More hazard damage per building is expected in Wright than in 91% of U.S. towns, mostly from hurricanes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Wright gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 91% of U.S. towns, #484 of 638 in Florida. Most of that expected damage is hurricanes (76%), then river and rain flooding (20%). Flood insurance has paid 153 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 Wright’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Wright 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
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 Wright’s grade
Hurricanes are 76% of the building damage FEMA expects in Wright, and Wright’s rate of hurricanes damage is in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts. Next is river and rain flooding at 20% (lower than 72% of U.S. census tracts).
D #484 of 638 in Florida; higher expected damage per building than 91% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Wright’s residents live in 7 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, Wright has more expected damage per building than 76% of Florida towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $13.9M a year in losses across Wright: $10.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Wright flood? Yes: 153 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Wright, from FEMA’s records: 12.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 78% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Mid-spring storms31 claims · $1.2M
- Hurricane Sally23 claims · $1.0M
- Hurricane Ivan18 claims · $821K
Wright isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Okaloosa County.The storms Wright remembers
None of the 32 disasters declared for Okaloosa County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Wright itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 201433 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding, declared for Okaloosa County
- 202023 flood claims paidThe year of Hurricane Sally, declared for Okaloosa County
- 200420 flood claims paidThe year of Hurricane Ivan, declared for Okaloosa County
Okaloosa 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.
Old photos of Wright after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Wright archive →Wright and its neighbors
Wright is 4th of the 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hurlburt Field | Dmore damage than 89% | hurricanes | — |
| Fort Walton Beach | Dmore damage than 90% | hurricanes | 545 |
| Ocean City | Dmore damage than 90% | hurricanes | 227 |
| Wright | Dmore damage than 91% | hurricanes | 153 |
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 Wright 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.
- 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 Wright
Is Wright at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Wright has higher expected damage per building than 91% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #484 of 638 in Florida. Most of the expected damage is hurricanes (76%) and river and rain flooding (20%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Wright flood?
Flood insurance has paid 153 claims in Wright since 1979, $5.0M in all, or 12.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 78% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Mid-spring storms (31).
Is Wright 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 Okaloosa County, 74% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 10.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Wright?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Wright’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 Wright?
By flood claims, Mid-spring storms: 31 paid, $1.2M.
Is Wright at risk from hurricanes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (76%), and Wright’s rate for it is in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Wright.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Wright’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.