Florida flood insurance and flood history
From FEMA's flood insurance and disaster data · Updated 2026-10-08
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
Show as a table
| Year | Claims | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 205 | $1.3 million |
| 2025 | 721 | $23.5 million |
| 2024 | 80,446 | $7.9 billion |
| 2023 | 10,300 | $662.7 million |
| 2022 | 50,324 | $4.9 billion |
| 2021 | 933 | $17.8 million |
| 2020 | 9,992 | $319.0 million |
| 2019 | 1,193 | $27.8 million |
| 2018 | 5,100 | $244.0 million |
| 2017 | 31,430 | $1.0 billion |
| 2016 | 8,838 | $292.1 million |
| 2015 | 1,993 | $27.2 million |
| 2014 | 3,960 | $124.8 million |
| 2013 | 2,154 | $34.8 million |
| 2012 | 5,369 | $74.5 million |
| 2011 | 2,157 | $27.2 million |
| 2010 | 910 | $4.4 million |
| 2009 | 3,511 | $73.0 million |
| 2008 | 4,424 | $62.3 million |
| 2007 | 984 | $7.1 million |
| 2006 | 1,033 | $10.5 million |
| 2005 | 32,420 | $628.8 million |
| 2004 | 34,726 | $1.3 billion |
| 2003 | 2,106 | $14.0 million |
| 2002 | 1,536 | $8.4 million |
| 2001 | 5,224 | $45.4 million |
| 2000 | 13,847 | $166.7 million |
| 1999 | 24,751 | $137.9 million |
| 1998 | 14,948 | $101.8 million |
| 1997 | 2,577 | $12.3 million |
| 1996 | 8,363 | $105.7 million |
| 1995 | 17,520 | $423.4 million |
| 1994 | 3,970 | $19.8 million |
| 1993 | 10,757 | $200.3 million |
| 1992 | 11,664 | $158.2 million |
| 1991 | 2,242 | $10.0 million |
| 1990 | 276 | $1.6 million |
| 1989 | 440 | $2.0 million |
| 1988 | 3,209 | $12.0 million |
| 1987 | 624 | $1.4 million |
| 1986 | 678 | $2.0 million |
| 1985 | 12,003 | $87.4 million |
| 1984 | 1,437 | $4.1 million |
| 1983 | 1,025 | $1.4 million |
| 1982 | 5,548 | $12.8 million |
| 1981 | 2,728 | $2.0 million |
| 1980 | 828 | $933,927 |
| 1979 | 6,744 | $17.3 million |
| 1978 | 450 | $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.
| Event | Year | Claims | Paid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Helene | 2024 | 54,676 | $6.5 billion |
| Hurricane Ian | 2022 | 47,556 | $4.9 billion |
| Hurricane Milton | 2024 | 21,663 | $1.2 billion |
| Hurricane Irma | 2017 | 28,756 | $985.5 million |
| Hurricane Ivan | 2004 | 12,934 | $966.7 million |
| Hurricane Opal | 1995 | 11,998 | $388.9 million |
| Hurricane Idalia | 2023 | 5,232 | $377.1 million |
| Hurricane Wilma | 2005 | 16,557 | $358.1 million |
| April Florida Flooding | 2023 | 3,443 | $246.4 million |
| Hurricane Michael | 2018 | 4,291 | $238.1 million |
What flood insurance costs in Florida
On June 30, 2026, 1,757,823 NFIP flood insurance policies were in force in Florida. For the 874,093 single-family homes among them, the typical (median) yearly cost was about $1,010; the average was $1,460.
| Rated flood zone | Policies | Typical yearly cost, single-family home | Average cost | Average building coverage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| High-risk zones (A and V) | 1,226,696 | $1,160 | $1,790 | $236,000 |
| Moderate- and low-risk zones (B, C and X) | 531,084 | $810 | $900 | $239,000 |
Cost here is what FEMA's data lists as the policy cost: the premium plus the reserve fund assessment, federal policy fee and HFIAA surcharge. It covers single-family homes only (not condos, apartments or businesses), with costs rounded to the nearest $10 and shown only where at least 20 homes back the figure. Your own price depends on your building and the coverage you choose; see how flood insurance is priced. Private flood insurance isn't included.
Policies and average cost by exact flood zone
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; "typical NFIP cost" is the median yearly cost for single-family homes.
| County | Claims | Paid | Insured | Typical NFIP cost | Flood declarations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami-Dade County | 62,029 | $855.8 million | 33.4% | $910 | 3 |
| Pinellas County | 51,779 | $3.8 billion | 19.4% | $1,490 | 4 |
| Lee County | 48,496 | $4.0 billion | 24.2% | $1,740 | 6 |
| Broward County | 35,049 | $457.9 million | 19.2% | $860 | 4 |
| Monroe County | 27,430 | $714.0 million | 58.2% | $1,990 | 6 |
| Hillsborough County | 18,556 | $1.2 billion | 12.1% | $1,110 | 4 |
| Escambia County | 16,499 | $731.9 million | 8.3% | $940 | 6 |
| Collier County | 14,773 | $1.1 billion | 29.5% | $1,310 | 7 |
| Pasco County | 14,544 | $692.7 million | 10.3% | $860 | 5 |
| Sarasota County | 14,415 | $856.6 million | 17.9% | $1,090 | 7 |
| Volusia County | 12,577 | $582.1 million | 11.1% | $890 | 6 |
| Charlotte County | 11,697 | $475.5 million | 32.0% | $2,010 | 7 |
| Manatee County | 11,389 | $650.6 million | 17.3% | $910 | 7 |
| Palm Beach County | 10,758 | $72.3 million | 13.0% | $710 | 3 |
| Santa Rosa County | 10,439 | $527.5 million | 14.1% | $910 | 6 |
| Bay County | 9,005 | $337.5 million | 17.9% | $940 | 7 |
| Okaloosa County | 8,226 | $283.1 million | 10.2% | $1,060 | 6 |
| St. Johns County | 7,639 | $252.4 million | 23.2% | $1,090 | 5 |
| Citrus County | 7,076 | $384.9 million | 7.0% | $1,360 | 5 |
| Duval County | 6,064 | $214.7 million | 6.3% | $1,040 | 4 |
| Brevard County | 5,690 | $69.1 million | 11.8% | $890 | 4 |
| St. Lucie County | 3,988 | $84.7 million | 8.7% | $660 | 3 |
| Indian River County | 3,349 | $67.0 million | 17.8% | $1,010 | 2 |
| Hernando County | 3,245 | $138.4 million | 4.8% | $840 | 5 |
| Walton County | 3,174 | $68.5 million | 20.4% | $940 | 6 |
| Franklin County | 2,866 | $46.6 million | 25.1% | $1,660 | 5 |
| Martin County | 2,631 | $40.0 million | 14.1% | $1,040 | 3 |
| Orange County | 2,271 | $73.1 million | 3.3% | $640 | 4 |
| Flagler County | 2,153 | $78.4 million | 15.2% | $1,090 | 6 |
| Clay County | 1,744 | $76.3 million | 5.1% | $1,060 | 5 |
| Gulf County | 1,717 | $94.7 million | 19.4% | $1,410 | 6 |
| Polk County | 1,671 | $45.8 million | 2.6% | $660 | 4 |
| Seminole County | 1,562 | $54.0 million | 4.0% | $740 | 4 |
| Wakulla County | 1,554 | $34.4 million | 8.2% | $1,590 | 7 |
| Levy County | 1,316 | $55.3 million | 4.3% | $1,910 | 6 |
| Osceola County | 1,032 | $25.0 million | 6.0% | $690 | 4 |
| Leon County | 1,015 | $11.9 million | 2.7% | $910 | 7 |
| Dixie County | 916 | $21.4 million | 5.8% | $1,090 | 7 |
| Nassau County | 845 | $12.7 million | 16.1% | $1,090 | 4 |
| Taylor County | 693 | $37.4 million | 6.9% | $1,240 | 7 |
| Putnam County | 621 | $10.7 million | 2.6% | $1,190 | 6 |
| Lake County | 470 | $7.3 million | 2.5% | $690 | 4 |
| DeSoto County | 453 | $17.1 million | 3.2% | $940 | 5 |
| Suwannee County | 364 | $8.4 million | 2.1% | $1,010 | 7 |
| Columbia County | 338 | $7.5 million | 2.3% | $840 | 5 |
| Alachua County | 309 | $8.8 million | 2.5% | $710 | 5 |
| Okeechobee County | 295 | $1.9 million | 6.4% | $940 | 4 |
| Marion County | 250 | $6.0 million | 2.0% | $610 | 5 |
| Gilchrist County | 212 | $2.2 million | 2.3% | $990 | 5 |
| Lafayette County | 207 | $2.5 million | 4.0% | $1,060 | 6 |
| Highlands County | 202 | $2.6 million | 1.9% | $590 | 5 |
| Bradford County | 184 | $4.2 million | 4.0% | $890 | 5 |
| Washington County | 184 | $4.6 million | 1.0% | $860 | 6 |
| Holmes County | 165 | $2.8 million | 1.1% | $990 | 6 |
| Calhoun County | 142 | $2.1 million | 1.2% | $1,190 | 7 |
| Hendry County | 132 | $741,700 | 4.4% | $1,010 | 4 |
| Hardee County | 129 | $6.1 million | 1.3% | $860 | 6 |
| Sumter County | 123 | $1.5 million | 4.1% | $640 | 4 |
| Hamilton County | 116 | $1.6 million | 1.0% | $990 | 7 |
| Baker County | 95 | $2.9 million | 1.5% | $890 | 6 |
| Madison County | 84 | $1.5 million | 1.1% | $790 | 7 |
| Jackson County | 72 | $877,343 | 0.6% | $810 | 5 |
| Glades County | 56 | $393,826 | 2.6% | $1,010 | 4 |
| Gadsden County | 41 | $328,346 | 0.4% | $890 | 6 |
| Union County | 31 | $499,791 | 1.4% | $790 | 5 |
| Jefferson County | 18 | $87,982 | 1.2% | $790 | 7 |
| Liberty County | 9 | $131,633 | 0.4% | n/a | 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.
| Declaration | Declared | Event | Help 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:
- NFIP Redacted Claims (v3) (FEMA (OpenFEMA)): NFIP claims since 1978, downloaded 2026-10-08. Dollar amounts are what the NFIP paid, not adjusted for inflation. Claims filed under private flood insurance aren't included.
- NFIP Residential Penetration Rates (v1) (FEMA (OpenFEMA)): NFIP residential policy contracts in force (as of August 3, 2026) divided by FEMA's count of residential buildings from the National Structure Inventory. FEMA notes that inventory is incomplete in some counties, which can inflate the rate. Private flood policies aren't counted.
- NFIP Redacted Policies (v3) (FEMA (OpenFEMA)): NFIP policies in force on June 30, 2026 (a policy counts if its term covers that date and it wasn't cancelled), downloaded 2026-10-08. Policy counts are FEMA's insured units, so a condominium association policy counts each unit. Costs are FEMA's "policy cost" (premium plus reserve fund assessment, federal policy fee and HFIAA surcharge) for single-family homes only. Policies FEMA's data doesn't place in a county count toward the state only.
- Disaster Declarations Summaries (v2) (FEMA (OpenFEMA)): disaster declarations, downloaded 2026-10-08. We count a declaration as flood-related when FEMA lists flooding (or a dam or levee break) as its incident type or a designated incident type, or the declaration's title mentions flooding.
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.