Natural hazards · Arcadia

Arcadia, FL natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Arcadia comes from hurricanes, and overall the risk is very high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 45 claims here since 1978. 9 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025 · OpenFEMA claims, aid & declarations

Expected damage

How exposed is Arcadia?

Very high

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Arcadia to be higher than in 88% of U.S. communities, mostly from hurricanes.

Hurricanes74%Inland flooding12%Lightning6%Everything else9%

By hazard

What Arcadia faces

Each hazard’s share of the damage FEMA expects here, and how that compares with the rest of the country.

Hurricanes

74% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 97% of U.S. places

Recorded about once every 4 years in the area

Inland flooding

12% of expected damage

Well below average · higher than 10% of U.S. places

Recorded about once a year in the area

Lightning

6% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 85% of U.S. places

Lower here

TornadoesHailCold wavesHeat wavesWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesStrong windDrought

Not a risk here

Coastal floodingIce stormsWinter weatherAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity

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

Flood insurance claims

Does Arcadia flood?

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Arcadia, from FEMA’s records.

45paid claims since 1978

$1.1Mpaid to owners

5homes flooded more than once

19782026

Biggest named events

Torrential rain: 6 claims, $157K
The 'No-Name Storm': 5 claims, $49K
Hurricane Irma: 2 claims, $122K

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. Arcadia isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: DeSoto County.

What’s been done with FEMA grants

15buildings retrofitted against wind

2homes raised above flood level

2storm safe rooms built

Disasters that hit Arcadia

9 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

Disasters the President declared that paid out in Arcadia itself: aid to households, or repair grants to the City of Arcadia.

Brought FEMA money into ArcadiaDeclared for DeSoto County only

2024

Hurricane Milton

1,739 households applied for aid $1.8M aid approved $42K to the City of Arcadia for repairs

2024

Hurricane Helene

156 households applied for aid $213K aid approved

2022

Hurricane Ian

7,788 households applied for aid $24.3M aid approved $3.1M to the City of Arcadia for repairs

2017

Hurricane Irma

4,384 households applied for aid $3.3M aid approved $1.0M to the City of Arcadia for repairs

2005

Hurricane Wilma

$17K to the City of Arcadia for repairs

2004

Hurricane Jeanne

949 households applied for aid $3.8M aid approved

2004

Hurricane Frances

677 households applied for aid $2.1M aid approved

2004

Tropical Storm Bonnie and Hurricane Charley

7,618 households applied for aid $16.8M aid approved $3.0M to the City of Arcadia for repairs

2001

Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding Associated With Tropical Storm Gabrielle

$22K to the City of Arcadia for repairs

DeSoto County has had 32 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often hurricanes and severe storms.

About these numbers

How to read this page

An average, not a forecastFEMA’s National Risk Index estimates the damage 18 kinds of natural hazards cause in a typical year, from decades of records and models. A quiet decade can follow a bad year.

Compared by rate“Higher than N%” compares yearly damage as a share of what’s here, so a big city isn’t rated riskier just for having more buildings. Arcadia covers 1 census tract, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Arcadia’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Arcadia. FEMA’s model follows property values, so a place that recently lost many homes can rate lower than it feels.

FEMA’s expected losses across Arcadia total about $3.4M a year, counting buildings, people and crops.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025); 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. Census tracts: U.S. Census Bureau.