Natural hazards · Waldo

Waldo, FL natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Waldo comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 2 claims here since 1986. 7 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Waldo?

High

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Waldo to be higher than in 65% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and hurricanes.

Inland flooding38%Hurricanes36%Wildfire9%Tornadoes8%Everything else9%

By hazard

What Waldo faces

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

Inland flooding

38% of expected damage

Below average · higher than 46% of U.S. places

Recorded about once a year in the area

Hurricanes

36% of expected damage

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

Recorded about once every 5 years in the area

Wildfire

9% of expected damage

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

Tornadoes

8% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 54% of U.S. places

Recorded about once every 18 years in the area

Lower here

HailWinter weatherCold wavesHeat wavesEarthquakesLandslidesStrong windLightningDrought

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 Waldo flood?

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

2paid claims since 1986

$32Kpaid to owners

0homes flooded more than once

19862026

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

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

Insurance rates: Alachua County.

Disasters that hit Waldo

7 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into WaldoDeclared for Alachua County only

2024

Hurricane Milton

1 household applied for aid

2024

Hurricane Helene

65 households applied for aid $125K aid approved

2024

Hurricane Debby

41 households applied for aid $117K aid approved

2017

Hurricane Irma

310 households applied for aid $107K aid approved $124K to the City of Waldo for repairs

2008

Tropical Storm Fay

5 households applied for aid $6K aid approved

2004

Hurricane Jeanne

69 households applied for aid $81K aid approved $61K to the City of Waldo for repairs

2004

Hurricane Frances

94 households applied for aid $87K aid approved $65K to the City of Waldo for repairs

Alachua County has had 28 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. Waldo 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 Waldo’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Waldo. 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.

Waldo, FL natural hazards

How exposed is Waldo?

What Waldo faces

Inland flooding

Hurricanes

Wildfire

Tornadoes

Lower here

Not a risk here

Does Waldo flood?

7 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

Hurricane Milton

Hurricane Helene

Hurricane Debby

Hurricane Irma

Tropical Storm Fay

Hurricane Jeanne

Hurricane Frances

How to read this page

Where to, neighbor?

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