Flood Help Guide

Florida flood insurance and flood history

From FEMA's flood insurance and disaster data · Updated 2026-10-08

448,618NFIP flood claims since 1978
$19.4 billionPaid on those claims
$101,497Average paid claimlast 10 years
13.7%Homes with NFIP flood insurance
16Flood disaster declarationssince 2000

FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) data lists 448,618 flood insurance claims in Florida since 1978. The NFIP paid $19.4 billion on them (building, contents and Increased Cost of Compliance payments, in the dollars of the year paid).

The year with the most claims was 2024, with 80,446, mostly from Hurricane Helene.

In the last ten years (2017–2026) there were 190,644 claims, and the average paid claim was $101,497.

15% of the claims with a recorded flood zone came from buildings outside FEMA's high-risk zones (rated zones B, C and X).

About 13.7% of homes in Florida had an NFIP flood policy in FEMA's latest count (1,040,464 of 7,585,072 residential buildings). In the high-risk flood zones (Special Flood Hazard Areas), it was 67% (674,369 of 1,007,351).

Since 2000, FEMA has made 16 flood-related disaster declarations covering parts of Florida. The most recent was DR-4834-FL (Hurricane Milton), declared October 11, 2024.

Flood insurance claims in Florida by year

NFIP flood claims per year in Florida, 1978 to 2026025k50k75k100k1978: 450 claims, $952,710 paid1979: 6,744 claims, $17.3 million paid1980: 828 claims, $933,927 paid19801981: 2,728 claims, $2.0 million paid1982: 5,548 claims, $12.8 million paid1983: 1,025 claims, $1.4 million paid1984: 1,437 claims, $4.1 million paid1985: 12,003 claims, $87.4 million paid1986: 678 claims, $2.0 million paid1987: 624 claims, $1.4 million paid1988: 3,209 claims, $12.0 million paid1989: 440 claims, $2.0 million paid1990: 276 claims, $1.6 million paid19901991: 2,242 claims, $10.0 million paid1992: 11,664 claims, $158.2 million paid1993: 10,757 claims, $200.3 million paid1994: 3,970 claims, $19.8 million paid1995: 17,520 claims, $423.4 million paid1996: 8,363 claims, $105.7 million paid1997: 2,577 claims, $12.3 million paid1998: 14,948 claims, $101.8 million paid1999: 24,751 claims, $137.9 million paid2000: 13,847 claims, $166.7 million paid20002001: 5,224 claims, $45.4 million paid2002: 1,536 claims, $8.4 million paid2003: 2,106 claims, $14.0 million paid2004: 34,726 claims, $1.3 billion paid2005: 32,420 claims, $628.8 million paid2006: 1,033 claims, $10.5 million paid2007: 984 claims, $7.1 million paid2008: 4,424 claims, $62.3 million paid2009: 3,511 claims, $73.0 million paid2010: 910 claims, $4.4 million paid20102011: 2,157 claims, $27.2 million paid2012: 5,369 claims, $74.5 million paid2013: 2,154 claims, $34.8 million paid2014: 3,960 claims, $124.8 million paid2015: 1,993 claims, $27.2 million paid2016: 8,838 claims, $292.1 million paid2017: 31,430 claims, $1.0 billion paid2018: 5,100 claims, $244.0 million paid2019: 1,193 claims, $27.8 million paid2020: 9,992 claims, $319.0 million paid20202021: 933 claims, $17.8 million paid2022: 50,324 claims, $4.9 billion paid2023: 10,300 claims, $662.7 million paid2024: 80,446 claims, $7.9 billion paid2025: 721 claims, $23.5 million paid2026: 205 claims, $1.3 million paid
NFIP claims per year by year of loss. Hover or tap a bar for the count and amount paid. 2026 is partial.
Show as a table
YearClaimsPaid
2026205$1.3 million
2025721$23.5 million
202480,446$7.9 billion
202310,300$662.7 million
202250,324$4.9 billion
2021933$17.8 million
20209,992$319.0 million
20191,193$27.8 million
20185,100$244.0 million
201731,430$1.0 billion
20168,838$292.1 million
20151,993$27.2 million
20143,960$124.8 million
20132,154$34.8 million
20125,369$74.5 million
20112,157$27.2 million
2010910$4.4 million
20093,511$73.0 million
20084,424$62.3 million
2007984$7.1 million
20061,033$10.5 million
200532,420$628.8 million
200434,726$1.3 billion
20032,106$14.0 million
20021,536$8.4 million
20015,224$45.4 million
200013,847$166.7 million
199924,751$137.9 million
199814,948$101.8 million
19972,577$12.3 million
19968,363$105.7 million
199517,520$423.4 million
19943,970$19.8 million
199310,757$200.3 million
199211,664$158.2 million
19912,242$10.0 million
1990276$1.6 million
1989440$2.0 million
19883,209$12.0 million
1987624$1.4 million
1986678$2.0 million
198512,003$87.4 million
19841,437$4.1 million
19831,025$1.4 million
19825,548$12.8 million
19812,728$2.0 million
1980828$933,927
19796,744$17.3 million
1978450$952,710

Biggest flood events by NFIP payments

The flood events FEMA's claims data names most often for Florida, ranked by what the NFIP paid. FEMA names events in its claims records; claims without an event name aren't included here.

EventYearClaimsPaid
Hurricane Helene202454,676$6.5 billion
Hurricane Ian202247,556$4.9 billion
Hurricane Milton202421,663$1.2 billion
Hurricane Irma201728,756$985.5 million
Hurricane Ivan200412,934$966.7 million
Hurricane Opal199511,998$388.9 million
Hurricane Idalia20235,232$377.1 million
Hurricane Wilma200516,557$358.1 million
April Florida Flooding20233,443$246.4 million
Hurricane Michael20184,291$238.1 million

Flood history by county

Every Florida county in FEMA's data, sorted by number of NFIP claims since 1978. "Insured" is the share of homes with an NFIP policy.

CountyClaimsPaidInsuredFlood declarations
Miami-Dade County62,029$855.8 million33.4%3
Pinellas County51,779$3.8 billion19.4%4
Lee County48,496$4.0 billion24.2%6
Broward County35,049$457.9 million19.2%4
Monroe County27,430$714.0 million58.2%6
Hillsborough County18,556$1.2 billion12.1%4
Escambia County16,499$731.9 million8.3%6
Collier County14,773$1.1 billion29.5%7
Pasco County14,544$692.7 million10.3%5
Sarasota County14,415$856.6 million17.9%7
Volusia County12,577$582.1 million11.1%6
Charlotte County11,697$475.5 million32.0%7
Manatee County11,389$650.6 million17.3%7
Palm Beach County10,758$72.3 million13.0%3
Santa Rosa County10,439$527.5 million14.1%6
Bay County9,005$337.5 million17.9%7
Okaloosa County8,226$283.1 million10.2%6
St. Johns County7,639$252.4 million23.2%5
Citrus County7,076$384.9 million7.0%5
Duval County6,064$214.7 million6.3%4
Brevard County5,690$69.1 million11.8%4
St. Lucie County3,988$84.7 million8.7%3
Indian River County3,349$67.0 million17.8%2
Hernando County3,245$138.4 million4.8%5
Walton County3,174$68.5 million20.4%6
Franklin County2,866$46.6 million25.1%5
Martin County2,631$40.0 million14.1%3
Orange County2,271$73.1 million3.3%4
Flagler County2,153$78.4 million15.2%6
Clay County1,744$76.3 million5.1%5
Gulf County1,717$94.7 million19.4%6
Polk County1,671$45.8 million2.6%4
Seminole County1,562$54.0 million4.0%4
Wakulla County1,554$34.4 million8.2%7
Levy County1,316$55.3 million4.3%6
Osceola County1,032$25.0 million6.0%4
Leon County1,015$11.9 million2.7%7
Dixie County916$21.4 million5.8%7
Nassau County845$12.7 million16.1%4
Taylor County693$37.4 million6.9%7
Putnam County621$10.7 million2.6%6
Lake County470$7.3 million2.5%4
DeSoto County453$17.1 million3.2%5
Suwannee County364$8.4 million2.1%7
Columbia County338$7.5 million2.3%5
Alachua County309$8.8 million2.5%5
Okeechobee County295$1.9 million6.4%4
Marion County250$6.0 million2.0%5
Gilchrist County212$2.2 million2.3%5
Lafayette County207$2.5 million4.0%6
Highlands County202$2.6 million1.9%5
Bradford County184$4.2 million4.0%5
Washington County184$4.6 million1.0%6
Holmes County165$2.8 million1.1%6
Calhoun County142$2.1 million1.2%7
Hendry County132$741,7004.4%4
Hardee County129$6.1 million1.3%6
Sumter County123$1.5 million4.1%4
Hamilton County116$1.6 million1.0%7
Baker County95$2.9 million1.5%6
Madison County84$1.5 million1.1%7
Jackson County72$877,3430.6%5
Glades County56$393,8262.6%4
Gadsden County41$328,3460.4%6
Union County31$499,7911.4%5
Jefferson County18$87,9821.2%7
Liberty County9$131,6330.4%6

Flood-related FEMA disaster declarations in Florida

Declarations since 2000 that FEMA lists as involving flooding. "Help for individuals" means FEMA's Individual Assistance was approved for at least part of the area.

DeclarationDeclaredEventHelp for individuals
DR-4834-FL Oct 11, 2024 Hurricane Milton Yes
EM-3615-FL Sep 24, 2024 Tropical Storm Helene No
EM-3605-FL Aug 3, 2024 Tropical Storm Debby No
DR-4794-FL Jun 17, 2024 Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes Yes
DR-4709-FL Apr 27, 2023 Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding Yes
DR-4177-FL May 6, 2014 Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding Yes
DR-4138-FL Aug 2, 2013 Severe Storms and Flooding No
DR-1840-FL May 27, 2009 Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Straight-Line Winds Yes
DR-1831-FL Apr 21, 2009 Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Straight-Line Winds Yes
DR-1785-FL Aug 24, 2008 Tropical Storm Fay Yes
EM-3288-FL Aug 21, 2008 Tropical Storm Fay No
DR-1680-FL Feb 8, 2007 Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding Yes
DR-1481-FL Jul 29, 2003 Severe Storms and Flooding No
DR-1393-FL Sep 28, 2001 Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding Associated With Tropical Storm Gabrielle No
DR-1345-FL Oct 4, 2000 Severe Storms and Flooding Yes
DR-1344-FL Oct 3, 2000 Tropical Storm Helene No

What to do with this

A county's history doesn't tell you your own building's risk. To see your property's flood zone, use FEMA's flood map lookup. To weigh coverage, start with do I need flood insurance? and what flood insurance costs.

Where these numbers come from

All figures on this page are calculated from FEMA's public OpenFEMA datasets:

FEMA's redacted claims data doesn't identify properties, and FEMA notes that some records lack a county or flood zone. See how we use the data.