Natural hazards · Raiford

Raiford, FL natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Raiford comes from hurricanes, and overall the risk is very high for a U.S. community. 6 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Raiford?

Very high

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Raiford to be higher than in 82% of U.S. communities, mostly from hurricanes and inland flooding.

Hurricanes37%Inland flooding30%Tornadoes11%Lightning6%Heat waves5%Everything else10%

By hazard

What Raiford faces

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

Hurricanes

37% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 94% of U.S. places

Recorded about once every 5 years in the area

Inland flooding

30% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 70% of U.S. places

Recorded about once every 4 years in the area

Tornadoes

11% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 59% of U.S. places

Recorded about once every 30 years in the area

Lightning

6% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 90% of U.S. places

Heat waves

5% of expected damage

Below average · higher than 38% of U.S. places

Recorded about 4 times a year in the area

Lower here

HailWinter weatherCold wavesWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesStrong windDrought

Not a risk here

Coastal floodingIce stormsAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic 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 Raiford flood?

FEMA's records show no paid flood insurance claims in Raiford.

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

No community discount. Raiford isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: Union County.

Disasters that hit Raiford

6 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into RaifordDeclared for Union County only

2024

Hurricane Milton

1 household applied for aid

2024

Hurricane Helene

59 households applied for aid $97K aid approved

2017

Hurricane Irma

179 households applied for aid $82K aid approved

2012

Tropical Storm Debby

13 households applied for aid $23K aid approved

2004

Hurricane Jeanne

53 households applied for aid $56K aid approved

2004

Hurricane Frances

39 households applied for aid $56K aid approved

Union County has had 27 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. Raiford is smaller than a census tract, so it shares the figures of the tract around its center.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Raiford’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the Town of Raiford. FEMA’s model follows property values, so a place that recently lost many homes can rate lower than it feels.

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.