Osceola County, Florida
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Osceola County, Florida has a moderate overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 92% of US counties. It ranks 26th of 67 counties in Florida. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, strong wind and hurricanes. FEMA estimates about $118 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $303 per resident. Since 1977 it has been included in 37 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (21 major disasters). The most recent was in October 2024 (Hurricane Milton). About 1 in 17 homes here carry federal flood insurance (7,888 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $25 million on 1,032 claims here, including $21 million for floods in 2022.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Osceola 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.
- Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
- Have trees near the house checked.
- 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.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 92.1 | $52M | ||
| Strong wind | 99.8 | $27M | ||
| Hurricane | 94.2 | $18M | ||
| Tornado | 93.6 | $11M | ||
| Lightning | 98.5 | $4M | ||
| Wildfire | 94.8 | $4M | ||
| Heat wave | 77.3 | $1M | ||
| Cold wave | 34.1 | $538K | ||
| Earthquake | 46.5 | $243K | ||
| Drought | 43.4 | $95K | ||
| Hail | 21.9 | $83K | ||
| Landslide | 46.6 | $1K |
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 low 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 Osceola County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 37
Florida also had 39 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1960
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 267 storm reports in Osceola County since 1960, with 26 deaths and 172 injuries and about $362 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on April 4, 1966.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 4, 1966 | F4 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Feb 23, 1998 | F3 | Intercession City | 145 / 25 |
| Mar 24, 1983 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jan 28, 1973 | F2 | – | 7 / 0 |
| Mar 19, 1981 | F2 | – | 11 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 28, 2022 | Flood | Alligator Lake City | $245M |
| Feb 23, 1998 | Tornado | Intercession City | $50M |
| Apr 4, 1966 | Tornado | – | $25M |
| Mar 24, 1983 | Tornado | – | $25M |
| Jul 11, 2009 | Flood | Kissimmee | $4M |
| Apr 15, 2014 | Lightning | Shingle Creek | $4M |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 13, 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 1852, 31 hurricanes and 40 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Osceola County, 35 of them since 1950. The strongest was Hurricane Charley (2004), with top winds near 115 mph about 58 miles away.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 13, 2004 | Charley | Category 3, 115 mph | 58 mi |
| Sep 17, 1928 | Unnamed | Category 3, 115 mph | 59 mi |
| Sep 26, 2004 | Jeanne | Category 2, 110 mph | 62 mi |
| Sep 4, 1933 | Unnamed | Category 2, 110 mph | 62 mi |
| Sep 29, 2022 | Ian | Category 2, 110 mph | 61 mi |
| Aug 27, 1949 | Unnamed | Category 2, 105 mph | 61 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 10, 2024 | Milton | Category 2, 100 mph | 54 mi |
| Nov 10, 2022 | Nicole | Category 1, 75 mph | 60 mi |
| Sep 29, 2022 | Ian | Category 2, 110 mph | 61 mi |
| Sep 11, 2017 | Irma | Category 1, 85 mph | 63 mi |
| Jul 31, 2017 | Emily | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 60 mi |
| Sep 13, 2016 | Julia | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 54 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 Osceola 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 Osceola 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; 171,410 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Orange County | 37 | |
| Polk County | 40 | |
| Brevard County | 43 | |
| Lake County | 35 | |
| Indian River County | 33 | |
| Highlands County | 35 | |
| Okeechobee County | 33 |
Cities in Osceola County
Common questions about Osceola County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Osceola County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Osceola County, about $52.1 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Strong wind is second at $26.8 million.
How many federal disasters has Osceola County had?
Osceola County has been included in 37 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1977, including 21 major disasters. The most recent was Hurricane Milton in October 2024.
Is Osceola County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Relatively Moderate, 26th 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 Osceola County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 17 homes in Osceola 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 Osceola County had?
NOAA records list 43 tornadoes in Osceola County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on April 4, 1966. The weather service has also logged 92 hail reports and 21 floods here.
How many hurricanes have hit Osceola County?
NOAA's hurricane records show 31 hurricanes and 40 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Osceola County, including 2 major hurricanes (Category 3 or stronger). The strongest was Hurricane Charley (2004), with winds near 115 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.