Natural hazards · Pensacola

Pensacola, FL natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Pensacola comes from hurricanes, and overall the risk is very high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 923 claims here since 1978. 10 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Pensacola?

Very high

vs. U.S. communities

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

Hurricanes72%Inland flooding19%Everything else9%

By hazard

What Pensacola faces

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

Hurricanes

72% of expected damage

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

Recorded about once every 4 years in the area

Inland flooding

19% of expected damage

Below average · higher than 28% of U.S. places

Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Lower here

Coastal floodingTornadoesHailIce stormsWinter weatherCold wavesHeat wavesWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesStrong windLightningDrought

Not a risk here

AvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic 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 Pensacola flood?

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

923paid claims since 1978

$59.6Mpaid to owners

141homes flooded more than once

19782026

Biggest named events

Mid-spring storms: 233 claims, $16.8M
Hurricane Ivan: 230 claims, $26.7M
Hurricane Sally: 153 claims, $8.3M

Homes that flooded again and again

Each house = 3 homes. ■ FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (29) ■ flooded 2+ times

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

🏷️ 15% off flood insurance. Pensacola is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7) for its flood-proofing work.

Insurance rates: Escambia County.

What’s been done with FEMA grants

11,628buildings retrofitted against wind

101flood-prone properties bought out and cleared

11homes raised above flood level

5storm safe rooms built

2buildings floodproofed

Disasters that hit Pensacola

10 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into PensacolaDeclared for Escambia County only

2022

Hurricane Ian

2 households applied for aid $1K aid approved

2020

Hurricane Sally

22,910 households applied for aid $27.5M aid approved $24.5M to the City of Pensacola for repairs

2017

Hurricane Irma

9 households applied for aid $3K aid approved

2014

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

9,616 households applied for aid $22.6M aid approved $8.4M to the City of Pensacola for repairs

2012

Hurricane Isaac

$5K to the City of Pensacola for repairs

2005

Hurricane Katrina

$508K to the City of Pensacola for repairs

2005

Hurricane Dennis

11,372 households applied for aid $5.5M aid approved $9.9M to the City of Pensacola for repairs

2004

Hurricane Ivan

64,058 households applied for aid $72.9M aid approved $47.0M to the City of Pensacola for repairs

2004

Hurricane Frances

4 households applied for aid $1K aid approved

2000

Tropical Storm Helene

$50K to the City of Pensacola for repairs

Escambia County has had 33 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often hurricanes and severe storms.

Around Pensacola

Pensacola and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Warringtonmostly hurricanesVery high

Pensacolamostly hurricanesVery high

Ferry Passmostly hurricanesVery high

West Pensacolamostly hurricanesVery high

Brentmostly hurricanesVery high

Gulf Breezemostly hurricanesVery high

Gouldingmostly 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. Pensacola covers 15 census tracts, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Pensacola’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Pensacola. 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 Pensacola total about $34.8M 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.