Guest, Sign inJoin

Post to Florida

We’ll email a one-tap link to publish your post. No password, and nothing is public until you click it.
Already a member? Sign in
Downtown Florida, NYPhoto: Daniel Case · CC BY-SA 3.0
A−Hazard risk
Natural hazards in Florida · FEMA

FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Florida than in 75% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Florida gets an A− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 75% of U.S. towns, #326 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (80%), then hurricanes (14%). Flood insurance has paid 16 claims here since 1980.

River and rain flooding 80%Hurricanes 14%Earthquakes 3%

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

less than 75%of U.S. townsLess damageMoreExpected yearly damage per dollar of building, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade#326 of 758 in New York
Hazard risk
A−#326 of 758
in New York · lower than 75% of U.S. towns
Main hazard
River and rain flooding
80% of expected building damage
Flood claims
16
paid since 1980 · $541K
Flooded more than once
1
properties
Disasters paid out here
9
of 25 declared for Orange County

What stands out about Florida’s natural hazards

From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.

Lower expected damage than 75% of U.S. townsFEMA’s model of yearly storm and flood damage per dollar of building.Moved out of harm’s way3 flood-prone properties bought out and cleared with FEMA grants.
By hazard

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

80%of expected building damage
About average · lower than 56% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 3 times a year in the area

Hurricanes

14%of expected building damage
Well above average · higher than 82% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about once every 12 years in the area
Smaller shares here
 Earthquakes Tornadoes Strong wind Ice storms Winter storms Lightning Hail Wildfire Cold waves Heat waves Landslides
FEMA models no building damage here
Coastal floodingAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity

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.

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.
Hazard risk grade

What’s behind Florida’s grade

River and rain flooding is 80% of the building damage FEMA expects in Florida, and Florida’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 56% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 14% (higher than 82% of U.S. census tracts).

Where Florida sits
Florida
Least damageMiddleMost damage

A− #326 of 758 in New York; lower expected damage per building than 75% of U.S. towns (21,298).

Florida’s residents live in 2 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.

What drives the damage to buildings
River and rain flooding80%Hurricanes14%Earthquakes3%Everything else3%

The typical New York town has lower expected damage than 69% of U.S. towns; within the state, Florida has less expected damage per building than 57% of New York towns.

In dollars, FEMA expects about $690K a year in losses across Florida: $537K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.

A small-area figure. Florida covers 2 census tracts, combined by where residents live. FEMA’s model is an average year for today’s buildings, not a record: the claims and disasters below are the record.

How TownRatings grades hazard risk →

Flood insurance claims

Does Florida flood? Sometimes: 16 flood claims since 1980

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Florida, from FEMA’s records: 16.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 81% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.

Paid flood claims, by year
1980: 2 claims1981: 0 claims1982: 0 claims1983: 0 claims1984: 1 claim1985: 0 claims1986: 0 claims1987: 2 claims1988: 0 claims1989: 0 claims1990: 0 claims1991: 0 claims1992: 0 claims1993: 0 claims1994: 0 claims1995: 0 claims1996: 2 claims1997: 0 claims1998: 0 claims1999: 2 claims2000: 0 claims2001: 0 claims2002: 0 claims2003: 0 claims2004: 0 claims2005: 2 claims2006: 0 claims2007: 0 claims2008: 0 claims2009: 0 claims2010: 0 claims2011: 4 claims2012: 0 claims2013: 0 claims2014: 0 claims2015: 0 claims2016: 0 claims2017: 0 claims2018: 0 claims2019: 0 claims2020: 0 claims2021: 1 claim2022: 0 claims2023: 0 claims2024: 0 claims2025: 0 claims2026: 0 claims198019872011
19802026
Biggest named events
  • Hurricane Irene4 claims · $404K
  • The Torrential rain2 claims · $11K
  • Hurricane Floyd2 claims · $72K
16
paid claims since 1980
$541K
paid to owners
1
homes flooded more than once
$34K
average claim
Homes that flooded again and again
FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (0)Flooded 2+ times
of homes in flood zones are insured
of all homes are insured
No community discount

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: Orange County.
What’s been done with FEMA grants
3flood-prone properties bought out and cleared
Disasters

9 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Florida

Disasters that paid out in Florida itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Village of Florida), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.

  1. 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida5 households applied for aid$3K aid approved$227K to the Village of Florida for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
  2. 2012Hurricane Sandy20 households applied for aid$1K aid approved
  3. 2011Remnants of Tropical Storm Lee3 households applied for aid$3K aid approved$2K to the Village of Florida for repairs
  4. 2011Hurricane Irene70 households applied for aid$158K aid approved$9K to the Village of Florida for repairs4 flood claims paid for it, $404K
  5. 2010Severe Storms and Flooding$6K to the Village of Florida for repairs
  6. 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding8 households applied for aid$8K aid approved$6K to the Village of Florida for repairs
Show all 9
  1. 2005Severe Storms and Flooding3 households applied for aid$3K aid approved2 flood claims paid that year
  2. 2003Snow$4K to the Village of Florida for repairs
  3. 2002Snowstorms$4K to the Village of Florida for repairs
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in FloridaOrange County only

Orange County has had 25 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.

Also 2 FEMA wildfire suppression grants (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Orange County, 1999–2024.

Were you here?

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 →
Next door

Florida and its neighbors

Florida is 2nd of the 3 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.

Warwick: hazard risk BGoshen: hazard risk AWarwickGoshenFlorida
Lowest fifthSecondMiddleFourthHighest fifth
TownHazard riskMostly (buildings)Flood claims
GoshenAless damage than 93%river and rain flooding38
FloridaA−less damage than 75%river and rain flooding16
WarwickBless damage than 56%river and rain flooding39

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.

Be ready

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.

When the river rises
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Hurricane season
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Before you buy or rent
  • 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.
When a storm is coming
Forecast and alertsWeather →911, the nearest ERSafety →

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 75% of U.S. towns: A− for hazard risk, #326 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (80%) and hurricanes (14%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.

Does Florida flood?

Flood insurance has paid 16 claims in Florida since 1980, $541K in all, or 16.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 81% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Irene (4).

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 Orange County, 31% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.9% 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, Remnants of Hurricane Ida (2021): 5 households applied for aid, $3K approved, and $227K to the Village of Florida for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Irene: 4 paid, $404K.

Is Florida at risk from river and rain flooding?

It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (80%), and Florida’s rate for it is lower than 56% of U.S. census tracts.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Florida.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

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.