Natural hazards · Destin

Destin, FL natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Destin comes from hurricanes, and overall the risk is very high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 1,204 claims here since 1991. 9 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Destin?

Very high

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Destin to be higher than in 84% of U.S. communities, mostly from hurricanes.

Hurricanes71%Inland flooding14%Tornadoes6%Everything else9%

By hazard

What Destin faces

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

Hurricanes

71% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 96% of U.S. places

Recorded about once every 4 years in the area

Inland flooding

14% of expected damage

Well below average · higher than 5% of U.S. places

Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Tornadoes

6% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 65% of U.S. places

Lower here

Coastal floodingHailIce stormsWinter weatherCold wavesHeat wavesWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesStrong windLightning

Not a risk here

DroughtAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic 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 Destin flood?

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

1,204paid claims since 1991

$64.8Mpaid to owners

230homes flooded more than once

19912026

Biggest named events

Hurricane Ivan: 407 claims, $23.4M
Hurricane Opal: 375 claims, $25.7M
Hurricane Dennis: 225 claims, $10.2M

Homes that flooded again and again

Each house = 4 homes. ■ FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (34) ■ flooded 2+ times

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

🏷️ 20% off flood insurance. Destin is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 6) for its flood-proofing work.

Insurance rates: Okaloosa County.

What’s been done with FEMA grants

4buildings retrofitted against wind

1buildings floodproofed

Disasters that hit Destin

9 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into DestinDeclared for Okaloosa County only

2020

Hurricane Sally

157 households applied for aid $9K aid approved $130K to the City of Destin for repairs

2018

Hurricane Michael

2 households applied for aid $301K to the City of Destin for repairs

2014

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding

131 households applied for aid $217K aid approved $126K to the City of Destin for repairs

2012

Hurricane Isaac

$352K to the City of Destin for repairs

2008

Hurricane Gustav

$67K to the City of Destin for repairs

2005

Hurricane Katrina

$268K to the City of Destin for repairs

2005

Hurricane Dennis

355 households applied for aid $190K aid approved $472K to the City of Destin for repairs

2004

Hurricane Ivan

1,014 households applied for aid $588K aid approved $1.9M to the City of Destin for repairs

2000

Tropical Storm Helene

$3K to the City of Destin for repairs

Okaloosa County has had 33 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. Destin covers 4 census tracts, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Destin’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Destin. 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 Destin total about $9.1M 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.