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Holmes County, Florida

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

Relatively Low overall risk
53rd of 67highest risk in Florida
$14Mexpected losses a year
39federal declarations
1 in 91homes with flood insurance
Photo: CC0

Holmes County, Florida has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 51% of US counties. It ranks 53rd of 67 counties in Florida. The costliest hazards here are hurricanes, inland flooding and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $14 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $724 per resident. Since 1975 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). About 1 in 91 homes here carry federal flood insurance (99 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $2.8 million on 165 claims here, including $991,000 for floods in 1994.

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

Top risks in Holmes County

Hurricane

Moderate
$9 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 5 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.
$2.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • 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.
$1.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 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
HurricaneModerate91.5
$9M
Inland floodingVery Low26.5
$3M
TornadoLow53.0
$1M
Cold waveLow28.2
$339K
LightningModerate61.6
$318K
Heat waveLow42.0
$227K
Strong windLow19.7
$157K
DroughtLow44.6
$89K
EarthquakeVery Low31.6
$80K
HailVery Low6.0
$15K
WildfireVery Low32.2
$15K
Winter weatherVery Low9.3
$6K
Ice stormVery Low4.9
$2K
LandslideVery Low12.4
$36

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 moderate 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 Holmes County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Hurricane21
Severe Storm7
Flood4
Tropical Storm4
Fire3

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
Dec 13, 2022Hurricane NicoleMajor disaster
Sep 29, 2022Hurricane IanMajor disaster
Sep 24, 2022Tropical Storm IanEmergency
Aug 16, 2021Tropical Storm FredEmergency
Show all 39
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
May 6, 2014Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 2, 2013Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 21, 2009Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Straight-Line WindsMajor 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
Apr 17, 1999Fl-Fires 04/13/99Fire management
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
Oct 4, 1995Hurricane OpalMajor disaster
Jul 10, 1994Severe Storms and Flooding (Tropical Storm Alberto)Major disaster
Jul 8, 1994Tropical Storm AlbertoEmergency
Apr 3, 1990Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 26, 1975High Winds, Heavy Rains & FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 22, 1975FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1967

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 362 storm reports in Holmes County since 1967, with 1 death and 7 injuries and about $24.5 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on June 25, 1972.

21tornadoes
12hail reports, largest 1.75 inches
216damaging thunderstorm winds
111floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jun 25, 1972F2–2 / 1
Dec 16, 2000F2Bonifay0 / 0
May 10, 2025EF2Gritney1 / 0
Dec 10, 1967F2–0 / 0
Apr 26, 2005F1Bonifay0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jul 4, 2013FloodRoyals Crossroads$9M
Sep 16, 2020Flash FloodPonce De Leon$9M
Feb 25, 2013FloodRoyals Crossroads$1M
Sep 29, 1998Flash FloodCountywide$1M
Apr 30, 2014FloodRoyals Crossroads$945K
Dec 16, 2000TornadoBonifay$750K

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, 24 hurricanes and 31 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Holmes County, 20 of them since 1950. The strongest was Hurricane Michael (2018), with top winds near 160 mph about 62 miles away.

24hurricanes
7major hurricanes (Category 3+)
31tropical storms
2021most recent: Fred

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Oct 10, 2018MichaelCategory 5, 160 mph62 mi
Sep 23, 1975EloiseCategory 3, 125 mph48 mi
Oct 9, 1894UnnamedCategory 3, 120 mph63 mi
Sep 10, 1882UnnamedCategory 3, 120 mph57 mi
Sep 29, 1917UnnamedCategory 3, 115 mph64 mi
Oct 3, 1877UnnamedCategory 3, 115 mph62 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 16, 2021FredTropical storm, 60 mph65 mi
Oct 10, 2018MichaelCategory 5, 160 mph62 mi
May 28, 2018AlbertoTropical storm, 50 mph62 mi
Aug 17, 2009ClaudetteTropical storm, 50 mph61 mi
Aug 23, 2008FayTropical storm, 45 mph61 mi
Aug 6, 2001BarryTropical storm, 70 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 Holmes County

Check your address flood zone ›
1.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (99 policies)
7.9%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$2.8 millionpaid on 165 flood claims since 1978
1994costliest year, with $991,299 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 Holmes County

$110,200median home value (Florida $359,000, US $332,700)
1983median year homes were built (Florida 1988, US 1980)
45%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
36%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; 8,659 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
Walton CountyModerate42
Jackson CountyLow34
Geneva County, ALLow31
Washington CountyLow40

Common questions about Holmes County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Holmes County?

Hurricane has the highest expected yearly losses in Holmes County, about $9 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $2.8 million.

How many federal disasters has Holmes County had?

Holmes County has been included in 39 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1975, including 24 major disasters. The most recent was Hurricane Isaias in October 2026.

Is Holmes County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 53rd 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 Holmes County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 91 homes in Holmes 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 Holmes County had?

NOAA records list 21 tornadoes in Holmes County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on June 25, 1972. The weather service has also logged 12 hail reports and 111 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Holmes County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 24 hurricanes and 31 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Holmes County, including 7 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.