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Martin County, Florida

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

Relatively Moderate overall risk
23rd of 67highest risk in Florida
$119Mexpected losses a year
39federal declarations
1 in 7homes with flood insurance
Photo: CC0

Martin County, Florida has a moderate overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 94% of US counties. It ranks 23rd of 67 counties in Florida. The costliest hazards here are hurricanes, inland flooding and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $119 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $754 per resident. Since 1965 it has been included in 39 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (22 major disasters). The most recent was in October 2024 (Hurricane Milton). About 1 in 7 homes here carry federal flood insurance (9,539 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $40 million on 2,631 claims here, including $23 million for floods in 2004.

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

Top risks in Martin County

Hurricane

Very High
$91.8 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.
$18.2 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
$2.5 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
HurricaneVery High98.7
$92M
Inland floodingModerate83.3
$18M
TornadoModerate74.8
$2M
LightningHigh95.8
$2M
Strong windHigh87.8
$1M
WildfireModerate90.4
$1M
Coastal floodingModerate73.0
$1M
Heat waveLow67.9
$656K
Cold waveLow35.3
$426K
DroughtLow61.1
$242K
HailLow37.2
$128K
EarthquakeVery Low21.4
$26K
LandslideVery Low33.5
$324

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 relatively moderate in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Hurricane25
Fire6
Freezing3
Severe Storm2
Tornado1
Flood1

Most recent

Oct 11, 2024Hurricane MiltonMajor disaster
Oct 7, 2024Hurricane MiltonEmergency
Dec 13, 2022Hurricane NicoleMajor disaster
Nov 8, 2022Tropical Storm NicoleEmergency
Sep 29, 2022Hurricane IanMajor disaster
Sep 24, 2022Tropical Storm IanEmergency
Aug 1, 2020Hurricane IsaiasEmergency
Oct 21, 2019Hurricane DorianMajor disaster
Aug 30, 2019Hurricane DorianEmergency
Sep 10, 2017Hurricane IrmaMajor disaster
Show all 39
Sep 5, 2017Hurricane IrmaEmergency
Oct 8, 2016Hurricane MatthewMajor disaster
Oct 6, 2016Hurricane MatthewEmergency
Oct 18, 2012Hurricane IsaacMajor disaster
May 12, 2009Martin County Fire ComplexFire management
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 16, 2004Hurricane IvanMajor 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
Sep 14, 1999Hurricane Floyd Emergency DeclarationsEmergency
Apr 27, 1999Fl-Fires 04/15/99Emergency
Apr 15, 1999Okeechobee Fire ComplexFire management
Sep 25, 1998Hurricane GrorgesEmergency
Jun 18, 1998Extreme Fire HazardMajor disaster
Oct 27, 1995Severe 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 1956

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 204 storm reports in Martin County since 1956, with 4 deaths and 16 injuries and about $21.1 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on October 19, 1958.

42tornadoes
64hail reports, largest 2 inches
63damaging thunderstorm winds
16floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Oct 19, 1958F3–0 / 0
Oct 9, 2024EF2Gomez0 / 0
Oct 9, 2024EF2Indiantown Crl T Arp0 / 0
Feb 9, 1973F2–1 / 0
Feb 2, 1983F2–1 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Oct 9, 2024TornadoGomez$11M
Oct 9, 2024TornadoSalerno$2M
Aug 2, 2001Flash FloodStuart$2M
Oct 9, 2024TornadoIndiantown Crl T Arp$2M
Mar 6, 2008Thunderstorm WindStuart Witham Fld$1M
Jul 21, 2013LightningPalm City$500K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through May 23, 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 Martin County, 37 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1928, with top winds near 145 mph about 51 miles away.

32hurricanes
9major hurricanes (Category 3+)
42tropical storms
2022most recent: Nicole

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 16, 1928UnnamedCategory 4, 145 mph51 mi
Aug 26, 1949UnnamedCategory 4, 130 mph54 mi
Oct 7, 2016MatthewCategory 3, 130 mph65 mi
Sep 4, 1933UnnamedCategory 3, 125 mph62 mi
Sep 25, 2004JeanneCategory 3, 120 mph61 mi
Oct 18, 1950KingCategory 3, 120 mph55 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Nov 10, 2022NicoleCategory 1, 75 mph52 mi
Sep 29, 2022IanCategory 1, 90 mph63 mi
Jun 4, 2022AlexTropical storm, 45 mph61 mi
Aug 2, 2020IsaiasTropical storm, 70 mph54 mi
Oct 7, 2016MatthewCategory 3, 130 mph65 mi
Sep 13, 2016JuliaTropical storm, 40 mph57 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 Martin County

Check your address flood zone ›
14.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (9,539 policies)
77.8%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$40 millionpaid on 2,631 flood claims since 1978
2004costliest year, with $22.6 million 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 Martin County

$432,200median home value (Florida $359,000, US $332,700)
1986median year homes were built (Florida 1988, US 1980)
34%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
8.8%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; 83,121 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
St. Lucie CountyHigh36
Okeechobee CountyLow33
Hendry CountyLow36
Glades CountyLow35

Cities in Martin County

Common questions about Martin County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Martin County?

Hurricane has the highest expected yearly losses in Martin County, about $91.8 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $18.2 million.

How many federal disasters has Martin County had?

Martin County has been included in 39 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1965, including 22 major disasters. The most recent was Hurricane Milton in October 2024.

Is Martin County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Moderate, 23rd 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 Martin County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 7 homes in Martin 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 Martin County had?

NOAA records list 42 tornadoes in Martin County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on October 19, 1958. The weather service has also logged 64 hail reports and 16 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Martin County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 32 hurricanes and 42 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Martin County, including 9 major hurricanes (Category 3 or stronger). The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1928, with winds near 145 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.