Natural hazards · Ocala

Ocala, FL natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Ocala comes from hurricanes, and overall the risk is high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 35 claims here since 1979. 13 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Ocala?

High

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Ocala to be higher than in 60% of U.S. communities, mostly from hurricanes and inland flooding.

Hurricanes49%Inland flooding29%Tornadoes12%Everything else11%

By hazard

What Ocala faces

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

Hurricanes

49% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 92% of U.S. places

Recorded about once every 4 years in the area

Inland flooding

29% of expected damage

Below average · higher than 26% of U.S. places

Recorded about once a year in the area

Tornadoes

12% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 69% of U.S. places

Lower here

HailCold wavesHeat wavesWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesStrong windLightning

Not a risk here

Coastal floodingIce stormsWinter weatherDroughtAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic 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 Ocala flood?

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

35paid claims since 1979

$1.2Mpaid to owners

5homes flooded more than once

19792026

Biggest named events

Hurricane Irma: 4 claims, $305K
Tropical Storm Debby: 1 claim, $32K
Hurricane Jeanne: 1 claim, $6K

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

🏷️ 35% off flood insurance. Ocala is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 3) for its flood-proofing work.

Insurance rates: Marion County.

What’s been done with FEMA grants

22buildings retrofitted against wind

2flood-prone properties bought out and cleared

Disasters that hit Ocala

13 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into OcalaDeclared for Marion County only

2024

Hurricane Milton

5,716 households applied for aid $2.6M aid approved $1.2M to the City of Ocala for repairs

2024

Hurricane Helene

$554K to the City of Ocala for repairs

2024

Hurricane Debby

1 household applied for aid

2023

Hurricane Idalia

$499K to the City of Ocala for repairs

2022

Hurricane Nicole

$260K to the City of Ocala for repairs

2022

Hurricane Ian

5 households applied for aid $372K to the City of Ocala for repairs

2017

Hurricane Irma

29,565 households applied for aid $10.7M aid approved $7.1M to the City of Ocala for repairs

2016

Hurricane Hermine

$197K to the City of Ocala for repairs

2008

Tropical Storm Fay

64 households applied for aid $54K aid approved $223K to the City of Ocala for repairs

2004

Hurricane Jeanne

4,502 households applied for aid $4.0M aid approved $3.0M to the City of Ocala for repairs

2004

Hurricane Ivan

272 households applied for aid $143K aid approved

2004

Hurricane Frances

6,019 households applied for aid $4.7M aid approved $3.9M to the City of Ocala for repairs

2004

Tropical Storm Bonnie and Hurricane Charley

1 household applied for aid $96K to the City of Ocala for repairs

Marion County has had 31 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often hurricanes and fires.

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. Ocala covers 14 census tracts, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Ocala’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Ocala. 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 Ocala total about $24.4M 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.