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Natural hazards · Orlando

Orlando, FL natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Orlando comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is moderate for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 312 claims here since 1978. 11 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

How exposed is Orlando?

54
Moderate
vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Orlando to be higher than in 54% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and hurricanes.

Inland flooding43%Hurricanes20%Cold waves12%Tornadoes11%Strong wind8%Everything else7%
By hazard

What Orlando faces

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

Inland flooding

43% of expected damage
Above average · higher than 52% of U.S. places
Recorded about once every 3 years in the area

Hurricanes

20% of expected damage
Well above average · higher than 86% of U.S. places
Recorded about once every 4 years in the area

Cold waves

12% of expected damage
Above average · higher than 72% of U.S. places
Recorded about 4 times a year in the area

Tornadoes

11% of expected damage
Above average · higher than 67% of U.S. places

Strong wind

8% of expected damage
Well above average · higher than 98% of U.S. places
Recorded about once a year in the area

Lower here

HailHeat wavesWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesLightning

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 Orlando flood?

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

312paid claims since 1978
$17.7Mpaid to owners
13homes flooded more than once
19782026

Biggest named events

  • Hurricane Ian: 160 claims, $14.6M
  • Hurricane Milton: 23 claims, $1.1M
  • Hurricane Irma: 19 claims, $565K

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
🏷️ 20% off flood insurance. Orlando is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 6) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Orange County.

What’s been done with FEMA grants

76buildings retrofitted against wind
3storm safe rooms built
Disasters that hit Orlando

11 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into OrlandoDeclared for Orange County only
2024

Hurricane Milton

41,263 households applied for aid $18.6M aid approved $1.9M to the City of Orlando for repairs
2023

Hurricane Idalia

3 households applied for aid $23K aid approved $58K to the City of Orlando for repairs
2022

Hurricane Nicole

$145K to the City of Orlando for repairs
2022

Hurricane Ian

83,355 households applied for aid $65.0M aid approved $14.2M to the City of Orlando for repairs
2017

Hurricane Irma

128,629 households applied for aid $37.6M aid approved $7.5M to the City of Orlando for repairs
2016

Hurricane Matthew

2 households applied for aid $507K to the City of Orlando for repairs
2008

Tropical Storm Fay

302 households applied for aid $204K aid approved $9K to the City of Orlando for repairs
2004

Hurricane Jeanne

18,762 households applied for aid $16.5M aid approved $7.8M to the City of Orlando for repairs
2004

Hurricane Ivan

541 households applied for aid $61K aid approved
2004

Hurricane Frances

19,303 households applied for aid $17.3M aid approved $6.2M to the City of Orlando for repairs
2004

Tropical Storm Bonnie and Hurricane Charley

45,796 households applied for aid $24.4M aid approved $15.1M to the City of Orlando for repairs
Orange County has had 30 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often hurricanes and fires.
Around Orlando

Orlando and the towns around it

Fairview Shores: Low, mostly inland floodingHolden Lakes: Moderate, mostly inland floodingAzalea Park: Moderate, mostly inland floodingPine Hills: High, mostly inland floodingWinter Park: Moderate, mostly inland floodingTaft: Low, mostly inland floodingConway: Moderate, mostly inland floodingOak Ridge: High, mostly inland floodingDoctor Phillips: Moderate, mostly inland floodingLake Hart: High, mostly inland floodingOrlovista: Moderate, mostly inland floodingAlafaya: Moderate, mostly inland floodingEatonville: Low, mostly inland floodingLockhart: Moderate, mostly inland floodingEdgewood: High, mostly inland floodingClarcona: High, mostly inland floodingOcoee: Moderate, mostly inland floodingMaitland: Moderate, mostly inland floodingBelle Isle: Moderate, mostly inland floodingBay Hill: Moderate, mostly inland floodingBithlo: Moderate, mostly inland floodingWedgefield: High, mostly inland floodingUnion Park: High, mostly inland floodingUniversity: Low, mostly hurricanesOrlando: Moderate, mostly inland flooding OrlandoFairview ShoresHolden LakesAzalea ParkPine HillsWinter ParkTaftConwayOak RidgeDoctor PhillipsLake HartOrlovistaAlafaya
Very lowLowModerateHighVery high
Oak Ridgemostly inland floodingHigh
Pine Hillsmostly inland floodingHigh
Lake Hartmostly inland floodingHigh
Alafayamostly inland floodingModerate
Conwaymostly inland floodingModerate
Orlovistamostly inland floodingModerate
Orlandomostly inland floodingModerate
Doctor Phillipsmostly inland floodingModerate
Winter Parkmostly inland floodingModerate
Holden Lakesmostly inland floodingModerate
Azalea Parkmostly inland floodingModerate
Fairview Shoresmostly inland floodingLow
Taftmostly inland floodingLow
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. Orlando covers 60 census tracts, combined by population.
Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Orlando’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Orlando. 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 Orlando total about $86.0M 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.

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Boundary source: https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer/18 · 2025-01-01
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