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Natural hazards · Tampa

Tampa, FL natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Tampa comes from hurricanes, and overall the risk is high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 7,067 claims here since 1979. 12 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

How exposed is Tampa?

61
High
vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Tampa to be higher than in 61% of U.S. communities, mostly from hurricanes and inland flooding.

Hurricanes39%Inland flooding26%Tornadoes16%Cold waves10%Everything else8%
By hazard

What Tampa faces

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

Hurricanes

39% of expected damage
Well above average · higher than 91% of U.S. places
Recorded about once every 4 years in the area

Inland flooding

26% of expected damage
Below average · higher than 32% of U.S. places
Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Tornadoes

16% of expected damage
Above average · higher than 70% of U.S. places

Cold waves

10% of expected damage
Well above average · higher than 85% of U.S. places
Recorded about 4 times a year in the area

Lower here

Coastal floodingHailHeat wavesWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesStrong windLightning

Not a risk here

Ice 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 Tampa flood?

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

7,067paid claims since 1979
$588Mpaid to owners
522homes flooded more than once
19792026

Biggest named events

  • Hurricane Helene: 3,484 claims, $469M
  • Hurricane Elena: 670 claims, $9.7M
  • Hurricane Milton: 639 claims, $55.6M

Homes that flooded again and again

Each house = 9 homes. ■ FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (153) ■ flooded 2+ times

of homes in flood zones
are insured
of all homes
are insured
🏷️ 25% off flood insurance. Tampa is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 5) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Hillsborough County.

What’s been done with FEMA grants

55homes raised above flood level
29buildings retrofitted against wind
15flood-prone properties bought out and cleared
2storm safe rooms built
Disasters that hit Tampa

12 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into TampaDeclared for Hillsborough County only
2024

Hurricane Milton

136,872 households applied for aid $95.5M aid approved $34.5M to the City of Tampa for repairs
2024

Hurricane Helene

45,843 households applied for aid $90.5M aid approved $1.5M to the City of Tampa for repairs
2024

Hurricane Debby

3,748 households applied for aid $2.4M aid approved
2023

Hurricane Idalia

4,702 households applied for aid $1.7M aid approved $3.1M to the City of Tampa for repairs
2022

Hurricane Ian

58,777 households applied for aid $20.1M aid approved $9.3M to the City of Tampa for repairs
2017

Hurricane Irma

84,916 households applied for aid $24.8M aid approved $13.4M to the City of Tampa for repairs
2016

Hurricane Hermine

104 households applied for aid $60K aid approved
2012

Tropical Storm Debby

320 households applied for aid $350K aid approved
2008

Tropical Storm Fay

$73K to the City of Tampa for repairs
2004

Hurricane Jeanne

3,503 households applied for aid $3.5M aid approved $3.5M to the City of Tampa for repairs
2004

Hurricane Frances

2,739 households applied for aid $3.1M aid approved $3.8M to the City of Tampa for repairs
2004

Tropical Storm Bonnie and Hurricane Charley

$580K to the City of Tampa for repairs
Hillsborough County has had 41 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often hurricanes and severe storms.
Around Tampa

Tampa and the towns around it

Lutz: High, mostly hurricanesPalm River-Clair Mel: Moderate, mostly hurricanesTown 'n' Country: High, mostly hurricanesEast Lake-Orient Park: High, mostly hurricanesEgypt Lake-Leto: Moderate, mostly hurricanesLake Magdalene: High, mostly hurricanesTemple Terrace: High, mostly inland floodingCarrollwood: High, mostly hurricanesPebble Creek: High, mostly inland floodingUniversity: Moderate, mostly hurricanesCheval: Moderate, mostly hurricanesLand O' Lakes: High, mostly hurricanesProgress Village: High, mostly inland floodingBrandon: High, mostly hurricanesRiverview: High, mostly inland floodingCitrus Park: High, mostly hurricanesWestchase: Moderate, mostly hurricanesThonotosassa: High, mostly hurricanesMango: Moderate, mostly hurricanesNorthdale: High, mostly hurricanesTampa: High, mostly hurricanes TampaLutzPalm River-Clair MelTown 'n' CountryEast Lake-Orient ParkEgypt Lake-LetoLake MagdaleneTemple TerraceCarrollwoodPebble CreekUniversity
Very lowLowModerateHighVery high
Temple Terracemostly inland floodingHigh
Pebble Creekmostly inland floodingHigh
Lutzmostly hurricanesHigh
East Lake-Orient Parkmostly hurricanesHigh
Carrollwoodmostly hurricanesHigh
Town 'n' Countrymostly hurricanesHigh
Tampamostly hurricanesHigh
Lake Magdalenemostly hurricanesHigh
Palm River-Clair Melmostly hurricanesModerate
Universitymostly hurricanesModerate
Egypt Lake-Letomostly hurricanesModerate
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. Tampa covers 103 census tracts, combined by population.
Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Tampa’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Tampa. 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 Tampa total about $134M 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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