston Highlands’ 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.