Enter any address in Gulf County, Florida to see its FEMA flood zone
Tropical storm activity and flash flooding are the most frequent flood-related events in Gulf County, Florida, based on NOAA Storm Events data from the last 30 years. These events have included 30 tropical storms and 18 flash flood incidents. For example, a significant flash flood event occurred in April 2024, bringing 6 to 10 inches of rain and causing widespread flooding of cars and structures. More severe events, such as Hurricane Helene in September 2024, have also impacted the region, producing storm surges exceeding 15 feet along the coast.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data indicates that properties in Zone A have experienced the highest number of claims, with an average payout of $57,539 and an average water depth of 2.6 feet. Properties in Zone X_UNSHADED have also seen a notable number of claims, with an average payout of $52,135 and a higher average water depth of 3.4 feet. Coastal properties and those located in areas prone to heavy rainfall and storm surge should pay particular attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
52 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Gulf County, Florida has recorded 78 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 18 flash floods and 6 river or area floods. The county has received 47 federal disaster declarations, 4 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1975–2024)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Helene | Hurricane | Sep 23, 2024 |
| Tropical Storm Helene | Tropical Storm | Sep 23, 2024 |
| Hurricane Debby | Tropical Storm | Aug 1, 2024 |
| Tropical Storm Debby | Tropical Storm | Aug 1, 2024 |
| Hurricane Idalia | Hurricane | Aug 27, 2023 |
| Tropical Storm Idalia | Tropical Storm | Aug 27, 2023 |
| Hurricane Nicole | Hurricane | Nov 7, 2022 |
| Hurricane Ian | Hurricane | Sep 23, 2022 |
| Tropical Storm Ian | Hurricane | Sep 23, 2022 |
| Tropical Storm Fred | Hurricane | Aug 13, 2021 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Storm Surge/Tide | Sep 26, 2024 | 1.00M |
| Tropical Storm | Sep 26, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Sep 26, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Sep 25, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Sep 13, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Sep 12, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Apr 11, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 2, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Dec 10, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 26, 2022 | 0.00K |
Storm Surge/Tide — Sep 26, 2024
Hurricane Helene made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph and a minimum central pressure of 938 mb (27.70 inches) at about 11:10 PM EDT on Thursday, September 26th, in Taylor County Florida just east of the Aucilla River. Helene quickly moved inland across Taylor and Madison Counties before moving into Lowndes County in South Central Georgia. The hurricane...
Tropical Storm — Sep 26, 2024
Hurricane Helene made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph and a minimum central pressure of 938 mb (27.70 inches) at about 11:10 PM EDT on Thursday, September 26th, in Taylor County Florida just east of the Aucilla River. Helene quickly moved inland across Taylor and Madison Counties before moving into Lowndes County in South Central Georgia. The hurricane...
Flash Flood — Sep 26, 2024
Hurricane Helene made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph and a minimum central pressure of 938 mb (27.70 inches) at about 11:10 PM EDT on Thursday, September 26th, in Taylor County Florida just east of the Aucilla River. Helene quickly moved inland across Taylor and Madison Counties before moving into Lowndes County in South Central Georgia. The hurricane...
Flash Flood — Sep 25, 2024
Hurricane Helene made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph and a minimum central pressure of 938 mb (27.70 inches) at about 11:10 PM EDT on Thursday, September 26th, in Taylor County Florida just east of the Aucilla River. Helene quickly moved inland across Taylor and Madison Counties before moving into Lowndes County in South Central Georgia. The hurricane...
Flash Flood — Sep 13, 2024
Several showers and thunderstorms developed in association with the remnants of Hurricane Francine and a stalled frontal boundary. Several areas of rotation were detected, but no tornado touchdowns were reported. There was one report of a tree down in Walton county. In addition, heavy rainfall led to areas of flash flooding.
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Individual Claims (2.25M records analyzed).
FEMA assigns flood zone designations to areas in Gulf County, Florida:
AE High Risk — 1% annual chance of flooding. Insurance required.
VE Very High Risk — Coastal flooding with wave action.
X (Shaded) Moderate Risk — 500-year floodplain.
X Low Risk — Outside major floodplains.
Properties in Gulf County, Florida that are in FEMA-designated Special Flood Hazard Areas (zones A and V) with federally backed mortgages are required to carry flood insurance.
Even outside high-risk zones, flood insurance is recommended. From 2014 to 2024, nearly one-third of NFIP claims came from outside the high-risk Special Flood Hazard Area.
Visit FloodSmart.gov to find an agent and get a quote.