Glades County, Florida
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
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
- 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.
- 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.
- Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
- Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 44.6 | $3M | ||
| Hurricane | 87.6 | $3M | ||
| Wildfire | 87.7 | $569K | ||
| Strong wind | 69.5 | $555K | ||
| Lightning | 85.2 | $544K | ||
| Cold wave | 45.3 | $459K | ||
| Tornado | 20.9 | $148K | ||
| Drought | 57.4 | $138K | ||
| Heat wave | 30.4 | $80K | ||
| Hail | 6.7 | $11K | ||
| Earthquake | 6.8 | $4K | ||
| Landslide | 14.8 | $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
Most recent
Show all 35
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.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 9, 2024 | EF3 | Moore Haven | 3 / 0 |
| Jun 17, 1982 | F2 | – | 3 / 0 |
| Jun 18, 1972 | F2 | Labelle | 6 / 0 |
| Feb 2, 1998 | F1 | Lakeport | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 19, 1975 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 9, 2024 | Tornado | Moore Haven | $20M |
| Mar 13, 1993 | Thunderstorm Wind | – | $500K |
| Jun 17, 1982 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| Jun 18, 1972 | Tornado | Labelle | $195K |
| Feb 2, 1998 | Tornado | Lakeport | $100K |
| Aug 19, 2008 | Flood | Tasmania | $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.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 28, 2022 | Ian | Category 4, 150 mph | 65 mi |
| Aug 13, 2004 | Charley | Category 4, 150 mph | 65 mi |
| Sep 17, 1928 | Unnamed | Category 4, 140 mph | 63 mi |
| Aug 27, 1949 | Unnamed | Category 3, 125 mph | 58 mi |
| Sep 22, 1948 | Unnamed | Category 3, 125 mph | 60 mi |
| Sep 4, 1933 | Unnamed | Category 3, 125 mph | 63 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 10, 2022 | Nicole | Tropical storm, 70 mph | 64 mi |
| Sep 28, 2022 | Ian | Category 4, 150 mph | 65 mi |
| Sep 10, 2017 | Irma | Category 2, 105 mph | 61 mi |
| Jul 31, 2017 | Emily | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 65 mi |
| Aug 19, 2008 | Fay | Tropical storm, 70 mph | 6 mi |
| Aug 30, 2006 | Ernesto | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 60 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 ›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
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 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Palm Beach County | 38 | |
| Lee County | 43 | |
| Charlotte County | 40 | |
| Martin County | 39 | |
| Highlands County | 35 | |
| Okeechobee County | 33 | |
| Hendry County | 36 |
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.