Natural hazards · Sebring

Sebring, FL natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Sebring comes from hurricanes, and overall the risk is high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 3 claims here since 2017. 10 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

How exposed is Sebring?

73
High
vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Sebring to be higher than in 73% of U.S. communities, mostly from hurricanes and strong winds.

Hurricanes34%Strong wind33%Inland flooding20%Tornadoes7%Everything else5%
By hazard

What Sebring faces

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

Hurricanes

34% of expected damage
Well above average · higher than 90% of U.S. places
Recorded about once every 4 years in the area

Strong wind

33% of expected damage
Well above average · among the top 1% of U.S. places
Recorded about once every 2 years in the area

Inland flooding

20% of expected damage
Well below average · higher than 12% of U.S. places
Recorded about once every 2 years in the area

Tornadoes

7% of expected damage
Above average · higher than 62% of U.S. places

Lower here

HailCold wavesHeat wavesWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesLightningDrought

Not a risk here

Coastal floodingIce stormsWinter weatherAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic 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 Sebring flood?

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

3paid claims since 2017
$196Kpaid to owners
0homes flooded more than once
20172026

Biggest named events

  • Hurricane Irma: 2 claims, $86K
  • Hurricane Ian: 1 claim, $110K
of homes in flood zones
are insured
of all homes
are insured
No community discount. Sebring isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Highlands County.

What’s been done with FEMA grants

10buildings retrofitted against wind
2storm safe rooms built
Disasters that hit Sebring

10 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into SebringDeclared for Highlands County only
2024

Hurricane Milton

5,322 households applied for aid $3.2M aid approved $111K to the City of Sebring for repairs
2022

Hurricane Ian

4,175 households applied for aid $4.2M aid approved $108K to the City of Sebring for repairs
2017

Hurricane Irma

12,300 households applied for aid $5.0M aid approved $978K to the City of Sebring for repairs
2012

Tropical Storm Debby

64 households applied for aid $73K aid approved
2005

Hurricane Wilma

$67K to the City of Sebring for repairs
2004

Hurricane Jeanne

4,161 households applied for aid $4.0M aid approved $760K to the City of Sebring for repairs
2004

Hurricane Ivan

40 households applied for aid $6K aid approved
2004

Hurricane Frances

1,070 households applied for aid $827K aid approved $176K to the City of Sebring for repairs
2004

Tropical Storm Bonnie and Hurricane Charley

3,019 households applied for aid $2.1M aid approved $661K to the City of Sebring for repairs
2001

Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding Associated With Tropical Storm Gabrielle

$8K to the City of Sebring for repairs
Highlands County has had 29 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. Sebring covers 4 census tracts, combined by population.
Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Sebring’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Sebring. 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 Sebring total about $5.6M 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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