Calhoun County, Florida
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Calhoun County, Florida has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 55% of US counties. It ranks 58th of 67 counties in Florida. The costliest hazards here are hurricanes, inland flooding and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $11 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $781 per resident. Since 1985 it has been included in 43 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (26 major disasters). The most recent was in October 2026 (Hurricane Isaias). About 1 in 83 homes here carry federal flood insurance (80 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $2.1 million on 142 claims here.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Calhoun County
- Know your evacuation zone and route before June 1.
- Ask about roof age, shutters and the separate wind or hurricane deductible on your home policy.
- Check the FEMA flood map for your address, and ask the seller or landlord about past flooding.
- Price a flood policy now. Most new federal policies take 30 days to start.
- Pick a shelter spot: a basement, or an inside room on the lowest floor with no windows.
- Turn on emergency alerts on your phone and keep a weather radio.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hurricane | 89.1 | $5M | ||
| Inland flooding | 32.2 | $3M | ||
| Tornado | 56.6 | $1M | ||
| Strong wind | 59.5 | $542K | ||
| Cold wave | 40.4 | $501K | ||
| Lightning | 63.4 | $286K | ||
| Heat wave | 42.3 | $192K | ||
| Drought | 49.2 | $102K | ||
| Wildfire | 59.6 | $61K | ||
| Earthquake | 28.8 | $49K | ||
| Hail | 7.2 | $15K | ||
| Winter weather | 4.7 | $3K | ||
| Coastal flooding | 21.2 | $388 | ||
| Landslide | 12.2 | $29 |
Scores are percentiles: a score of 90 means higher risk than about 90% of US counties for that hazard. Hazards FEMA does not rate here are left out. Social vulnerability is relatively high and community resilience is very low in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Calhoun County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 43
Florida also had 39 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1952
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 226 storm reports in Calhoun County since 1952, with 5 deaths and 27 injuries and about $15.3 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on September 15, 2004 near Blountstown.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 15, 2004 | F2 | Blountstown | 5 / 4 |
| Oct 25, 1981 | F2 | – | 12 / 0 |
| Nov 17, 2014 | EF2 | Kennys Mill | 2 / 0 |
| Jan 12, 1975 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jan 15, 1997 | F2 | Camps Head | 1 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 30, 2014 | Flood | Center Lake | $3M |
| Sep 15, 2004 | Tornado | Blountstown | $3M |
| Oct 25, 1981 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| Nov 17, 2014 | Tornado | Kennys Mill | $2M |
| Feb 25, 2013 | Flood | Altha | $1M |
| Mar 26, 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | Blountstown | $1M |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 29, 2026. Tornado records start in 1950, hail and wind in 1955, and floods and other storm types in 1996, so older decades undercount. Damage is in dollars of the year it happened and is often an estimate. Winter storms, heat and hurricanes are logged by forecast zone, not county, so they are not counted here.
Hurricanes and tropical storms
Hurricane risk by county ›Since 1851, 26 hurricanes and 36 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Calhoun County, 22 of them since 1950. The strongest was Hurricane Michael (2018), with top winds near 160 mph about 32 miles away.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 10, 2018 | Michael | Category 5, 160 mph | 32 mi |
| Oct 9, 1894 | Unnamed | Category 3, 120 mph | 62 mi |
| Oct 3, 1877 | Unnamed | Category 3, 115 mph | 60 mi |
| Aug 23, 1851 | Unnamed | Category 3, 115 mph | 63 mi |
| Aug 31, 1856 | Unnamed | Category 2, 105 mph | 56 mi |
| Oct 9, 1852 | Unnamed | Category 2, 105 mph | 63 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 11, 2022 | Nicole | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 60 mi |
| Sep 9, 2021 | Mindy | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 48 mi |
| Aug 16, 2021 | Fred | Tropical storm, 65 mph | 63 mi |
| Oct 10, 2018 | Michael | Category 5, 160 mph | 32 mi |
| May 28, 2018 | Alberto | Tropical storm, 55 mph | 64 mi |
| Aug 16, 2009 | Claudette | Tropical storm, 55 mph | 61 mi |
Source: NOAA National Hurricane Center best-track records (HURDAT2), 1851 to 2025 for the Atlantic and 1949 to 2025 for the eastern Pacific. A storm counts if its track passed within 65 miles of the county's center while it was a tropical storm or hurricane. Strength is the storm's top sustained wind at that point, not the wind measured in the county. Older storms over the open sea were sometimes missed.
Flood insurance in Calhoun County
Check your address flood zone ›National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) records only; private flood policies are not included. Home counts as of Aug 3, 2026. Since 2021 NFIP prices each home separately under Risk Rating 2.0, so your price depends on the building, not the county. Ask an agent for a quote.
Homes in Calhoun County
Older homes and mobile homes usually suffer more damage in storms, floods and earthquakes, and can cost more to insure. If you are buying, ask about roof age, foundation bolting and any retrofits. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020 to 2024 5-year estimates; 5,683 housing units.
Compare in Florida
All 67 ›| Largest counties | Overall risk | Top hazard |
|---|---|---|
| Miami-Dade County | Inland flooding | |
| Broward County | Inland flooding | |
| Palm Beach County | Hurricane | |
| Hillsborough County | Hurricane | |
| Orange County | Inland flooding | |
| Duval County | Inland flooding | |
| Pinellas County | Hurricane | |
| Lee County | Hurricane |
Neighboring counties
| County | Overall risk | Declarations |
|---|---|---|
| Bay County | 49 | |
| Jackson County | 34 | |
| Gadsden County | 39 | |
| Gulf County | 47 | |
| Liberty County | 41 |
Common questions about Calhoun County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Calhoun County?
Hurricane has the highest expected yearly losses in Calhoun County, about $4.9 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $2.8 million.
How many federal disasters has Calhoun County had?
Calhoun County has been included in 43 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1985, including 26 major disasters. The most recent was Hurricane Isaias in October 2026.
Is Calhoun County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 58th highest of 67 in Florida. A county rating covers the whole area. Risk at one address can be much higher or lower, so check the FEMA flood map and ask about the home's history.
Do I need flood insurance in Calhoun County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 83 homes in Calhoun County has federal flood insurance. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.
How many tornadoes has Calhoun County had?
NOAA records list 23 tornadoes in Calhoun County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on September 15, 2004 near Blountstown. The weather service has also logged 28 hail reports and 35 floods here.
How many hurricanes have hit Calhoun County?
NOAA's hurricane records show 26 hurricanes and 36 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Calhoun County, including 4 major hurricanes (Category 3 or stronger). The strongest was Hurricane Michael (2018), with winds near 160 mph.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025), OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, and NFIP policy and claims data. Hazard Compass is independent and not affiliated with FEMA. These figures describe the whole county, not a single property, and are not insurance or safety advice. Report a problem.