FEMA puts Little Cypress’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 86% of U.S. towns, mostly from hurricanes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Little Cypress gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is hurricanes (54%), then river and rain flooding (34%). 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 Little Cypress 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
Tornadoes
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 Little Cypress’ grade
Hurricanes are 54% of the building damage FEMA expects in Little Cypress, and Little Cypress’ rate of hurricanes damage is in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 3%, at a rate in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts.
D higher expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Little Cypress’ residents live in 4 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.1M a year in losses across Little Cypress: $775K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Little Cypress flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Little Cypress. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Little Cypress 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.The storms Little Cypress remembers
None of the 24 disasters declared for Orange County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Little Cypress itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
Orange County has had 24 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.
Little Cypress and its neighbors
Little Cypress has the lowest expected damage per building of the 2 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Little Cypress | Dmore damage than 86% | hurricanes | 0 |
| Orange | Dmore damage than 88% | hurricanes | 1,555 |
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 Little Cypress 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.
- Pick your spot now: the lowest floor, an inside room, no windows.
- A watch means be ready; a warning means take cover now.
- Keep shoes and a flashlight by the bed.
- 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 Little Cypress
Is Little Cypress at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Little Cypress has higher expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is hurricanes (54%) and river and rain flooding (34%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Little Cypress 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, 29.8% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Little Cypress?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Little Cypress’ flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Little Cypress at risk from hurricanes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (54%), and Little Cypress’ rate for it is in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Little Cypress.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Little Cypress’ 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.