Enter any address in Hamilton County, Florida to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from thunderstorms and tropical systems are the primary flood concerns in Hamilton County, FL. Over the last 30 years, NOAA Storm Events data shows 12 recorded instances of flood or flash flood events, alongside 3 hurricane and tropical storm events. For example, in August 2024, Hurricane Debby brought widespread flooding inland across the Suwannee River Valley. More recently, in September 2024, Hurricane Helene's passage resulted in wind damage and likely contributed to localized flooding.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data indicates that properties in Zone A have experienced the most claims, with an average payout of $16,876 and an average water depth of 8.8 feet. Properties in Zone X have also seen significant payouts, averaging $26,363, though with a lower average water depth of 2.0 feet. Homeowners in areas designated as Zone A, as well as those in Zone X, should pay particular attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
8 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Hamilton County, Florida has recorded 15 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 6 flash floods and 6 river or area floods. The county has received 37 federal disaster declarations, 1 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1973–2024)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Milton | Hurricane | Oct 5, 2024 |
| 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 |
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, And Tornadoes | Severe Storm | May 10, 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 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Hurricane (Typhoon) | Sep 26, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Tropical Storm | Aug 4, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jun 15, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 7, 2020 | 35.00K |
| Flood | Dec 5, 2018 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 26, 2012 | 200.00K |
| Flood | Jun 25, 2012 | 100.00K |
| Flood | Apr 5, 2009 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Apr 2, 2009 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 12, 2001 | — |
Hurricane (Typhoon) — Sep 26, 2024
Hurricane Helene made landfall as a category 4 with peak winds of near 140 mph in the Florida Big |Bend just east of the Aucilla River Entrance in Taylor County, late Thursday evening September 26, |2024. Helene's main impact to southeast Georgia and northeast Florida was wind damage as it |tracked quickly north-northeast. The very powerful hurricane and the forward motion produced a |wide swa...
Tropical Storm — Aug 4, 2024
Hurricane Debby made landfall as a Category 1 storm along the FL Big Bend coast during the early morning of August 5, 2024. Prior to landfall, outer convective bands produced tornadoes across portions of northeast Florida on August 4th. Widespread flooding moved inland with Debby across the Suwannee River Valley and inland Southeast Georgia where flash flooding and moderate to major river flood...
Flood — Jun 15, 2023
A frontal zone was north of the area with high pressure extending across south Florida. Aloft, a 500 mb trough base was across the area. Waves of PVA moved eastward through the base of the upper trough which enhanced diurnally driven convection along the sea breezes under westerly steering flow.
Flash Flood — Jun 7, 2020
Deep tropical moisture was in place (PWAT 2.5) with the area on the east side of TS |Cristobal as the storm approached the LA Gulf Coast. Waves of moderate to heavy rainfall with isolated embedded thunderstorms pivoted northward across the local forecast area into the evening with a more solid band of moderate to heavy rainfall developing across north Florida as low level convergence increased ...
Flood — Dec 5, 2018
Several waves of heavy rainfall caused persistent river flooding along the Alapaha and Suwannee Rivers which significantly impacted interests in Hamilton county.
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 Hamilton 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 Hamilton 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.