Natural hazards · Panama

Panama, FL natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Panama comes from hurricanes, and overall the risk is very high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 846 claims here since 1978. 12 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Panama?

Very high

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Panama to be higher than in 92% of U.S. communities, mostly from hurricanes.

Hurricanes78%Inland flooding9%Tornadoes6%Everything else7%

By hazard

What Panama faces

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

Hurricanes

78% of expected damage

Well above average · among the top 1% of U.S. places

Recorded about once every 4 years in the area

Inland flooding

9% of expected damage

Well below average · higher than 9% 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 floodingHailWinter weatherCold wavesHeat wavesWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesStrong windLightning

Not a risk here

Ice stormsDroughtAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic 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 Panama flood?

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

846paid claims since 1978

$27.3Mpaid to owners

101homes flooded more than once

19782026

Biggest named events

Hurricane Opal: 278 claims, $10.0M
Hurricane Michael: 208 claims, $8.4M
Hurricane Sally: 58 claims, $2.5M

Homes that flooded again and again

Each house = 2 homes. ■ FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (10) ■ flooded 2+ times

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

🏷️ 25% off flood insurance. Panama is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 5) for its flood-proofing work.

Insurance rates: Bay County.

What’s been done with FEMA grants

76buildings retrofitted against wind

7flood-prone properties bought out and cleared

6storm safe rooms built

4flood-prone homes bought out and moved

3homes raised above flood level

Disasters that hit Panama

12 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into PanamaDeclared for Bay County only

2024

Hurricane Helene

$60K to the City of Panama for repairs

2022

Hurricane Ian

2 households applied for aid $700 aid approved

2020

Hurricane Sally

824 households applied for aid $960K aid approved $1.7M to the City of Panama for repairs

2018

Hurricane Michael

40,420 households applied for aid $77.3M aid approved $151M to the City of Panama for repairs

2017

Hurricane Irma

6 households applied for aid $500 aid approved

2013

Severe Storms and Flooding

$138K to the City of Panama for repairs

2009

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

$12K to the City of Panama for repairs

2005

Hurricane Dennis

481 households applied for aid $204K aid approved $684K to the City of Panama for repairs

2004

Hurricane Ivan

1,771 households applied for aid $2.0M aid approved $1.3M to the City of Panama for repairs

2004

Hurricane Frances

1 household applied for aid

2004

Tropical Storm Bonnie and Hurricane Charley

1 household applied for aid $14K to the City of Panama for repairs

2000

Tropical Storm Helene

$26K to the City of Panama for repairs

Bay County has had 40 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often hurricanes and severe storms.

Around Panama

Panama and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Pretty Bayoumostly hurricanesVery high

Lynn Havenmostly hurricanesVery high

Springfieldmostly hurricanesVery high

Panama Citymostly hurricanesVery high

Cedar Grovemostly hurricanesVery high

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. Panama covers 11 census tracts, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Panama’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Panama. 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 Panama total about $39.7M 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.

Panama, FL natural hazards

How exposed is Panama?

What Panama faces

Hurricanes

Inland flooding

Tornadoes

Lower here

Not a risk here

Does Panama flood?

Biggest named events

Homes that flooded again and again

What’s been done with FEMA grants

12 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

Hurricane Helene

Hurricane Ian

Hurricane Sally

Hurricane Michael

Hurricane Irma

Severe Storms and Flooding

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

Hurricane Dennis

Hurricane Ivan

Hurricane Frances

Tropical Storm Bonnie and Hurricane Charley

Tropical Storm Helene

Panama and the towns around it

How to read this page

Where to, neighbor?

Matches

Nearby