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Union County, Florida

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

Very Low overall risk
67th of 67highest risk in Florida
$5Mexpected losses a year
32federal declarations
1 in 71homes with flood insurance
Photo: CC0

Union County, Florida has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 89% of US counties. It ranks 67th of 67 counties in Florida. The costliest hazards here are hurricanes, inland flooding and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $5.0 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $309 per resident. Since 1992 it has been included in 32 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (17 major disasters). The most recent was in October 2024 (Hurricane Milton). About 1 in 71 homes here carry federal flood insurance (65 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $500,000 on 31 claims here.

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

Top risks in Union County

$2.2 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.
$1.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 4 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.
$433,793 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 8 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
HurricaneLow81.5
$2M
Inland floodingVery Low11.1
$1M
TornadoLow27.7
$434K
WildfireLow73.9
$231K
LightningLow48.3
$216K
Heat waveVery Low36.6
$191K
Cold waveVery Low12.2
$108K
Strong windVery Low9.7
$68K
EarthquakeVery Low26.7
$52K
DroughtVery Low18.8
$3K
HailVery Low1.5
$2K
Winter weatherVery Low2.1
$1K
LandslideVery Low2.9
$3

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 Union County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Hurricane16
Severe Storm6
Fire5
Tropical Storm4
Freezing1

Most recent

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
Aug 31, 2023Hurricane IdaliaMajor disaster
Aug 28, 2023Tropical Storm IdaliaEmergency
Dec 13, 2022Hurricane NicoleMajor disaster
Sep 29, 2022Hurricane IanMajor disaster
Show all 32
Sep 24, 2022Tropical Storm IanEmergency
Jul 4, 2021Tropical Storm ElsaEmergency
Aug 30, 2019Hurricane DorianEmergency
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
May 7, 2007Suwannee Fire ComplexFire management
Sep 5, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Sep 26, 2004Hurricane JeanneMajor disaster
Sep 4, 2004Hurricane FrancesMajor disaster
Aug 13, 2004Tropical Storm Bonnie and Hurricane CharleyMajor disaster
Feb 5, 2001Severe FreezeMajor disaster
Jun 5, 2000Fl, Suwannee Fire ComplexFire management
Apr 27, 1999Fl-Fires 04/15/99Emergency
Apr 20, 1999Fl-Fires 04/13/99Fire management
Jun 18, 1998Extreme Fire HazardMajor disaster
Jan 6, 1998Severe Storms, High Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 8, 1992Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1970

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 134 storm reports in Union County since 1970 and about $2.7 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F1 tornado on April 23, 1983.

8tornadoes
18hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
91damaging thunderstorm winds
5floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 23, 1983F1–0 / 0
Aug 12, 2004F1Worthington Spgs0 / 0
Aug 4, 2006F1Worthington Spgs0 / 0
Aug 4, 2024EF1Providence0 / 0
Jun 11, 2001F0Providence0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Apr 23, 1983Tornado–$3M
Mar 30, 2000Thunderstorm WindProvidence$50K
Jun 3, 1999Thunderstorm WindProvidence$20K
Jun 28, 2022Thunderstorm WindProvidence$20K
Jul 19, 1998Thunderstorm WindWorthington Spgs$15K
Mar 29, 2001Thunderstorm WindProvidence$15K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through May 23, 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 1867, 19 hurricanes and 47 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Union County, 26 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1896, with top winds near 125 mph about 64 miles away.

19hurricanes
1major hurricanes (Category 3+)
47tropical storms
2024most recent: Debby

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 29, 1896UnnamedCategory 3, 125 mph64 mi
Sep 10, 1964DoraCategory 2, 110 mph65 mi
Aug 30, 2023IdaliaCategory 2, 105 mph59 mi
Oct 11, 1888UnnamedCategory 2, 105 mph51 mi
Sep 4, 1935UnnamedCategory 1, 90 mph64 mi
Oct 19, 1968GladysCategory 1, 90 mph63 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 5, 2024DebbyCategory 1, 75 mph64 mi
Aug 30, 2023IdaliaCategory 2, 105 mph59 mi
Jul 7, 2021ElsaTropical storm, 60 mph65 mi
Nov 12, 2020EtaTropical storm, 50 mph60 mi
Sep 11, 2017IrmaTropical storm, 65 mph64 mi
Sep 13, 2016JuliaTropical storm, 50 mph61 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 Union County

Check your address flood zone ›
1.4%of homes have federal flood insurance (65 policies)
29%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$499,791paid on 31 flood claims since 1978
2017costliest year, with $151,326 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 Union County

$169,500median home value (Florida $359,000, US $332,700)
1994median year homes were built (Florida 1988, US 1980)
28%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
48.6%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; 4,832 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
Alachua CountyModerate33
Columbia CountyLow35
Bradford CountyVery Low32
Baker CountyVery Low38

Common questions about Union County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Union County?

Hurricane has the highest expected yearly losses in Union County, about $2.2 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $1.4 million.

How many federal disasters has Union County had?

Union County has been included in 32 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1992, including 17 major disasters. The most recent was Hurricane Milton in October 2024.

Is Union County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 67th 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 Union County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 71 homes in Union 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 Union County had?

NOAA records list 8 tornadoes in Union County since 1950. The strongest was an F1 tornado on April 23, 1983. The weather service has also logged 18 hail reports and 5 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Union County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 19 hurricanes and 47 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Union County, including 1 major hurricane (Category 3 or stronger). The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1896, with winds near 125 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.