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Gadsden County, Florida

Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.

Relatively Low overall risk
44th of 67highest risk in Florida
$19Mexpected losses a year
39federal declarations
1 in 250homes with flood insurance
Photo: CC0

Gadsden County, Florida has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 72% of US counties. It ranks 44th of 67 counties in Florida. The costliest hazards here are hurricanes, inland flooding and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $19 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $443 per resident. Since 1985 it has been included in 39 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (24 major disasters). The most recent was in October 2026 (Hurricane Isaias). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (79 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $328,000 on 41 claims here.

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.

Top risks in Gadsden County

Hurricane

Moderate
$6.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 4 years.
  • 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.
$5.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 years.
  • 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.

Tornado

Moderate
$3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 3 years.
  • 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.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
HurricaneModerate91.4
$6M
Inland floodingLow57.7
$5M
TornadoModerate83.8
$3M
Cold waveModerate82.4
$3M
LightningHigh86.1
$609K
Heat waveLow67.7
$509K
DroughtModerate77.5
$496K
WildfireLow79.6
$246K
Strong windLow32.9
$203K
EarthquakeVery Low44.3
$124K
HailVery Low26.5
$62K
Winter weatherVery Low18.4
$10K
LandslideVery Low48.9
$789

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 very high and community resilience is relatively low in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

Federal declarations for natural events that included Gadsden County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Hurricane23
Severe Storm7
Tropical Storm5
Flood2
Fire2

Most recent

Oct 27, 2026Hurricane IsaiasMajor disaster
Oct 9, 2026Hurricane IsaiasEmergency
Sep 28, 2024Hurricane HeleneMajor disaster
Sep 24, 2024Tropical Storm HeleneEmergency
Aug 10, 2024Hurricane DebbyMajor disaster
Aug 3, 2024Tropical Storm DebbyEmergency
Jun 17, 2024Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Aug 31, 2023Hurricane IdaliaMajor disaster
Aug 28, 2023Tropical Storm IdaliaEmergency
Dec 13, 2022Hurricane NicoleMajor disaster
Show all 39
Sep 29, 2022Hurricane IanMajor disaster
Sep 24, 2022Tropical Storm IanEmergency
Aug 16, 2021Tropical Storm FredEmergency
Sep 23, 2020Hurricane SallyMajor disaster
Sep 15, 2020Hurricane SallyEmergency
Aug 30, 2019Hurricane DorianEmergency
Oct 11, 2018Hurricane MichaelMajor disaster
Oct 9, 2018Hurricane MichaelEmergency
Sep 10, 2017Hurricane IrmaMajor disaster
Sep 5, 2017Hurricane IrmaEmergency
Sep 28, 2016Hurricane HermineMajor disaster
Apr 21, 2009Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Aug 24, 2008Tropical Storm FayMajor disaster
Aug 21, 2008Tropical Storm FayEmergency
Sep 5, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jul 10, 2005Hurricane DennisMajor disaster
Sep 16, 2004Hurricane IvanMajor disaster
Sep 4, 2004Hurricane FrancesMajor disaster
Aug 13, 2004Tropical Storm Bonnie and Hurricane CharleyMajor disaster
Jun 17, 2001Tropical Storm AllisonMajor disaster
Apr 27, 1999Fl-Fires 04/15/99Emergency
Sep 28, 1998Hurricane GeorgesMajor disaster
Sep 25, 1998Hurricane GrorgesEmergency
Jun 18, 1998Extreme Fire HazardMajor disaster
Jan 6, 1998Severe Storms, High Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 10, 1994Severe Storms and Flooding (Tropical Storm Alberto)Major disaster
Jul 8, 1994Tropical Storm AlbertoEmergency
Apr 3, 1990Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 3, 1985Hurricane KateMajor disaster

Florida also had 39 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 1957

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 292 storm reports in Gadsden County since 1957, with 4 deaths and 9 injuries and about $2.9 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on January 30, 1974.

35tornadoes
31hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
205damaging thunderstorm winds
18floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jan 30, 1974F2–4 / 1
Dec 19, 1995F2Mt. Pleasant1 / 1
Jun 20, 1961F2–0 / 0
Nov 23, 1961F2–0 / 0
Dec 25, 1969F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jan 30, 1974Tornado–$250K
Jun 20, 1961Tornado–$250K
Nov 23, 1961Tornado–$250K
Jun 12, 1968Tornado–$250K
Dec 25, 1969Tornado–$250K
Apr 4, 1979Tornado–$250K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 30, 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, 21 hurricanes and 41 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Gadsden County, 22 of them since 1950. The strongest was Hurricane Michael (2018), with top winds near 160 mph about 64 miles away.

21hurricanes
5major hurricanes (Category 3+)
41tropical storms
2024most recent: Helene

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Oct 10, 2018MichaelCategory 5, 160 mph64 mi
Sep 27, 2024HeleneCategory 4, 135 mph64 mi
Oct 9, 1894UnnamedCategory 3, 120 mph59 mi
Oct 3, 1877UnnamedCategory 3, 115 mph64 mi
Aug 23, 1851UnnamedCategory 3, 115 mph64 mi
Oct 9, 1852UnnamedCategory 2, 105 mph63 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 27, 2024HeleneCategory 4, 135 mph64 mi
Nov 10, 2022NicoleTropical storm, 40 mph64 mi
Sep 9, 2021MindyTropical storm, 55 mph54 mi
Aug 16, 2021FredTropical storm, 60 mph62 mi
Oct 10, 2018MichaelCategory 5, 160 mph64 mi
Sep 2, 2016HermineCategory 1, 80 mph61 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 Gadsden County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.4%of homes have federal flood insurance (79 policies)
10.9%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$328,346paid on 41 flood claims since 1978
2024costliest year, with $117,041 paid

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 Gadsden County

$174,900median home value (Florida $359,000, US $332,700)
1983median year homes were built (Florida 1988, US 1980)
46%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
26.2%of homes are mobile homes, which are the least safe in tornadoes and high winds

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; 19,144 housing units.

Compare in Florida

All 67 ›
Largest countiesOverall riskTop hazard
Miami-Dade CountyVery HighInland flooding
Broward CountyHighInland flooding
Palm Beach CountyHighHurricane
Hillsborough CountyHighHurricane
Orange CountyHighInland flooding
Duval CountyHighInland flooding
Pinellas CountyHighHurricane
Lee CountyHighHurricane

Neighboring counties

CountyOverall riskDeclarations
Leon CountyModerate35
Jackson CountyLow34
Decatur County, GALow18
Grady County, GALow16
Calhoun CountyLow43
Seminole County, GAVery Low11
Liberty CountyVery Low41

Common questions about Gadsden County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Gadsden County?

Hurricane has the highest expected yearly losses in Gadsden County, about $6.2 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $5.2 million.

How many federal disasters has Gadsden County had?

Gadsden County has been included in 39 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1985, including 24 major disasters. The most recent was Hurricane Isaias in October 2026.

Is Gadsden County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 44th 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 Gadsden County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 250 homes in Gadsden 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 Gadsden County had?

NOAA records list 35 tornadoes in Gadsden County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on January 30, 1974. The weather service has also logged 31 hail reports and 18 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Gadsden County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 21 hurricanes and 41 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Gadsden County, including 5 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.