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Taylor County, Florida

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

Relatively Low overall risk
49th of 67highest risk in Florida
$16Mexpected losses a year
39federal declarations
1 in 14homes with flood insurance
Photo: CC0

Taylor County, Florida has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 65% of US counties. It ranks 49th of 67 counties in Florida. The costliest hazards here are hurricanes, inland flooding and coastal flooding. FEMA estimates about $16 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $747 per resident. Since 1993 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 14 homes here carry federal flood insurance (669 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $37 million on 693 claims here, including $24 million for floods in 2024.

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

Top risks in Taylor County

Hurricane

Moderate
$8.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 4 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.
$3.9 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 1 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.
$1.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 4 times a year.
  • Learn your evacuation zone; it is set by surge risk, not by distance from the beach.
  • Ask about flood insurance even outside a mapped high-risk zone.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
HurricaneModerate92.7
$8M
Inland floodingLow46.8
$4M
Coastal floodingModerate76.6
$1M
Cold waveLow57.7
$834K
TornadoLow37.2
$493K
LightningModerate75.0
$392K
WildfireLow81.4
$306K
Heat waveLow53.1
$284K
Strong windLow38.6
$260K
EarthquakeVery Low37.1
$83K
Winter weatherVery Low11.4
$6K
HailVery Low2.2
$2K
DroughtVery Low15.8
$576
LandslideVery Low13.0
$30

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 relatively low in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Hurricane22
Severe Storm8
Tropical Storm6
Fire2
Tornado1

Most recent

Oct 9, 2026Hurricane IsaiasEmergency
Oct 11, 2024Hurricane MiltonMajor disaster
Oct 7, 2024Hurricane MiltonEmergency
Sep 28, 2024Hurricane HeleneMajor disaster
Sep 24, 2024Tropical Storm HeleneEmergency
Aug 10, 2024Hurricane DebbyMajor disaster
Aug 3, 2024Tropical Storm DebbyEmergency
Jun 17, 2024Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Aug 31, 2023Hurricane IdaliaMajor disaster
Aug 28, 2023Tropical Storm IdaliaEmergency
Show all 39
Dec 13, 2022Hurricane NicoleMajor disaster
Nov 8, 2022Tropical Storm NicoleEmergency
Sep 29, 2022Hurricane IanMajor disaster
Sep 24, 2022Tropical Storm IanEmergency
Aug 16, 2021Tropical Storm FredEmergency
Jul 4, 2021Tropical Storm ElsaEmergency
Aug 30, 2019Hurricane DorianEmergency
Oct 11, 2018Hurricane MichaelMajor disaster
Oct 9, 2018Hurricane MichaelEmergency
Sep 10, 2017Hurricane IrmaMajor disaster
Sep 5, 2017Hurricane IrmaEmergency
Sep 28, 2016Hurricane HermineMajor disaster
Jul 3, 2012Tropical Storm DebbyMajor disaster
Aug 24, 2008Tropical Storm FayMajor disaster
Aug 21, 2008Tropical Storm FayEmergency
Sep 5, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jul 10, 2005Hurricane DennisMajor disaster
Sep 26, 2004Hurricane JeanneMajor disaster
Sep 16, 2004Hurricane IvanMajor disaster
Sep 4, 2004Hurricane FrancesMajor disaster
Aug 13, 2004Tropical Storm Bonnie and Hurricane CharleyMajor disaster
Jul 29, 2003Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 9, 2000Fl, Perry Fire ComplexFire management
Sep 4, 1998Hurricane EarlMajor disaster
Jun 18, 1998Extreme Fire HazardMajor disaster
Jan 6, 1998Severe Storms, High Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 15, 1996Tropical Storm JosephineMajor disaster
Oct 4, 1995Hurricane OpalMajor disaster
Mar 13, 1993Tornadoes, Flooding, High Winds & Tides, FreezingMajor 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 237 storm reports in Taylor County since 1956, with 0 deaths and 15 injuries and about $8.8 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF2 tornado on March 7, 2008 near Jack Lee Island.

24tornadoes
22hail reports, largest 3 inches
152damaging thunderstorm winds
23floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Mar 7, 2008EF2Jack Lee Island2 / 0
Sep 24, 1956F2–0 / 0
Oct 27, 1972F2–1 / 0
Sep 30, 1957F2–0 / 0
Oct 28, 2003F1Perry0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Aug 3, 2021FloodClara$5M
Aug 14, 1998LightningPerry$750K
Aug 16, 2019FloodSteinhatchee$513K
Mar 7, 2008TornadoJack Lee Island$500K
Sep 24, 1956Tornado–$250K
Oct 27, 1972Tornado–$250K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 29, 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, 18 hurricanes and 47 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Taylor County, 26 of them since 1950. The strongest was Hurricane Helene (2024), with top winds near 140 mph about 64 miles away.

18hurricanes
3major hurricanes (Category 3+)
47tropical storms
2024most recent: Helene

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 27, 2024HeleneCategory 4, 140 mph64 mi
Aug 30, 2023IdaliaCategory 3, 130 mph56 mi
Sep 29, 1896UnnamedCategory 3, 125 mph62 mi
Oct 11, 1888UnnamedCategory 2, 110 mph64 mi
Oct 9, 1852UnnamedCategory 2, 105 mph59 mi
Sep 4, 1935UnnamedCategory 2, 100 mph62 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 27, 2024HeleneCategory 4, 140 mph64 mi
Aug 5, 2024DebbyCategory 1, 80 mph62 mi
Aug 30, 2023IdaliaCategory 3, 130 mph56 mi
Nov 10, 2022NicoleTropical storm, 45 mph51 mi
Sep 9, 2021MindyTropical storm, 50 mph63 mi
Jul 7, 2021ElsaTropical storm, 65 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 Taylor County

Check your address flood zone ›
6.9%of homes have federal flood insurance (669 policies)
23.6%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$37.4 millionpaid on 693 flood claims since 1978
2024costliest year, with $24.3 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 Taylor County

$114,600median home value (Florida $359,000, US $332,700)
1986median year homes were built (Florida 1988, US 1980)
38%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
40.1%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; 11,259 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
Madison CountyLow32
Dixie CountyVery Low43
Jefferson CountyVery Low39
Lafayette CountyVery Low34

Common questions about Taylor County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Taylor County?

Hurricane has the highest expected yearly losses in Taylor County, about $8.4 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $3.9 million.

How many federal disasters has Taylor County had?

Taylor County has been included in 39 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1993, including 24 major disasters. The most recent was Hurricane Isaias in October 2026.

Is Taylor County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 49th 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 Taylor County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 14 homes in Taylor 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 Taylor County had?

NOAA records list 24 tornadoes in Taylor County since 1950. The strongest was an EF2 tornado on March 7, 2008 near Jack Lee Island. The weather service has also logged 22 hail reports and 23 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Taylor County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 18 hurricanes and 47 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Taylor County, including 3 major hurricanes (Category 3 or stronger). The strongest was Hurricane Helene (2024), with winds near 140 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.