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Glades County, Florida

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

Relatively Low overall risk
54th of 67highest risk in Florida
$9Mexpected losses a year
35federal declarations
1 in 38homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Glades County, Florida has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 52% of US counties. It ranks 54th of 67 counties in Florida. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, hurricanes and wildfires. FEMA estimates about $8.8 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $733 per resident. Since 1965 it has been included in 35 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (20 major disasters). The most recent was in October 2024 (Hurricane Milton). About 1 in 38 homes here carry federal flood insurance (185 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $394,000 on 56 claims here.

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

Top risks in Glades County

$3.2 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.

Hurricane

Moderate
$3.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 3 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.
$568,959 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 105 years.
  • Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
  • Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow44.6
$3M
HurricaneModerate87.6
$3M
WildfireLow87.7
$569K
Strong windModerate69.5
$555K
LightningHigh85.2
$544K
Cold waveLow45.3
$459K
TornadoVery Low20.9
$148K
DroughtLow57.4
$138K
Heat waveVery Low30.4
$80K
HailVery Low6.7
$11K
EarthquakeVery Low6.8
$4K
LandslideVery Low14.8
$35

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 very low in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Hurricane20
Fire5
Freezing3
Severe Storm3
Tropical Storm3
Tornado1

Most recent

Oct 11, 2024Hurricane MiltonMajor disaster
Oct 7, 2024Hurricane MiltonEmergency
Aug 10, 2024Hurricane DebbyMajor disaster
Aug 3, 2024Tropical Storm DebbyEmergency
Dec 13, 2022Hurricane NicoleMajor disaster
Nov 8, 2022Tropical Storm NicoleEmergency
Sep 29, 2022Hurricane IanMajor disaster
Sep 24, 2022Tropical Storm IanEmergency
Aug 30, 2019Hurricane DorianEmergency
Sep 10, 2017Hurricane IrmaMajor disaster
Show all 35
Sep 5, 2017Hurricane IrmaEmergency
Oct 6, 2016Hurricane MatthewEmergency
Oct 18, 2012Hurricane IsaacMajor disaster
Aug 24, 2008Tropical Storm FayMajor disaster
Aug 21, 2008Tropical Storm FayEmergency
Jun 27, 2007Okeechobee Fire ComplexFire management
Oct 24, 2005Hurricane WilmaMajor disaster
Sep 5, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Sep 26, 2004Hurricane JeanneMajor disaster
Sep 4, 2004Hurricane FrancesMajor disaster
Aug 13, 2004Tropical Storm Bonnie and Hurricane CharleyMajor disaster
Feb 19, 2001Fl - Okeechobee Complex FireFire management
Feb 5, 2001Severe FreezeMajor disaster
Oct 20, 1999Fl-Hurricane Irene-Dr-ReqMajor disaster
Oct 15, 1999Tropical Storm Irene - FloridaEmergency
Sep 22, 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster DeclarationsMajor disaster
Apr 27, 1999Fl-Fires 04/15/99Emergency
Apr 15, 1999Okeechobee Fire ComplexFire management
Sep 25, 1998Hurricane GrorgesEmergency
Jun 18, 1998Extreme Fire HazardMajor disaster
Jan 6, 1998Severe Storms, High Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 13, 1993Tornadoes, Flooding, High Winds & Tides, FreezingMajor disaster
Jan 15, 1990Severe FreezeMajor disaster
Jan 31, 1977Severe Winter WeatherMajor disaster
Sep 14, 1965Hurricane BetsyMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1958

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 109 storm reports in Glades County since 1958, with 1 death and 15 injuries and about $21.9 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF3 tornado on October 9, 2024 near Moore Haven.

27tornadoes
27hail reports, largest 1.75 inches
38damaging thunderstorm winds
9floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Oct 9, 2024EF3Moore Haven3 / 0
Jun 17, 1982F2–3 / 0
Jun 18, 1972F2Labelle6 / 0
Feb 2, 1998F1Lakeport0 / 0
Mar 19, 1975F1–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Oct 9, 2024TornadoMoore Haven$20M
Mar 13, 1993Thunderstorm Wind–$500K
Jun 17, 1982Tornado–$250K
Jun 18, 1972TornadoLabelle$195K
Feb 2, 1998TornadoLakeport$100K
Aug 19, 2008FloodTasmania$80K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 13, 2025. 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 1859, 32 hurricanes and 42 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Glades County, 34 of them since 1950. The strongest was Hurricane Ian (2022), with top winds near 150 mph about 65 miles away.

32hurricanes
14major hurricanes (Category 3+)
42tropical storms
2022most recent: Nicole

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 28, 2022IanCategory 4, 150 mph65 mi
Aug 13, 2004CharleyCategory 4, 150 mph65 mi
Sep 17, 1928UnnamedCategory 4, 140 mph63 mi
Aug 27, 1949UnnamedCategory 3, 125 mph58 mi
Sep 22, 1948UnnamedCategory 3, 125 mph60 mi
Sep 4, 1933UnnamedCategory 3, 125 mph63 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Nov 10, 2022NicoleTropical storm, 70 mph64 mi
Sep 28, 2022IanCategory 4, 150 mph65 mi
Sep 10, 2017IrmaCategory 2, 105 mph61 mi
Jul 31, 2017EmilyTropical storm, 40 mph65 mi
Aug 19, 2008FayTropical storm, 70 mph6 mi
Aug 30, 2006ErnestoTropical storm, 40 mph60 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 Glades County

Check your address flood zone ›
2.6%of homes have federal flood insurance (185 policies)
17.5%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$393,826paid on 56 flood claims since 1978
2004costliest year, with $136,263 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 Glades County

$137,000median home value (Florida $359,000, US $332,700)
1990median year homes were built (Florida 1988, US 1980)
27%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
54%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; 6,690 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
Palm Beach CountyHigh38
Lee CountyHigh43
Charlotte CountyHigh40
Martin CountyModerate39
Highlands CountyModerate35
Okeechobee CountyLow33
Hendry CountyLow36

Common questions about Glades County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Glades County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Glades County, about $3.2 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Hurricane is second at $3.1 million.

How many federal disasters has Glades County had?

Glades County has been included in 35 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1965, including 20 major disasters. The most recent was Hurricane Milton in October 2024.

Is Glades County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 54th 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 Glades County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 38 homes in Glades 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 Glades County had?

NOAA records list 27 tornadoes in Glades County since 1950. The strongest was an EF3 tornado on October 9, 2024 near Moore Haven. The weather service has also logged 27 hail reports and 9 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Glades County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 32 hurricanes and 42 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Glades County, including 14 major hurricanes (Category 3 or stronger). The strongest was Hurricane Ian (2022), with winds near 150 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.