Photo: User:Wknight94 · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Zephyrhills faces more hazard damage per building than 83% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Zephyrhills gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 83% of U.S. towns, #363 of 638 in Florida. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (56%), then hurricanes (38%). Flood insurance has paid 38 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 Zephyrhills’ natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Zephyrhills 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
Hurricanes
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 Zephyrhills’ grade
River and rain flooding is 56% of the building damage FEMA expects in Zephyrhills, and Zephyrhills’ rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 74% of U.S. census tracts. Hurricanes add 38%, at a rate in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts.
C− #363 of 638 in Florida; higher expected damage per building than 83% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Zephyrhills’ residents live in 14 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, Zephyrhills has more expected damage per building than 57% of Florida towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $8.5M a year in losses across Zephyrhills: $7.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Zephyrhills flood? Sometimes: 38 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Zephyrhills, from FEMA’s records: 3.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 54% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Milton30 claims · $3.9M
- Hurricane Frances3 claims · $74K
Zephyrhills isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Pasco County.11 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Zephyrhills
Disasters that paid out in Zephyrhills itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Zephyrhills), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Hurricane Milton11,648 households applied for aid$17.1M aid approved$2.5M to the City of Zephyrhills for repairs30 flood claims paid for it, $3.9M
- 2024Hurricane Helene1,380 households applied for aid$1.4M aid approved
- 2023Hurricane Idalia281 households applied for aid$106K aid approved
- 2022Hurricane Ian1,177 households applied for aid$750K aid approved
- 2017Hurricane Irma5,131 households applied for aid$1.9M aid approved$481K to the City of Zephyrhills for repairs
- 2016Hurricane Hermine19 households applied for aid$20K aid approved$46K to the City of Zephyrhills for repairs
Show all 11
- 2012Tropical Storm Debby57 households applied for aid$52K aid approved
- 2004Hurricane Jeanne789 households applied for aid$965K aid approved$66K to the City of Zephyrhills for repairs
- 2004Hurricane Ivan25 households applied for aid$3K aid approved
- 2004Hurricane Frances443 households applied for aid$683K aid approved$135K to the City of Zephyrhills for repairs3 flood claims paid for it, $74K
- 2004Tropical Storm Bonnie and Hurricane Charley30 households applied for aid$48K aid approved$4K to the City of Zephyrhills for repairs
Pasco County has had 33 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 Pasco County, 2000–2000.
Old photos of Zephyrhills after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Zephyrhills archive →Zephyrhills and its neighbors
Zephyrhills is 4th of the 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pasadena Hills | C−more damage than 78% | river and rain flooding | 22 |
| Zephyrhills South | C−more damage than 81% | river and rain flooding | 12 |
| Zephyrhills West | C−more damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | 19 |
| Zephyrhills | C−more damage than 83% | river and rain flooding | 38 |
| Zephyrhills North | Dmore damage than 87% | river and rain flooding | — |
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 Zephyrhills faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 Zephyrhills
Is Zephyrhills at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Zephyrhills has higher expected damage per building than 83% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk, #363 of 638 in Florida. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (56%) and hurricanes (38%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Zephyrhills flood?
Flood insurance has paid 38 claims in Zephyrhills since 1979, $4.1M in all, or 3.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 54% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Milton (30).
Is Zephyrhills 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 Pasco County, 47% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 10.3% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Zephyrhills?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Zephyrhills’ 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 Zephyrhills?
By FEMA money that reached Zephyrhills, Hurricane Milton (2024): 11,648 households applied for aid, $17.1M approved, and $2.5M to the City of Zephyrhills for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Milton: 30 paid, $3.9M.
Is Zephyrhills at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (56%), and Zephyrhills’ rate for it is higher than 74% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Zephyrhills.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Zephyrhills’ 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.