Cortez, FL natural hazards
Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Cortez comes from hurricanes, and overall the risk is very high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 364 claims here since 1981. 10 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.
FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025 · OpenFEMA claims, aid & declarationsHow exposed is Cortez?
FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Cortez to be higher than in 88% of U.S. communities, mostly from hurricanes and coastal flooding.
What Cortez faces
Each hazard’s share of the damage FEMA expects here, and how that compares with the rest of the country.
Hurricanes
Coastal flooding
Inland flooding
Tornadoes
Lower here
Not a risk here
Does Cortez flood?
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Cortez, from FEMA’s records.
Biggest named events
- Hurricane Helene: 265 claims, $27.0M
- Hurricane Josephine: 16 claims, $139K
- Hurricane Idalia: 13 claims, $334K
are insured
are insured
10 federal disasters brought FEMA money here
Disasters the President declared that paid out in Cortez itself: aid to households, or repair grants to Cortez.
Hurricane Milton
Hurricane Helene
Hurricane Debby
Hurricane Idalia
Hurricane Ian
Hurricane Irma
Tropical Storm Debby
Hurricane Jeanne
Hurricane Frances
Tropical Storm Bonnie and Hurricane Charley
Cortez and the towns around it
How to read this page
FEMA’s expected losses across Cortez total about $4.3M 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.