Erie Canal · Public domainLess hazard damage per building is expected in Florida than in 60% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Florida gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns, #449 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (91%). Flood insurance has paid 4 claims here since 1980.
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 Florida’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Florida 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
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 Florida’s grade
River and rain flooding is 91% of the building damage FEMA expects in Florida, and Florida’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 66% of U.S. census tracts. Landslides add 1%, at a rate in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
B #449 of 758 in New York; lower expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Florida’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
The typical New York town has lower expected damage than 69% of U.S. towns; within the state, Florida has more expected damage per building than 59% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $943K a year in losses across Florida: $783K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Florida flood? Rarely: 4 flood claims since 1980
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Florida, from FEMA’s records: 3.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 51% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Irene2 claims · $32K
Florida isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Montgomery County.6 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Florida
Disasters that paid out in Florida itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Florida), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2017Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$10K to the Town of Florida for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene1 households applied for aid$67K to the Town of Florida for repairs2 flood claims paid for it, $32K
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding$40K to the Town of Florida for repairs
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding$70K to the Town of Florida for repairs
- 2002Snowstorms$28K to the Town of Florida for repairs
- 2000Severe Storms and Flooding$5K to the Town of Florida for repairs
Montgomery County has had 19 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then hurricanes and tropical storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees; the 2001 World Trade Center declarations.
Old photos of Florida after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Florida archive →Florida and its neighbors
Florida is 6th of the 9 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duanesburg | Aless damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
| Rotterdam | A−less damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | 39 |
| Princetown | A−less damage than 75% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Amsterdam | Bless damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
| Charleston | Bless damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 12 |
| Florida | Bless damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Glen | C+more damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
| Mohawk | Cmore damage than 69% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Amsterdam | Cmore damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| Fort Johnson | — | 364 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Tribes Hill | — | 959 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 Florida 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.
- 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 Florida
Is Florida at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Florida has lower expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #449 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (91%). The figures are for the one census tract the town shares with its neighbors. This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Florida flood?
Flood insurance has paid 4 claims in Florida since 1980, $55K in all, or 3.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 51% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Irene (2).
Is Florida 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 Montgomery County, 23% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.8% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Florida?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Florida’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 Florida?
By FEMA money that reached Florida, Severe Storms and Flooding (2005): $70K to the Town of Florida for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Irene: 2 paid, $32K.
Is Florida at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (91%), and Florida’s rate for it is higher than 66% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Florida.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Florida’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.